"Incurable Faith" (Andrea Herzer)

TITLE: Incurable Faith: 120 Devotions of Lasting Hope for Lingering Health Issues
AUTHOR: Andrea Herzer
PUBLISHER: New York, NY: Waterbrook & Multnomah, 2023, (304 pages).
 

"You have cancer!" These three words can easily strike fear even for the most stoic minds. How does one deal with bad news? What if the prognosis is mostly negative? How then do we bear living in an increasingly unbearable situation? Like in a dark and gloomy tunnel, life through chronic illness can be downright depressing. In times like these, hope becomes that crucial light at the end of the long tunnel. One of the ways to remind us of hope in Jesus is through devotionals. Here, author Andrea Herzer gives us 120 devotionals to guide us through hardships any of us might encounter from time to time. These devotionals are conveniently categorized according to length. Section One is "snack size" meaning the devotional is about 1-2 pages long. Intended for people who might not be able to sustain a longer read, they are given in bit-size format for ease of reading and reference. The introductory passage, prayer, and invitation to worship are brief and to the point. Section Two is a little more substantial called "A Marvelous Meal." The passages are slightly longer, about 2-3 pages in length. This allows readers who have the energy to read a longer passage to do so. It gives us more time and space to reflect on the passages read. Section Three contains devotionals that are the most dense of all. It is written particularly for the lonely in mind. It is also suitable for those who want a longer quiet time. 

Every devotional begins with a Bible passage followed by a short illustration or story. Many of these stories are personal in nature, showing readers that the author has first-hand experience of what it means to struggle with illness. Beginning with a startling diagnosis of lymphoma, she shares her own stories on how this illness has impacted not just her health but also her family, relationships, and especially her spiritual thoughts throughout life. Those experiencing illnesses will probably identify with her experiences as the devotionals are written from the angle of someone struggling with faith in the midst of debilitating health issues. The sharing presents us with some of the challenges she faced while the prayers represent her desire to let faith overcome any lingering fears that might lurk in the crevices of each day's challenges. The "Embrace" is a desire to let go of one's fears and the "Worship" is a time to let God do His work. 

My Thoughts

It takes one to know one. Having a book written by an expert in the field is one thing. Having one who had personally gone through the actual struggles is something else. The main point of this book is that we should not let the pain wallow us down. Even in the worst of times, hope brings out the best of us. Herzer shows us 120 ways to do just that. Each devotional helps us identify with but not dwell in the struggles. This is an important point. The key to hope is perseverance. Each time we fall, we need to get back up. As long as the number of times we get back up exceeds the times we fall, we have hope. The author supplies 120 ways for us to get back up. 

The second thing to note is where we get the inspiration from. The Word of God is key to recovery. Like the apostle Paul who said that he will not let troubles get him down, his inner strength comes from God. In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul courageously declares that nothing could hold him back from the hope he has in Jesus. This key point can also be seen in these devotionals. Whether it is a snack-size or a feast-like devotional, they all point to the Source of Strength and Giver of Hope. Readers should be mindful that while the struggles of life are gloomy, the reality of God's Hope is far brighter. This is one of the biggest reasons to get this devotional. 

Finally, I want to say something about the title. Incurable diseases can be depressing. With the recent global pandemic, many of us have been impacted by tragedies around the world. Some even suffer from long-term effects of covid. Apart from health matters, mental health challenges continue to grow. I hear news agencies talking about mental health issues almost on a daily basis. That is where the beauty of the title comes in. Do not let diseases or all kinds of terminal illnesses bog us down. Incurable Faith is far greater than incurable diseases. That is the essence of hope.

One does not need to be physically ill or mentally challenged in order to benefit from this book. If anyone tells us that this world is a mess, we would probably nod our heads. Coupled with mental health issues, this can be excruciating, even unbearable. For readers struggling with such challenges, this book will offer welcome relief and needed encouragement. For those who are currently not experiencing any major issues, this book provides fodder for empathy and understanding.

Andrea Herzer is intimately acquainted with the hardships that accompany debilitating health issues, having spent the last twenty years with multiple illnesses, including complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Andrea’s compassionate writing helps others discover the riches of God’s sustaining love amid pain and suffering. You can find her work on iBelieve, Crosswalk, and OnePlace. Andrea lives in Texas with her husband, Mark. They have three grown children.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Waterbrook & Multnomah Publishers via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.