The Shack: How to Deal with Pain and Loss

The book The Shack by Wm. Young details a man who details with pain and loss of his daughter who was abducted and murdered.  The author deals with this incident throughout the beginning of this book through the search for the killer and the family dealing with the loss of their daughter.
The author helps us see that we can't blame God for our struggles and pain in life.  God allows things to happen because of evil in this world.  Because of the sin of Adam, we are all fallen human beings.  Mack says (94), "If I can't trust you to take care of Missy then how can I trust you to take care of me." God who is termed Papa in the book calls Mack out that he doesn't trust him.
The main character Mackenzie Phillips relationship with God is severed through his broken relationship with his Father and this tragedy.  As Christians, we at times become mad at God because of things that happen to us in life.  We have to learn that some things happen because our broken nature in this world.
 Forgiveness is also key in regaining the ability to love others after hardships take place.Mack is finally able to forgive his dad for not loving him (217).  He also forgives the man who murdered his daughter Missy (226).
Lastly, trusting in God though it may take time is necessary to restore our relationship with God.  God can lead back to a deep, lasting, relationship with him if we learn to trust him in time.  Mack learns to trust God in the second half of this book and finally admits to God that he trusts him with all of his life (226).
This book was very helpful for me because I have also struggled through hard times in my life.  I have had to remind myself that God allowed this to happen for a purpose.  Also, the it may have happened because of the sin nature in this world.  I have come to realize that trusting God with hard things takes time.  We will not be able to move on life if we can't trust God with the hardships that we deal with daily.