In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake: Trusting the God Who Meets Us in Our Storm

Sometimes you grab a book because you want to read something that increases your faith and is filled with encouragement. The Schwenk’s book definitely did just that for me! However, I didn’t just grab it, it grabbed me back. With every page, I found myself being held closer and closer, drawn deeper and deeper to Christ. This isn’t just a book of fluff and inspiration, it’s a powerful writing that helps your heart realign with God’s sovereignty, surrender and hope. It doesn’t just leave you with a “good feeling”, it leaves you with a new strength to navigate your own hard seasons.

In this most important book, Pat and Ruth share what they learned about God and truths that carried them through as they learned and walked through Pat’s cancer battle. My husband and I have been friends of Pat and Ruth for years and my husband had experienced his own bout with cancer about 19 years ago. What they shared so matched what we had learned as we walked through cancer diagnosis and treatment. One of my favorite truths of the book was this: ‘The suffering God allows is the suffering God uses.” God wants us to truly know Him and His love for us and we find that no more true than when we face trials. God proves Himself and that what we read of our Heavenly Father in Scripture is true. You will not be disappointed, but you will be changed as you read this most relevant book by Ruth and Pat Schwenk.

Ruth and Pats new book, In A Boat In the Middle of A Lake, came to me during a particular hard season in my life. Actually a hard season for millions of people because of the Covid 19 pandemic among other life issues affecting our world currently. When situations happen in life outside of our control, we can feel like were in a boat out in the middle of nowhere in a storm without a way to get back to shore. We can feel like were stranded out there all by ourselves and that this storm will last forever. Ruth and Pat experienced a storm in the form of Pats cancer diagnosis and these are just a few of the feelings that they experienced during their hard season. In the book, they share their journey, with all its ups and downs, heartaches and joys and in sharing their story, they give the reader helpful insights and tools to navigate through their own storms. And they point the reader to the ultimate anchor of hope, which is Jesus Christ who helped Pat and Ruth not only survive through their stormy season, but who also is there to help the rest of humanity through their life storms as well. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with life situations that is outside of their control. Between the pages of this book, they will find comfort, they will definitely find hope, and they will ultimately find themselves back on the shoreline, with a new perspective and a greater faith.

I loved this book so much. I plan on reading it over and over again before passing it on. This book is a must read for everyone because we all experience suffering. If you arent in a boat in the middle of the lake right now, then you will most likely be at some point in your life.
Ive suffered with some scary health issues that have left me in a constant state of worry and fear. This book was so encouraging, but it also covered all the difficult aspects of suffering. It was refreshing to hear an open and honest story of the Authors own feelings and struggles with suffering through a Christian perspective. Instead of feeling guilt and shame at my lack of faith in my suffering, I finished this book with a completely different perspective on suffering and trials.
I dont think this is an exact quote but quite similar: Sometimes our trials reveal what we believe and what we dont. It wasnt until I was knee deep in my trial, that i was able to see how the Faith I thought I had just crumbled. It was an eye opening, perspective-changing, encouraging gem of a book.

This book is written in a reader friendly manner. If flows nicely from the Schwenk’s personal experiences back to their source of strength – scripture – and back again. Each chapter has a few thought provoking questions to help the reader go deeper in the process of finding steadiness and peace in the midst of troubled waters.

This book will meet you where you are at in the midst of whatever struggle you are facing. You will be encouraged to know that you are not alone in your fears, feelings and fight. And you will be pointed to the power you so desperately need to withstand the battle.

Topics like the “myth of our comfort” and “the blessing of the unblessed life” will stretch your thinking – in a good way.

Because we are created for community, I encourage you to get this book and don’t go it alone. Share it with others!

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