Reclamation

All The Lost Years by Colleen Scheid is a powerful contemporary Christian novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is part of the Pleasant Hill series but can be read as a stand-alone.

Within the book we learn about the power of God’s love to redeem and restore. No one is ever too far from Him. If we journey down the wrong path, there is always the choice to turn round and return to Him. The leading character senses that she has moved far from God. “She couldn’t even feel Him in church.” Even if we don’t ‘feel’ God. He is always beside us.

There is a desire to return. “A yearning for that Jesus who healed broken people… She already went to church, read her Bible, and prayed. What else could she do?” When we want more of God, we need to come to Him with open arms, ready to receive. “This driven quality, this feeling like you aren’t good enough unless you bust your butt… That’s not what God thinks about you.” God wants us to come as we are, and He will restore us.

We don’t just meet God in church on Sundays. He is everywhere. “Nature was Lauren’s connection to God.” God meets us where we are.

Within the novel people need rescuing from their situations. We learn that “Only God has the power to rescue people.” We must “Not be afraid of a messy past. Look for what God’s doing now.” God takes our messes and turns them into masterpieces. “God’s love is bigger than my mess.”

There are characters who are close to God. “Jay sensed the nearness of God. That sure made all the losses easier to cope with.” We can rest in God and “Underneath the pain, deeper, was a sense of peace.” When we know God, we can know peace. No God equals no peace.

We want to carry God with us wherever we go. “He talked about Jesus like they were close. Jay awoke a longing in her to know God better.” When we carry God in our lives, others will want to know Him too.

There are the difficult themes of addiction, control and self-harm. These were sensitively portrayed.

All the characters were well drawn and believable. Colleen Scheid writes about ‘real’ people in ‘real’ situations. Life can be messy, but in the middle of the mess, we will find Jesus.

After All The Lost Years is a powerful book about messed up situations, and about God who redeems and restores.

I received a free copy from the author. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON