In an instant, your life can change from calm and peaceful to one filled with personal trauma. Where do you turn for peace? How do you find God’s help and comfort?

The key points of PRAYING FOR MY LIFE by Marion Bond West are captured in the prophetic words from Habakkuk 3:17-19, which describes a difficult personal plight. In part it says, “Though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” The phrases from these verses create the section divisions of Bond West’s personal story of dealing with adversity.

The mother of four, Bond West writes movingly about the difficulties she faced with her fraternal twin sons, Jon and Jeremy, after her first husband died from a brain tumor. Over a four-year period, this now-single mother had to look after these “strong-willed” brothers who stretched every boundary and limit.

In an early chapter, Bond West describes her fears when Jon and Jeremy, as 35-year-old adults, are patients in two different hospitals. Jeremy suffers his fourth car accident, while on the other side of the city, Jon is hospitalized with a fever and a life-threatening bacterial disease to his hand and arm. Just when you believe Bond West is carrying more than a human can bear, she’s challenged to say “no” to a grown son who wants to move back home.

In a modern sense, Bond West’s personal experiences capture the emotions of the prophet Habakkuk, and she declares her own determination to follow God in faith no matter what happens.

Each chapter ends with a pointed personal prayer related to Bond West’s experiences in that section. As she grows through the life-changing situations and walks in faith, the reader’s faith is also strengthened. Not every chapter relates to her family --- several sections deal with befriending nearby neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Farmer. Despite her hardships and struggles, Bond West never stops believing and never stops praying. She continues to experience the transforming power of God in her life and in the lives of family members, providing hope to readers that they too can continue to move ahead through life’s challenges.

In this well-crafted book, Bond West uses vivid dialogue and rich, engaging prose to relate her experiences. Anyone can gain strength and encouragement from these pages.