Bonnie S. Hirst is a woman of faith who has always believed that everything in life works out for the best. So, when her daughter, Lacey, is accused of a terrible crime, although Bonnie is devastated, she is also convinced that God will protect her family from harm. He always has, after all. But when her prayers are not answered and Lacey is sentenced to life in prison, Bonnie questions every … aspect of her existence: her beliefs, her role as a mother, and the purpose behind the events that are tearing her family apart.
As Bonnie and her family navigate the complicated labyrinth of the legal system, she struggles with the duality of presenting a façade of being okay on the outside and screaming for air on the inside. Finally, she is guided to ask for help—a concept previously foreign to her—and is rewarded with a bubble of friends who surround her and her family with love. Poignant, hopeful, and ultimately uplifting, Test of Faith is the story of one mother’s spiritual journey of awareness—and her discovery that even when your life seems to have radically veered off course, there are always blessings to be found, if you can just keep your heart open enough to receive them.
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This riveting story of unjust imprisonment is a profound testament to faith, even when God seemingly turns away. Much like a suspense/thriller, it had me white-knuckled on numerous occasions. And when I reminded myself that this event happened in real life—that it’s not fiction—it made TEST OF FAITH all the more harrowing. A five-star read in every way!
way and in His timing. Prayer should come from the heart. It may be as simple as “Dear Lord be with us.”
There were times when Bonnie Hirst felt her prayers fell on deaf ears. She had to trust that God’s plans were far greater than hers, that there would be a purpose in her pain.
Test Of Faith shows the remarkable resilience of Bonnie Hirst and her family. She grows stronger as she trusts God more. Her daughter Lacey is amazing too, as she accepts her fate as part of God’s wider plan.
Test Of Faith is an inspiring book. You never know just how strong people are until they really do face circumstances where all they can do is rely on and trust God.
This book is well written and easy to read. Thank you Bonnie Hirst for sharing the story and remarkable faith of your family.
I will leave you with a quote that I found incredibly powerful:
“Nature is God’s canvas of love… it was as if God was reassuring me that He was still here.”
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
A word of caution: this book does contain language that some readers may not like nor expect to find in a Christian testimony.
This book grabbed me from the very beginning and I read it in a day. It’s compelling, honest and heartbreaking. I especially appreciated the unapologetic faith of the narrator and how she wove that into the story throughout as she brought us into her world. A great read and a wonderful contribution. Powerful!
There is no truer test of faith than Bonnie Hirst’s family story. Her book “test of faith” is an incredible journey of perseverance and strength that no mother should have to endure. Even with their unforeseen ending, they remain steadfast in prayer to heal and to save. Buy it, read it and join in prayer.
I have never read a book this fast. I was done in just a few hours. It was easy to read and definitely kept me engaged. I can only imagine in my nightmares what Bonnie Hirst and her family has had to deal with and is continuing to deal with. Her grace and faith in God is admirable.
I love reading memoir. I see the world through new eyes, and experience both shared and foreign experiences through the author’s lens. I am neither a parent nor a person of religious faith, so I didn’t expect to relate to much in Bonnie Hirst’s moving memoir of surviving her daughter’s arrest, trial, and ultimate life sentence, and the role Hirst’s faith in God played throughout. But I was hooked from the opening pages. She writes with an honesty and poignancy (and considerable skill!) that unfolds her story with grace. Knowing the outcome does not diminish the story, but allows the reader to see and feel it with compassion and understanding. There is so much to relate to in this memoir: grief, hope, family, friendship, following our dreams, and discovering wells of strength and courage in ourselves and our loved ones. I heartily recommend this book.
Test of Faith is a beautifully written, gut-wrenchingly honest portrait of a family’s love and strength in the most difficult of times. I picked it up after dinner and couldn’t put it down. I finished it before bedtime. Hirst’s open-hearted and clear prose draws the reader into an intimate circle of faithful and supportive friends and family, allowing us to feel a part of that community of love. Whether you are a believer like Hirst, or an atheist like me, I think you will find a place here. Her beautiful observations of nature add deep undercurrents of peace to an otherwise chaotic and painful time. Hirst’s memoir attests to the power and beauty of faith, whether in a god, in nature, or in one’s circle of friends. The most powerful lesson? Ask for help when you need it and trust in the bounty of the earth and your loved ones.