Shocking Reviews

I stared in disbelief at some one-star Amazon reviews for a well-respected author and one of my favorite books. To me, the story was amazing, well-written, had engaging characters, and a plot that kept me glued to the pages, but a couple of people gave it a one star. I couldn’t fathom who would do such a thing or why. Their criticism didn’t seem accurate or even necessary.

Fast forward a decade or so later, now I’m an author, and knowing a fellow author I admire had received one-star reviews helped me swallow the bad-review pill when I received my first one. I’ll also never forget USA Today best-selling author Collen Coble at an American Christian Fiction Writers conference reading aloud some bad reviews she’d received and laughing about them.    

Jesus understood how life could be tough. He’d dealt firsthand with scorners, mockers, and even religious leaders with gotcha questions. One would think the Pharisees and religious leaders would have been on Jesus’s side, but many instead felt jealous, threatened, or acted as puppets. Jesus warned us we would have trouble. In a fallen world, there’s no escaping problems or problematic people, no matter how strong of a Christian you are or how firm your faith. Daniel had to face lions, Jeremiah was left to die in a well, and Hannah couldn’t bear children. Lazarus died. We, too, will have troubles, but we are not to lose hope. After warning us that we will have trouble, Jesus said, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

I’m so thankful for those who’d gone before to show us the way. The Bible gives us instance after instance of people of faith who have pulled through because they called upon the Lord. The lions didn’t touch Daniel, Jeremiah was retrieved from the well, Hannah bore the prophet Samuel, and Lazarus walked out of the grave. Their examples encourage us that when we face trials, we can be overcomers. We can call upon the name of Jesus and be saved.

But what about John the Baptist? Wasn’t he beheaded? Didn’t the disciples end up martyrs? True. Death is inevitable, but Jesus ensured that death was not the end. Pharisees killed Stephen by stoning him, but as the rocks pelted him, he looked to heaven and saw Jesus and was filled with God’s glory. (Acts 7:54-60) When we pray, God draws near, heaven’s peace comes down, and the Holy Spirit comforts us. Even when things don’t turn out as hoped, God fills us with His peace. He sees us through to the other side, whether that’s this side of heaven or eternity with Him.  

“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them from them all.” – Psalms 34:19.