After my last read, I needed something that showed a different view of society. I found it here, along with a book that raises issues about our view of God. Laura and Martin have not been married long when he is diagnosed with a brain tumour. They do what most believing Christians would do in that situation. They earnestly pray for healing. Anyone who has ever prayed for healing or anything else of great importance and feels God let them down by not answering as they wanted or expected, will relate to some of the feelings and questions this couple experience. This sentence on the first page expresses some truths that are expounded through the book. ‘We’re all just one phone call away from learning the results of a test or the news of an affair, the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or a thousand other ways our hope can be shattered.
In that moment, we think life as we know it is over.’ Sound familiar? It sure did to me.
Laura Story goes on, ‘The truth is, life, as we’ve yet to know it, has just begun.’
I could have plucked quotes from many places throughout this book but one I liked was when Laura Story was tempted to be angry with God at what had happened. But then she had another thought. ‘Am I going to let my circumstances determine my view of God, or am I going to let God determine how I view my circumstances?’
Each chapter of the book finishes with a myth and a truth. This is one:
The strength of my faith is based on how strongly I believe.
Truth: The strength of my faith is based on the strength of my God.’
As well as being a personal story and experience, this book is filled with a lot of helpful tips for working through situations that life throws at us. I loved the way the way Laura and Martin were enfolded by their church and the support they received throughout. It is a real picture of God’s love in action. I also liked the way their friends were prepared to speak the truth and call them out when they thought things they were doing were wrong. Being a true friend means being able to tell the truth to each other and also to accept it.
Until I read this book I only knew Laura Story for her worship song ‘Indescribable.’ Since then I have listened to several others. This story is a heartbreaker. Yes, it made me cry but it also a book of hope. It made me thankful that God never leaves us alone in the hard times but is walking with us just as He is with Laura and Martin. This is a book I suspect I will be buying more than one copy of to give to friends and loved ones. An honest, hopeful and challenging read. If you are having a hard time with life maybe this book could be a help to you too.