Nick Tucker’s 12 Things God Can’t Do… And How They Can Help You Sleep at Night is a pastorally-oriented and theologically astute work exploring the connection between the character of God and the comfort of his people. Specifically, it surveys the aseity of God through the framework of twelve things that, according to Scripture, it is impossible for God to do. It then applies these truths to everyday life with the goal of giving believers a better night’s sleep. Tucker previously lectured in Church History and Christian Doctrine at Oak Hill Theological College in London and is currently in church-based ministry in the south of England. So he is well-equipped to write a book that brings together theological and pastoral insight. 12 Things God Can’t Do bears the hallmarks of a pastor-theologian seeking to understand God’s character deeply in order to assist the well-being and flourishing of God’s people.

The book’s thesis is simple: “Knowing God better really should help us to sleep more soundly” (p. 12). The reason for this is that confidence in God’s faithfulness will give the reader “a glimpse of God’s greatness that will change the way you see the world—and, yes, help you sleep at night” (pp. 13–14). Tucker therefore opens the book with the very theme of sleep, highlighting that because God does not sleep, we can. Acknowledging that “sleep is something we can normally only do when we feel safe,” he urges the reader to consider the significance of the fact that God cannot sleep (pp. 13–14). Drawing on the Psalms, he argues, “God will never take his eye off the ball; he will never drift off and fail to watch over and take care of his people. His people can rest, because he won’t” (pp. 12–14).

The book’s structure is wonderfully clear. It is comprised of twelve main chapters on the twelve things God cannot do: He cannot learn, be surprised, change his mind, be seen, bear to look at evil, change, be lonely, suffer, die, be tempted, lie, and disown himself. This approach serves as an effective and well-utilized hook, for rather than the natural tendency to contemplate what God can do, considering what God can’t do allows readers to consider God’s nature and character from a fresh perspective—one “which we can embrace with relief, celebrate with joy, worship with awe” (p. 20). The final chapter masterfully summarises the previous eleven things God can’t do and encourages the weary believer with the truth that God cannot disown himself. Examining 2 Timothy 2:11–13, Tucker argues that God will hold true to his promises, despite the strength (or otherwise) of our faith: “If we are faithless, he remains faithful for he cannot disown himself” (2 Tim 2:13, NIV). Because God cannot disown himself, he will not abandon us or let us fall, for “you could never rest safely in your own strength of faithfulness. But you can rest in his. So sleep well!” (p. 184).

Interspersed between these twelve chapters are five “interludes” that “wrestle with how, in the incarnation, God did the very things he cannot do” (p. 21). For example, God cannot learn, yet Jesus grew in wisdom and knowledge; God cannot be tempted, yet Jesus knew the fullness of temptation; God cannot suffer and die, and yet Jesus experienced suffering and death. The book’s interludes perceptively examine how the incarnate Son’s ability to do what is otherwise impossible for God is central to and essential for our salvation. In these sections in particular, Tucker interacts with a plethora of early Christian thinkers, especially those involved in the Trinitarian and Christological debates.

Continuing with the theme of sleep, the book’s first interlude contemplates how it can be that God incarnate sleeps, particularly in the astounding account recorded in Mark 4 of Jesus sleeping through a storm. This story demonstrates the crucial point that Jesus is truly human, and so, “able to share our limitations, whilst simultaneously being the God who cannot. In this mystery is hidden the depths of the Gospel” (p. 24). After examining how God can’t change, be lonely, suffer, or die, the interlude “God suffered and died alone” explores how the person and work of Jesus helps his people rest: “The Son of God, who by nature can neither be lonely or die, became a man and died alone.… This is the extent of his love. Who, believing that, would not find rest in it?” (p. 148).

12 Things God Can’t Do makes two valuable contributions to the church. First, the book addresses the gap that sometimes exists between substantial theological inquiry and sensitive pastoral practice. At times, theological discussion can be devoid of application to God’s people here and now, and pastoral works can sometimes be theologically anemic. This book, however, straddles both categories with theological acumen and pastoral acuity. Furthermore, Tucker adeptly incorporates historical theology, in particular the church fathers, drawing on theologians such as Irenaeus, Hilary of Poitiers, Athanasius, Augustine, and Anselm. He also weaves in philosophical arguments pertinent to the discussion, but always in an understandable way. This combination of theological, historical, and pastoral considerations provides a rich and serious treatment of his theme.

The book’s second contribution lies in its clear articulation of the various ways God is not like his creatures—particularly as we are often tempted to view God as simply a bigger and better version of ourselves. But Tucker is right: in contemplating how God is profoundly unlike us, immense peace and comfort can descend upon God’s people. Accordingly, this book will encourage all believers, weary or not, that it is precisely what God cannot do but in the incarnate Son who willingly takes on flesh does do that makes the gospel such a joy and makes sleep possible. As Tucker summarizes: “we sleep best at night when we know the God who cannot sleep, but did sleep for us” (p. 25).

Despite the book’s weighty theological, historical, and philosophical dimensions, it is engaging for the everyday reader. Tucker’s clear and accessible writing style means that it can be read by a broad audience, theological novice and expert alike. The tone is warm and approachable, and vignettes of stories, personal anecdotes, and engagement with popular culture, music, films, and poetry draw the reader in and carry the book along. Often, the book reads like a good sermon—biblically sound, theologically precise, personally engaging, and pastorally attuned. This is unsurprising, given Tucker’s week-by-week work in the pulpit. All these elements combine to create the overall character of the book: rich theology applied to real life.

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