Biblical Fiction, Book Reviews, Writing

Finding Hope in a Time of Despair

I almost didn’t read this book. Even though I’d previously read Prophetess, another in The Daughters of the Promised Land series, I’ve always been uncomfortable with the story of Hannah–how could she give up her son? But I reminded myself how much I loved Prophetess and decided to read Hannah’s story.

I’m so glad I did. Smith perfectly renders the emotional longing Hannah feels as she passionately hopes for a child through years of waiting. Her distress is compounded when her husband Elkanah marries a second wife, who has several children in quick succession. If that’s not enough to break Hannah’s heart, the second wife taunts Hannah, calling her a worthless wife. The characters in A Passionate Hope are emotionally compelling. I mourned with Hannah, felt her despair when she was at her lowest.

But I also rejoiced with hope when the Lord answered Hannah’s prayer. She became pregnant with Samuel, given by God. There’s so much more to this story as Hannah contemplated Israel’s plight and considered the vow she felt she must take.

Without giving away spoilers, I finally understood how Hannah could make her vow. Smith brought to life the setting of the time in which Hannah and Elkanah lived, importantly showing the culture of dishonesty and perversion in the characters of two villains, Phineas and Hophni. Once I understood that her whole world was at stake, I applauded Hannah’s choice.

As Jill Eileen Smith states in her Note to the Reader, “I find it fascinating that God shows us through this period of the judges that sin comes at us from a variety of sources. But none of us are immune to its pull or its consequences. In every era, across every culture, we have had need of a deliverer. The judges and kings merely saved Israel for a time. The real Deliverer was yet to come. And when He came, His mother, like Hannah, rejoiced in a song of praise. May we all learn despite hardship to be as gracious and joyful as Hannah.”

I highly recommend this deep, emotional, and hopeful book to my readers and others who enjoy biblical novels. If you read authors such as Mesu Andrews, Connilyn Cossette, Tessa Afshar, Angela Hunt, or Carole Towriss, you will love Jill Eileen Smith.

From the Back Cover

Can one woman’s prayers change the world?

Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, share a deep and abiding love for each other, for their God, and for His tabernacle at Shiloh. Greatly disturbed by the corruption of the priests, they long for restoration and pray for a deliverer. But nothing changes as the years pass. Years that also reveal Hannah to be barren. Pressured by his family to take another wife, Elkanah marries Peninnah, who quickly begins to bear children. Disgraced and taunted by her husband’s new wife, Hannah turns again to prayers that seem doomed to go unanswered. Do her devotion and kindness in the face of Peninnah’s cruelty count for nothing? Will God remain silent and indifferent to her pleas? Travel back to the dusty streets of Shiloh with an expert guide as Jill Eileen Smith brings to life a beloved story of hope, patience, and deliverance that shows that even the most broken of relationships can be restored.

A Passionate Hope is a wonderful novel rich with historical detail about real people who suffer the heartache that comes from stepping out ahead of God, and the miracle of grace that comes when we cry out to Him.”–Francine Rivers, bestselling author of Redeeming LoveJill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the Wives of King David, the Wives of the Patriarchs, the Loves of King Solomon, and the Daughters of the Promised Land series. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan. Learn more at www.jilleileensmith.com. –This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the biblical fiction series The Wives of King David, Wives of the Patriarchs, and Daughters of the Promised Land, as well as The Heart of a King, Star of Persia: Esther’s Story, and Miriam’s Song. She is also the author of the nonfiction books When Life Doesn’t Match Your Dreams and She Walked Before Us. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan. Learn more at www.jilleileensmith.com. –This text refers to the paperback edition.

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1 Comment

  1. Thank you for discussing this important topic as more than ever people are struggling with mental health issues, money problems, insecurity, anxiety, various fears, troubled relationship and some sadly are becoming prescription drug addicts as they try to numb and escape the emotional pain within. Meanwhile the unhealthy side effects of drug use are causing many premature deaths. Thankfully, holistic natural remedies and the supernatural divine intervention of our Creator also exist to heal and transform humanity. ~ Paul F. Davis from https://DreamMakerMinistries.com/

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