R. T. Kendall - Totally Forgiving God: When It Seems He Has Betrayed You

Over thirty years as a pastor, Ive found that bitterness toward God is often the primary barrier to accepting His salvation and trusting His guidance on a daily basis. I know of no one better suited than R. T. Kendall to address this deep hurt in so many lives. Im so grateful for this book.

R ICK WARREN
P ASTOR , S ADDLEBACK C HURCH
A UTHOR , T HE P URPOSE D RIVEN L IFE

R. T. Kendall is a Christian leader for whom I have the greatest respect. A best-selling author, preacher, and theologian, he is never afraid to tackle the big issues, such as the reality of suffering and the struggles of life. I commend this book to you.

N ICKY G UMBEL
V ICAR , H OLY T RINITY B ROMPTON
L ONDON , E NGLAND

Forgiving God for not intervening in times of suffering and trouble is taboo for many writers, but not for R. T. Kendall. What he writes so brilliantly not only helps us spiritually, but it also helps us psychologically.

T ONY C AMPOLO , P H D
P ROFESSOR E MERITUS OF S OCIOLOGY
E ASTERN U NIVERSITY

R. T. Kendall writes as he speakswith depth, conviction, and the ability to surprise the reader/listener into a reevaluation of attitude, conviction, and lifestyle. If you value a comfortable, private, and convenient life, then this book is not for you. If you hunger for more of God, long to go on with Him, and seek that life ahead might be lived in the closest and most intimate fellowship with Jesus, then this is a book you must read. I cannot offer more than deep gratitude to R. T. Kendall for rocking the boat and disturbing my lifeyet again!

RE V . D R . C LIVE C ALVER
S ENIOR P ASTOR , W ALNUT H ILL
C OMMUNITY C HURCH
F ORMER P RESIDENT , W ORLD R ELIEF

The greatest puzzle in the universe is the way God seems to betray us. No one can explain it just yet, but RT shows us how to cope. Highly recommended.

D R . M ICHAEL E ATON
N AIROBI , K ENYA

If you feel let down or disappointed with God, this book is a must read for you. Once again RT has dealt with a tough subject magnificently!

L YNDON B OWRING
E XECUTIVE C HAIRMAN , CARE

This is quite simply the most important book RT has ever written. I have enjoyed his writing in the past and often found it challenging and sometimes disagreed with it, but I never failed to be stimulated by what he produces. This, however, is on a different level. RT is dealing with one of the most pernicious and subtle sins of the Christian liferesentment and unforgiveness directed against God, sometimes conscious, sometimes unconscious. This book is wise, penetrating, asking questions that dig deep into us on a personal level. It is, in fact, personal as well from his understanding. He confesses he knows about this issue inside. It is powerful because it doesnt pull any punches. He analyses all the areas of resentment and reasons for unforgiveness.

Finally, it is intensely practical in that it gives us ways to deal with the issue in our own lives and shows us how to move forward. This book could change your life, liberating you to become the person God has always dreamed of you being, free at last from the chains of unforgiveness toward God. A magnificent work of spiritual diagnosis and a powerful prescription for health.

E RIC D ELVE
V ICAR , S T . L UKES C HURCH
M AIDSTONE , K ENT , E NGLAND

Dr. R. T. Kendalls trilogy on forgiveness has reached its apex with this volume on forgiving God. He builds from the solid foundation of Gods faithfulness, purity, and perfection, and the eternal truth that God cannot and has not done wrong at any time. This book will set you free, and you will never blame God again for circumstances and situations that come your way.

This volume is destined to take its place among the Christian classics. Free at last will be the enduring cry of those who read and reap the truth of this book.

O. S. H AWKINS
P RESIDENT /CEO
G UIDESTONE F INANCIAL R ESOURCES

I had read only a few lines into the manuscript of this book when I thought of a dear Christian couple who lost their two-year-old daughter to cancer. When the light went out of that tiny body they walked away from God. The message in this book will help bring themand many others like themback to life and love again.

C HARLES C ARRIN
C HARLES C ARRIN M INISTRIES

R. T. Kendall is one of the most remarkable men I have ever known. When I introduce him at our conferences, I observe, RT goes to England every two weeks and writes a book every Thursday! Well, perhaps not that remarkable, but I think I have read everything he has written and up comes another. I cannot keep myself from reading his latest because I feel that the latest is probably his best. It may be true of this one as I have never been disappointed in one yet. RT seems to have the knack of taking a difficult or obscure subject and mining the riches few suspicioned were there. Good work, RT!

J ACK T AYLOR
D IMENSIONS M INISTRIES
M ELBOURNE , F LORIDA

TOTALLY

FORGIVING

GOD

R. T. KENDALL

M OST C HARISMA H OUSE B OOK G ROUP products are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchase for sales promotions, premiums, fundraising, and educational needs. For details, write Charisma House Book Group, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, or telephone (407) 333-0600.

T OTALLY F ORGIVING G OD by R. T. Kendall
Published by Charisma House
Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group
600 Rinehart Road
Lake Mary, Florida 32746
www.charismahouse.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked JB are from The Jerusalem Bible, copyright 1966, 1967, 1968 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked TLB are from The Living Bible . Copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright 2012 by R. T. Kendall
All rights reserved

Cover design by Justin Evans
Design Director: Bill Johnson

Visit the authors website at www.rtkendallministries.com .

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Kendall, R. T.
Totally forgiving God / R.T. Kendall. -- 1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-61638-854-6 (trade paper) -- ISBN 978-1-61638-858-4 (e-book)
1. Suffering--Religious aspects--Christianity. 2. Trust in God. 3. Spirituality.
4. Forgiveness--Religious aspects--Christianity. 5. Forgiveness of sin. I. Title.

BV4909.K44 2012