When Faith Disappoints - by Lisa Victoria Fields (Paperback)

About the Book

"A Multnomah trade paperback original"--Copyright page.

Book Synopsis

For anyone who feels the weight of injustice, trauma, and suffering, the founder of the Jude 3 Project invites you to discover how to find hope when you can't make sense of the pain.

"Lisa Fields brilliantly offers hope for all who seek to practice their faith without the cruel dogma nurtured by Western culture."--Otis Moss III, senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago

Living as a Black woman in America, Lisa Victoria Fields understands the tension of relying on God in a broken world. While pursuing her calling in full-time Christian ministry--an often white, male-dominated vocation--she saw the contentions many people have with Christianity. She heard the theological questions, but instead of arguing for her faith, she listened to the barriers and heard the pain in their hearts: Why doesn't God protect me from suffering and injustice? Others don't seem to think I have value--does God?

Now, in her debut book, Fields shows us how emotional pain--often more than theological concerns--is at the root of our doubt. She invites us to bring our deepest soul questions to this journey as she explores:

- Seven pain points that might be keeping us from faith: a lack of personhood, peace, provision, pleasure, purpose, protection, and power
- Honest talk about how Christianity doesn't seem to meet our very valid needs
- Why wrestling with God doesn't negate our faith but instead deepens it
- What it looks like to allow God to bring healing to our pain so we can see Him and others more clearly

Through vulnerable storytelling and thoughtful use of Scripture, Fields tends to our hurting hearts and offers hope and resolve. She helps us move forward as we cling to a faith that brings us back to the truth of Christianity--not despite the pain of this world but in light of it.

Review Quotes

"Lisa Fields compassionately confronts the brokenness and failure of the human condition through the lens of faith, yet brilliantly offers hope for all who seek to practice their faith without the cruel dogma nurtured by Western culture. A worthy addition to your personal library."--Otis Moss III, senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago

"Wisdom and empathy fuel Lisa Fields's new book, When Faith Disappoints. Drawing from her wealth of experience as an apologist and her story as a doubter, Fields offers a work that centers and normalizes our doubts and fears."--Dr. Christina Edmondson, co-author of Truth's Table

"Lisa Fields has accomplished the rare feat of writing a book that would be useful for people inside and outside the faith. Christians who have struggled with doubt and disappointment, and those considering the claims of Christianity, will find themselves challenged and inspired. I highly recommend it."--Esau McCaulley, author of How Far to the Promised Land

"When Faith Disappoints is a timely and transformative guide for those navigating the complexities of faith deconstruction and reconstruction. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking clarity and who is wrestling with doubt and emotional fulfillment in their spiritual journey."--Latasha Morrison, New York Times bestselling author of Be the Bridge

"Few leaders have made Christian apologetics as accessible to common people as Lisa Fields. In When Faith Disappoints, she carefully invites those struggling with their faith to question, reconsider, and heal and see God more clearly. This is the perfect book if you, a loved one, or a friend have been disappointed by faith."--Justin E. Giboney, AND Campaign president

"In When Faith Disappoints, Lisa Fields gives us permission to wrestle with our questions about God and faith. Her raw, transparent, and vulnerable storytelling is disarming and her hope-filled perspective compelling. A much-needed book for our times."--Christine Caine, founder of A21 and Propel Women

"In a world where faith is often tested by the weight of unanswered questions, When Faith Disappoints offers a beacon of hope. Through personal experiences and deep theological reflections, Lisa Fields reminds us that questioning our faith isn't the end but instead the beginning of a journey toward deeper understanding in Christ."--Mark Batterson, New York Times bestselling author and pastor

" Reading this book is like receiving a deep-tissue massage: Fields finds the knots and applies truth to specific pain points in a way that leaves you really feeling it. But it is a good kind of ache, and one day soon, you'll move more freely because of it."--Dr. Jo Vitale, speaker and co-executive director of Kardia

"Lisa Fields's powerful debut book confronts the realities of suffering and injustice, while firmly rooting her narrative in the faith that heals and empowers. A healing and transformative read that will inspire and encourage you through adversity."--Jon Gordon, bestselling author of The One Truth

About the Author

Renowned Christian apologist Lisa Victoria Fields is the founder of Jude 3 Project, the curator behind the YouTube series "Why I Don't Go," and a creator and producer of two documentaries: Unspoken and Juneteenth: Faith and Freedom. Lisa has been recognized in Christianity Today for her work as an apologist in the African American community. She is a graduate of the University of North Florida and holds a master of divinity, with a focus in theology, from Liberty University.