In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake: Trusting the God Who Meets Us in Our Storm
Your Storm Doesn’t Have to Sink You
At some point in our lives, we all find ourselves in a boat in the middle of a lake. We might be there due to a job loss or the death of a loved one. Maybe disability, divorce, or financial insecurity has stranded us. Patrick and Ruth Schwenk found themselves feeling battered after five miscarriages and then surrounded by the waves with Patrick’s cancer diagnosis at age forty-three. They were alone. Drifting. And that’s when their transformation began.
In this compassionate and powerful book, the Schwenks weave together lessons from their own experience with insightful Bible teaching to remind us that one of the greatest ways God transforms us is through trials. As they unpack why Jesus called the disciples into the middle of a lake when dry ground was so safe and comfortable, they help us
- understand why the depth of our hurt enables us to experience deep hope;
- learn to conquer fear to experience the freedom God has for us; and
- discover how God uses chaos, and not just the classroom, to shape and work through us.
Today—in your confusion about God’s intentions, your disappointment over lost dreams, your disillusionment about prayer—God is offering hope. Because Jesus is still Lord over the water. And while he is not moved by the waves, he is moved by you. And this flood might just be a path to abundance.
“A powerful reminder that our current reality is not our final reality, and God is Lord over all chaos and suffering!”
—Candace Cameron Bure, actress and New York Times bestselling author
Reviews (45)
A must read for building faith in hard seasons!
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.
A must read for everyone who goes through suffer.
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.
finding hope when the storms of life blow you off course
Ruth and Pat’s 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 we’re in a boat out in the middle of nowhere in a storm without a way to get back to shore. We can feel like we’re stranded out there all by ourselves and that this storm will last forever. Ruth and Pat experienced a storm in the form of Pat’s 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.
Hope in your suffering
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 aren’t in a boat in the middle of the lake right now, then you will most likely be at some point in your life. I’ve 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 Author’s 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 don’t think this is an exact quote but quite similar: “Sometimes our trials reveal what we believe and what we don’t.” It wasn’t 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.
So Encouraging I ordered more to share!
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!
Hope for the Trials in Life
The question isn’t whether each of us will face storms, but how we will respond and Who we will look to when we do. In “In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake,” Pat and Ruth Schwenk share the story of Pat’s cancer diagnosis (and other trials they have faced or walked with others through) with realness and vulnerability. Storms in life often leave us feeling confused, scared, alone, and adrift. They know that, and I appreciated how they don’t attempt to rush the reader (or themselves) through the “lamenting,” rather share how acknowledging suffering is a part of the journey and that our hope can be deeper and stronger because of it. Ultimately, their message shines with faith and hope, and points to how God may be using our suffering, and a reminder that this suffering isn’t our final reality.
A must read for anyone facing the storms of life!
This book is a must read for anyone facing the storms of life. Pat and Ruth offer a message of hope as they share their journey through Pat’s cancer diagnosis. They are vulnerable and real as they share their story and their writing is so relatable. We all face struggles and storms of life whether is a diagnosis, job loss, a death etc. but with our eyes fixed in Jesus we can continue to have hope.
Hope those who are struggling.
Read this book. I found out about this book because Crystal Paine @ the Money Saving Mom posted it on her Instagram. I am hardly on social media, but when she posted a couple quotes from this book I knew I needed to read it. Having a child diagnosed with a serious, rare, and chronic immune condition is beyond challenging, especially in the middle of Covid. I didn’t know I how much I needed to read this book! Every single chapter was so incredibly healing to me. Please, please pick up this book if you find yourself in a season of hardship and suffering. Thank you to the authors who share so transparently about their own struggles and yet point to the truth and hope found in God’s Word.
At Some Point, We are all in a Boat
I appreciated this book so much. Even though it is a story of their family's journey through a cancer diagnosis, the lessons they learned are applicable to all life trials. They continually point the reader to Jesus, and I found myself nodding in agreement and affirmation throughout!
Must read for all who wish to increase faith!
As Christians, we know that suffering is a part of life. Jesus does not promise us an easy road. Whether you are currently in the midst of a storm or just coming out of one, this book is a must read. Pat and Ruth beautifully share their "storm" with us and remind us that God is in charge of all of our days (even the dark and scary ones). We are never alone in our storms!
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