This was the message of the book Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. I had heard the book recommended. When I discovered my library had it on a shelf, I wanted to see why it was so highly recommended. It took me a few days to plow through the story, as it isn't my usual type of novel.
Set in the 1960s, Peace Like a River is the story of Jeremiah Land, a single father of three children. From the very first page we learn that Jeremiah Land is a man of prayer. When his son, Reuben, is born not breathing, we witness the first miracle. What follows is a family story of tough times, tragedies, poor choices, and a man that didn't give up on God or his family no matter what came his way.
Told from the point of view of Reuben, we get to know Davey, the older brother that Is emotional and will defend his family at great personal cost. We meet Swede, the highly intelligent younger sister with a love of reading and writing, mostly about western life. Both of these help her cope with tragic circumstances that seem more than an adult could handle, let alone a nine year old child.
The book alternates from overwhelming circumstances of awe versus heartbreak, with periods of dragging. However, the moments of awe will take your breath away. The moments of heartbreak will leave you angry, demanding justice, and sad, asking God why. All of it will stay with you long after the last page is read.
I loved the character of Jeremiah Land. He was not perfect, but his faith was true. He would wrestle with God over what to do, over and for his children. He didn't always have the answers. It seemed as if he paid a high price for the decisions made by others. However, he kept pushing forward. He kept leaning on the Lord and striving to follow and serve. He kept searching the Scriptures and praying.
The miracles that happened in the book were sometimes not witnessed by anyone except Reuben. The boy sees things that are unexplainable, even in the midst of utter tragedy and high emotion. The impact of what he sees stays with him for the rest of his life. He wrestles with why his father is used by God to do miracles while his own family struggles so deeply.
They are questions we all ask. Why do some suffer while some get healed? Why do bad things happen to some while others seem to live lives without much struggle or strife? There are no easy answers. Life seems unfair. We question the sovereignty of God, His goodness, His love for us. And yet, as we see in Peace Like a River, the story of our lives is not just about the here and now.
The story was one that will stay with me for a long time.
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