I have been looking forward to reading BRIDGE TO HAVEN by FRANCINE RIVERS ever since I saw it was going to be released in April and have certainly not been disappointed! It is the story of a broken young girl's journey towards salvation. It is really well told and full of biblical truth and I highly recommend it.Abandoned at birth, Abra feels she is nobody and is unable to accept the fact that she is worth anything or that she is loved by Pastor Zeke or Peter and Priscilla. This leads to her rebellion as a teenager and to her looking for love in the wrong places. It is only after she has made a complete mess of her life that she realizes that she has been loved all along.
Abra is a a good actress, having pretended all her life in order to cover up her deep-seated unhappiness, and actually nearly loses herself in the role she ends up playing. We see the importance of the word of God as she remembers the words to the hymns she used to play in church. Mitzi made her play and sing them over and over, knowing that the unhappy young girl would one day need something to draw her back to the Lord. We also see the importance of intercessory prayer and of never giving up on one's loved ones, even when things look impossible in the natural. It is so true that those who are the hardest to love need to be loved most of all!
The story brings to mind the parable of the Prodigal Son, and also the Father's love for wayward Israel as described in Hosea chapter two.
The characters are beautifully portrayed, and throughout the story one is aware of the Lord's presence in their lives. Their emotional struggles are sensitively brought out, together with the results of the choices they make, not only in their own lives but also in the lives of others. Pastor Zeke and Joshua play important roles in Abra's life, and show Christ's mercy, patience and unconditional love towards her. They also show faith in God when all seems lost. It is largely through their love for her that she comes to accept the Father's love and His forgiveness, and is made whole. I highly recommend this novel.
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