Dear God, Have You Lost Faith in Me? by Imani
Dear God, Have You Lost Faith in Me? by Imani follows a woman’s internal and external struggles as she searches for a connection to God when she is at her lowest. When Lydia feels that God has lost faith in her, she is filled with doubt and begins to lose faith in Him.
If God is supposed to be her true supporter, why has she experienced so much heartache and conflict in her life? Through the love of her friends and family, and with the strength of God, Lydia finally finds her purpose and realizes the true power of faith.
A DEVOTED MOTHER’S LOVE FOR HER SON
Lydia is a single mother who lost both of her parents in a tragic accident. Now, she works full-time at a local waffle house, raises her son, Maven, with the help of her grandmother, and struggles to make ends meet.
When the Christmas season rolls around, Maven knows that his mother can’t spend extravagantly. So, he only puts one thing at the top of his list — a VisionOne, a popular gaming console that all the kids at school have. Lydia knows she can’t afford it on her salary because she can hardly scrape by enough money to purchase groceries and keep the lights on. Not wanting to disappoint her son, she prays for a Christmas miracle.
Eventually, Lydia decides that prayer isn’t going to change her life overnight. She takes control of her situation by working towards a promotion, facing a difficult part of her past, and sacrificing the things that are most important to her.
Lydia’s strength is tested numerous times, but still, she turns to God for answers and guidance. When she thinks life can’t get any worse, she experiences a tragedy that gives life an entirely new perspective. She is able to recognize what is truly important to her and make the active choice to devote herself to the life she was given.
LESSONS THAT APPLY TO RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR LIFE
In Dear God, Have You Lost Faith in Me?, Imani reminds readers of lessons that are crucial to both faith and everyday life. Many of the life lessons in the novel come from Lydia’s friends and coworkers, but a majority are shared by her grandmother, Momma Mae. As a caring and God-fearing woman, Momma Mae has a lot of wisdom to offer. She often echoes the words of recent sermons at church, reminding Lydia about the importance of prayer and following God’s plans.
The essence of the novel is captured by one piece of wisdom that emphasizes the importance of being grateful. “… Everyone recognizes God for the big things but people forget He does the small things too.” This can be applied to religion — turning to God in both the good times and the bad to acknowledge all of the little things that He does every day. Even people who don’t participate in religion or prayer can benefit from the mindset of taking time to appreciate the small things in life and learning not to take things for granted. The lessons taught in this novel are ones people can carry with them for the rest of their lives.
SYMPATHETIC CHARACTERS MAKE READERS WANT MORE
Imani has created characters that are complicated and sympathetic. They experience issues that are relatable, leading readers to ask themselves, what would I do? Readers will be curious to see where Lydia’s journey takes her, and what other tests of faith and challenging life events are in store for her.
Will the subtle romance lingering in this story come to the forefront? Will Maven face other struggles while growing up? Will Momma Mae remain a steadfast mentor in Lydia’s life? Dear God, Have You Lost Faith in Me? is a meaningful and thought-provoking parable of motherhood, family and faith.
