Dr. C.L. Chase, author of Grace-Focused Optimism, was once a frustrated and embittered pastor. Theologically speaking, he could define “grace” and understood it's meaning well. Experientially, he knew God's grace through conversion. But the grace that saved him, seemed to be ineffective in governing his daily life; and in giving him the consistent joy that a believer should possess. Chase described himself as an “emotionally fragile” person (pg. 26). He was easily discouraged and disheartened. Then he had a “paradigm shift.”
What Dr. Chase came to discover was that grace is not only what saves the Christian; it is also what sees them through every day of their life. And that Biblical notion is the thesis of this book. From the beginning, Chase gives the reader the point of the book: “It's about you and grace.” (pg. 11) He then proceeds to unpack this premise in the following twenty-two chapters. With a belief system firmly rooted in the sovereignty of God, Chase reminds us, “Being a Christian isn't first and foremost about you and your salvation. It's first and foremost about God and how He is determined to get glory from you.” (pg. 23) Thankfully, the concepts of God's glory and our joy are not mutually exclusive. Indeed they go “hand-in-hand.” But sadly, all too often, Christians fail to see the joy they should have in God's constant grace and goodness toward them. While life is filled with plenty of trials, Christians have the capacity for joy, even in the midst of them. Knowing that even the trials are ordained by God, for our good and His glory. This book reminds the believer of that truth.
The book is easy to read and understand, at roughly 240 pages. Chase weaves personal narrative with numerous Biblical references and pertinent illustrations to strongly make the case for “Grace-Focused Optimism.” His writing style is clear and cogent, yet not overly simplistic. It is a book that any lay person should be able to read without getting bogged down in technical minutiae that is “over their heads.” Yet, Chase manages to clearly make his case, without watering down the meat and marrow of the truth being presented. The fact is this: Grace is a concept that is both so deeply profound the most mature Christian doesn't understand it in totality. Yet so clearly understood that the newest believer can grasp it on some level. This book goes a long way in deepening the believer's understanding of the riches that God bestows upon His sheep, through grace.
The subtitle of the book is a good summation: “Learning to Live the Grace-Governed Life of Optimism About God.” By “optimism” the author is not presenting a “rose-colored glasses” view of life that is blind to genuine suffering. But rather a rock-solid belief that God is up to our good, even in the trials. The focus of the book is not our comfort, but God's glory. Yet the believer should be extremely comforted by the fact that God is using our lives for His glory. Ultimately, Dr. Chase does not point us to “optimism” that is grounded in ourselves, but rather “optimism about God.” For any optimism we have that finds it's resting place anywhere other than the Lord, is a phony optimism rooted in fantasy anyway. Our faith has found a resting place, and that resting place is the Lord Himself.
Grace-Focused Optimism makes for a good read for both the new Christian and the mature believer. Furthermore, it can be read and enjoyed in solitary fashion, or as part of a group study. With this book, Dr. Chase makes an important contribution to a Biblical understanding of God's grace and the reality of it, for the Christian, throughout their entire life. The reader would be wise to heed the author's warnings about looking to self, being distracted by life's trials, and failing to trust completely in the Lord. Dr. Chase has experienced the darkness of taking His eyes off of the Lord and personally knows the perils therein. This book provides the peaceful fruit of his experience and his lessons learned from that experience. Read this book and understand grace on a deeper level. Then apply what you've learned in your own life. You will be the better for it.
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