In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake
Trusting the God Who Meets Us in Our Storm
- Christian Living
- Publisher: Nelson Books (Thomas Nelson)
- Published: 2020
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Publisher's Description
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
Endorsements (14)
“Although suffering is an inevitable part of life, we value and cling to control and comfort. In this book, my friends, Patrick and Ruth Schwenk, share their personal story of being in the eye of the storm and provide practical ways to walk through difficult times while knowing that God meets us right where we are. In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake is a powerful reminder that our current reality is not our final reality, and God is Lord over all chaos and suffering!”
“Patrick and Ruth Schwenk have written a book that will help you redefine personal struggles and suffering from a biblical worldview. You will not find five steps to solving your pain or hopeful platitudes. Their writing is deeply compassionate, real, and profoundly hopeful. You will read how pain, suffering, hurt, and disappointment are never without purpose, never done alone, and never hopeless in God’s economy. The Schwenk’s don’t just know this, they have experienced it. If you find yourself in the middle of a trial, wondering Why me?, or wanting to encourage a sufferer, I highly recommend this book.”
Dr. Garrett Higbee
“There are very few books these days that I can’t put down, but this is one of them. For me it was a mountain and for the Schwenk’s it was a lake—but for all of us, there are unexpected storms and a Savior who says, ‘Peace be still.’ I loved this book, its space for thoughtful reflection, its reminder that we are not alone in our suffering, and its encouragement to keep going.”
“With the vulnerability and honesty that have long characterized their ministries of help and hope for so many families, Patrick and Ruth invite us into the boat that took them across the storm-churned waters of suffering a dreaded cancer diagnosis. They dip their feelings, fears, and faith into the lifegiving water of God’s Word to remind us that Jesus is in the boat with us and has his sight set on the shore. Whatever your own journey of suffering, this is a story to remind you that no matter what the destination, Jesus will not let you drown. He will walk those waters with you all the way.”
“In our broken world hardships happen, and In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake offers powerful reminders of how God proves over and over again how he uses hard times to push us toward intimacy, trust, and dependence on him—the only path to lasting joy and purpose. Our God is not limited to good circumstances to do something good. Thanks, Patrick and Ruth Schwenk, for writing this, and even more, for living it.”
“No one wants to wake up and suddenly realize they’re in the center of a storm. But how many of us have found ourselves in just such a situation? And we honestly don’t know where to turn or what to make of it. This is why I highly recommend Patrick and Ruth Schwenk’s much-needed message shared In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake. These two offer powerful, compassionate, and biblical encouragement for anyone navigating those inevitably choppy waters of life.”
“With a fine balance of humor and deep biblical truths, Pat and Ruth remind us that when we face suffering and hardship, God is with us. Their ability to show us how God uses pain as a catalyst to cultivate a deep, faith-filled life is something to be thankful for. We literally could not put this book down!”
“This book was a warm balm to my soul. But it did not just comfort me—it challenged me. Pat and Ruth have walked through the valley of the shadow of death and yet remained strong through the fiercest of storms. They are honest about their wrestling with the Lord, while pointing the reader to the One who is always there for us and never fails us. If you have suffered from pain, loss, fear, or disappointment, then this book is for you—it is life-changing!”
“The phone call with a diagnosis or the sudden loss of someone you love can come like a bolt out lightening out of nowhere. Now what? Drawing on their own personal experiences, Pat and Ruth share their struggle through fear and pain. With their honesty and vulnerability, they show us that when the storms of our lives meet a good and faithful God, hope is within reach. If you are looking for a compass to help you find direction and peace in the midst of your chaos, this book is for you.”
“Who among us hasn’t received ominous news that threatened to rock our world? A medical diagnosis. A marriage in crisis. A wayward relative who is self-sabotaging. Looming financial ruin. If you feel like life’s circumstances are threatening to sink you—spiritually, and maybe even physically—In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake is the lifeline you need. Full of personal stories and biblical encouragement, this powerful book will cause you to stop complaining, ‘Lord, get me out of here!’ and instead calmly ask, ‘Father, why have you brought me here?’ Highly recommend.”
“In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake takes us on a journey—a finely woven tapestry—combining Patrick and Ruth’s personal experience with key biblical texts and narratives for our understanding and growth. It is a real and raw roller coaster ride that will deepen your appreciation for the role of pain in your life and give you a new perspective as to what matters most.”
“Through the pages of this book, Patrick and Ruth pastored parts of my heart that I didn’t realize needed pastoring. We need voices like theirs in times of great uncertainty, and even in times of perceived security. Their words were a gift to me.”
“This book is a tangible gift for those sitting in their own boat wondering if Jesus cares about them. Dipping their pens in the words of 2 Corinthians 1:4, Ruth and Pat offer real comfort to fear-filled followers of Christ because they themselves have found him flawlessly faithful. I am grateful for the grace they extend in letting us ‘tether’ our boats to theirs and encouraging us to deeply trust that Jesus will get us to the other side just as he promised.”
“For anyone searching for hope in a dark or desperate season, In a Boat in the Middle of a Lake beautifully touches on all of the ways God is working in our lives to bring hope in our suffering and transform our hearts through his amazing grace. No pain is ever wasted, and Patrick and Ruth are proof of that. I cannot say enough good things about this book. It is one I will read over and over again. It is the reminder we all need that God is good, he is for us, and he is making all things new.”
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