As Far As The East Is From The West

In From The Storm by Erin Stevenson is the most delightful contemporary Christian novel. It is the second book in the Canadian Meadows series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The major theme of the novel is of forgiveness. We all need to receive it and we all need to give it or risk becoming bitter. “Your sin was forgiven the first time you asked.” God gives us the free gift of forgiveness. We don’t deserve it and we cannot earn it. Sometimes in life we find it hard to forgive others. When we do, we must ask God to help us to forgive in His strength. Forgiveness is not forgetting but it is freeing for us.

Prayer is important. “Did God hear the prayers of someone who was breaking a Commandment?” God hears all our prayers. He even hears the prayers of our heart when we cannot find the words. “He wanted to pray but couldn’t form the words.”

We need community. We need our church family. “Ben found himself being pulled away from his church family and didn’t know what to do about it.” If we fear we are moving away, we must make every effort to re-connect. We need people who will support us in our Christian walk.

At times life is hard. Being a Christian does not exempt you from the hard times. “I haven’t promised to take the storms away, just to carry you through them.” Jesus supports us through every season in life.