CBM eBook
Reviewed By Valerie Rouse for Readers’ Favorite
Groping for God is a personal, heart-wrenching story about
Pastor Matupit Darius from Rabaul in Papua New Guinea. Pastor Darius lost his
daughter Martina in a tragic bus accident. Pastor Darius was forced to escort
Martina’s body to the hospital. All the while, he was in a state of deep shock.
He couldn’t believe that a few minutes ago, he and Martina were laughing,
enjoying themselves. Suddenly, their bus was tumbling down a ravine, killing
his only daughter. According to author Darius, he (Darius) was so accustomed to
extending support to his church members in their time of need. He felt out of sorts
now that he was on the receiving end. He was accepting telephone calls and
condolence greetings from friends and even strangers. Pastor Darius had to
struggle emotionally to maintain a sense of equilibrium. He was angry with God
for taking Martina, yet he knew and believed in God’s promise that He would not
allow His people to bear burdens that they could not handle. He realized that
he had to immerse himself in God’s word, especially the book of Job, in order
to be at peace.
Groping for God is a
short novel outlining the grieving process experienced by Pastor Darius. The
language is simple and colloquial. It is easy to understand. The book is
written in the first person. This tactic essentially allows the reader to
become fully immersed in the story. I love the inclusion of the photos. This
enhances the dramatic effect of the tragic circumstances. The reader is
inclined to empathize with the author and feel his pain. Author Darius utilizes
bold blue sub-headings which are very effective because they assist in
formatting the story. They also keep the reader in tune with the thought
patterns of the main character. I also appreciate the various short questions
interspersed in the book. This allows the reader to identify with the main
character and experience the changing states of raw emotion. The use of
contrast is clever. The story begins on a somber note yet, at the end, author
Darius relates that his faith in God encourages him to put things in
perspective. He can see that God is still in control, despite his loss. In
essence, he found the silver lining under his dark clouds. I recommend this
book to all readers who are going through trying times and need spiritual
upliftment.
