When God's Plan Is Unclear What in the world is God doing? It's easy to wonder this. We are living in an unfolding story, and it's hard to hold on when difficult circumstances linger, or your deepest prayer hangs in the air, seemingly unanswered. Thankfully the Bible is filled with people who experienced the same thing. They had to learn to trust God's way and timing--and their stories give us insights to live that way too. Mining often-overlooked passages of Scripture, Laurie Polich Short has unearthed 30 practical, encouraging gems of wisdom found in the faith and lives of biblical heroes to help you * see more of God's work as it unfolds in your life * have hope in circumstances that previously felt hopeless * be more comfortable--and possibly even excited--to lean into the unknown Here is your compass to living your story well when the way forward is unclear. "Why, God? What are you doing, God? Questions at the crossroads of faith and doubt can lead us to dead ends or to new vistas. Laurie's brilliant, biblical insights will help you see the map from God's mysterious perspective."--JOHN BURKE, New York Times bestselling author of Imagine Heaven

The roots of African American spirituality arise from the African origins of the enslaved who were brought to the West in chains. Flora Wilson Bridges explores these "African retentions" from their manifestations in Africa, through their presence in the slave communities of the American South and in Black churches today. The unique spirituality that arose from these retentions influenced many prominent black leaders including Howard Thurman, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. In a fascinating chapter, Bridges also shows how these African roots inform Black film, literature, and art.