Beyond the Book with Dr. Hildreth: “God Is Great, God Is Good”

In the following Q&A, Hildreth takes some time to answer a few questions about his new book and who it is for.

What is the purpose of this book, and who is its target audience?

This is a kids’ book for children just below reading age or early readers.

The book is written as a conversation between the main character (Hunter) and the reader. He has learned a new mealtime prayer but doesn’t understand the words. So, the book is him asking what the words mean and how they can really be true all the time.

The real purpose is to encourage parents to help kids learn to pray and for them to help kids work through questions that will make their faith stronger. Of course, most parents will have similar questions, so the book is also designed to help parents grow in their faith as well.

What inspired you to write “God Is Great, God Is Good”?

The idea for writing a book about God’s goodness and his greatness came as I processed the death of my mom in 2020. Our journey required us to pray for a different kind of healing and this began to center on asking God to just be good to my mom.

As I thought about this, I was drawn to a little prayer that my mother taught me when I was a kid:

God is Great
God is Good
Let us Thank him for our food
By his hands, we are fed
Thank you God for Daily Bread.

So, in some ways, my mother planted the seeds that helped me process her death.

This little book builds on that prayer as a journey for childlike faith.

How should parents approach this book when reading it with their children?

First, just read it. It’s a fun little book with great pictures. It’s a conversation with the main character, so encourage your kids to respond through the book. Even if the answers are different each time.

Next, help kids consider how God’s goodness and greatness are part of their everyday lives.

If you do not have a meal prayer routine, the one in this book is a good one. And, you can expand each section as you see fit.

I also wrote a parent guide that helps parents and kids explore the concepts of the book a little further.

Why is it so important to think through the words that we pray and that we teach our children to pray?

That’s a great question!

It is very easy for us to memorize and repeat a prayer without really thinking about what we are saying. Jesus warned that this is not right. He reminded us that we are not heard because of more words, but by our heartfelt prayers.

He reminded us that we are not heard because of more words, but by our heartfelt prayers.

One thing the book does is put us inside the head of a little boy who is not content to just say words. He really wants to know what they mean. Each time he learns about God, it impacts how he prays. Each word takes shape and shapes his prayers.

How should gratitude shape both our prayers and our lives?

God does so much for us out of his goodness and greatness. But, if we forget this, we can grow bitter or frustrated. We live in a fallen world, and as the writer of Psalm 73 reminds us, sometimes others seem to be more blessed, even when we strive for godliness.

However, when we remember God and live in gratitude, this serves as protection against comparison and even sinful rebellion.

How has writing “God Is Great, God Is Good” shaped you spiritually?

As I said earlier – it first required me to go way back to the beginnings of my spiritual journey. Even though I didn’t become a Christian until I was in my early 20’s, the seeds of faith were planted by my mom and dad when I was just a little kid.

So now as a granddad, as I think about my own grandkids’ faith (and other children in my church or around Southeastern), I want to see these same seeds planted in their lives.

It’s kinda strange for a seminary professor to write a book for kids, but the process has really been fun and challenging. It required me to think missionally in a different way – how do I communicate the gospel clearly to a special group of people. So, in some ways, this little book is me being a missionary all over again.