Grace in Strange Disguise

Author: Christine Dillon
Genre: Inspirational Fiction

Physiotherapist Esther Macdonald is living the Australian dream, and it doesn’t surprise her.

After all, her father has always said, “Follow Jesus and be blessed.” But at twenty-eight, her world shatters. Everyone assures her God will come through for her, but what happens when he doesn’t? Has she offended God? Is her faith too small? So many conflicting explanations.

Will finding the truth cost her the people closest to her heart?

Reviewer: Laura J. Davis

It's very rare when I come across a new writer (to me) who makes me wait with bated breath for her next novel, but Christine Dillon, author of Grace in Strange Disguise, has managed to do just that.

There are so many facets of this book that appealed to me. Let's start with the primary theme - what happens if you believe in God for healing, but it never happens? The author has taken a doctrinal teaching in many churches that say, if you are sick and God doesn't heal you, then you must have sin in your life that has gone unconfessed. In the case of our main character, Esther, it is her fault she has cancer.  It is a false doctrine that many churches preach, and it needs to be exposed. Dillon does an excellent job of it in this book.

Not only does the author expose this teaching as false, but she does it in such a way that the reader is learning why it is wrong at the same time as the main character. Unfortunately for our main character, Esther, her father is a preacher, and this is the false doctrine he preaches. Her journey from blindly following a false teaching to investigating the truth for herself by actually reading her Bible was inspirational and moving.

The second issue, of course, is Esther's cancer. The emotional rollercoaster she goes through is well written and relatable. What goes through her head when she hears the "C" word, is exactly what went through my head when my doctor thought I had cancer. Her experiences will speak to anyone who has gone through such a diagnosis.

The third part of this book that I loved was the concept of storytelling the gospel. This is something I have never heard of before and something I would love to put into practice. It's so unique that I have to wonder why more churches don't teach it. 

Moving, inspirational and motivating are all words to describe Grace in Strange Disguise. If you want to read a story you won't be able to put down this year, make it this one!

---

---

Reviewer: Sabrina Wade

Well written! Captivating, inspiring, and uplifting. I am absolutely ecstatic this is book one of several more to come! I just love a story about suffering molded into a testimony. Beautiful! There's nothing like looking at the whole picture Jesus painted for us instead of just the pleasant parts. The big picture help us to capture the deeper meaning.

Abundant blessings here on this earth aren't promised to us as Esther discovered. This world is not meant to be our eternal home. Quite frankly just listening to the news and watching Facebook newsfeed ought to be enough for us to not desire earth as an eternal home. The simplicity of Grace in Strange Disguise is the same simplicity of the Gospel. Can't wait to read more in the coming future! In the meantime I'll practice storytelling of Jesus.

---