A sudden thud to the ground during Thanksgiving season in 2009 changed the Chandler’s lives forever. Matt Chandler, a prominent Evangelical Pastor had stage 3 brain cancer. This may read like a simple headline on a Twitter newsfeed, but the agony it brought to his wife Lauren was deep.
Dropping Anchor On One Passage
The book Steadfast Love is not necessarily a memoir on their trying journey, but rather an overview of one particular psalm that had brought strength to Lauren during this trial and many others throughout her life (Psalm 107). The mention of Matt’s brain cancer is scanter than what I thought it would be (gauged by the book trailer). That was personally for the best for me. Both of us still are not able to talk truly in depth about our own experience with major neurological issues and the sensitive matters that are attached to such a harsh physical infirmity. Reading about someone else’s experience with similar issues gnaws at me deeply. It hits the jugular, even to the point of causing restless sleep. The same may still be the case for Matt and Lauren Chandler.
I know it took some by surprise that we were not sojourners on a travel with Lauren during this hard season. But I can understand. It’s difficult to write the nitty-gritty details of vulnerability. Maybe one day, they can have another book chronicling their journey more in-depth. For now, we have the heart of a songwriter in the book Steadfast Love.
The Heart of a Singer/Songwriter
It’s no wonder Lauren Chandler is drawn to the Psalms as she is a skilled songwriter and worship leader. The Psalms breathe worship and lyrics with Psalm 107 as no exception. Lauren dives into this Psalm, examining the steadfast love from God towards His people in four different circumstances of despair: those who are wandering in the desert, then those who are locked into their own chains, others who are reaping the consequences of their own folly, then there are those who are caught up in an unexpected storm.
In Need Of A Constant, In Need Of An Anchor
The book is broken up into five parts: A Call to Worship (Psalm 107:1-3), The Desert (Psalm 107:4-9), Chains (Psalm 107:10-16), Folly (Psalm 107: 17-22), and finally, The Storm (Psalm 107: 23-43). Each part includes several chapters that espouse these passages with Lauren Chandler bringing real-to-life illustrations. Some will inevitably hit harder than others depending upon your own personal season of distress. The style is similar to another book by B&H- Priscilla Shirer’s God is Able which sits on Ephesians 3:20 with a magnifying glass to really look at the details of this one portion in the Bible.
Steadfast Love is a beautiful book- both with the lovely designed cover and the content from Lauren Chandler. Also included is a wonderfully written forward by Ann Voskamp (Author of One Thousand Gifts). Steadfast Love would make an excellent gift book for those facing their own crises moments. We need a constant in these moments of crises- an anchor for our life. God’s steadfast love is what provides this secure anchor.
For an explanation on why we do book reviews read here, Related Reads: Mended, Eric Metaxas On Miracles, Dancing Through Life
I received this book for free from B&H and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
I have just come across your story today from the posting of a friend on Facebook. The last 16 years has not usually strengthened my faith in God but more to the opposite. My oldest son who is now 25 had brain cancer when he was nine along with surgery, chemo, and radiation. However he was one of the 30% that survive his type of cancer. And then 11 years ago my wife also had a benign brain tumor and after successful surgery contracted spinal meningitis which scarred much of her brain to where she has no short-term memory and needs adult supervision most of the time. Even with all of that I’m not going to say I understand what you are going through, but one of your hopes is to help others and I watched all of your videos and read a few of your blogposts over the last several hours and you have helped me. I have already prayed for you an hour ago but I will pray for you again after this posting and I hope that I help you by doing that. I hope you feel something good from God because I prayed for you.
I tried to fix my login to show my real name but it didn’t seem to work.
In God’s great love to you and Michael:
Ryan Ritenour
Oh wow, Ryan WE can’t imagine what you yourself have been through. Thank you for reaching out to us for support and encouragement. It blesses us more than you can imagine to let us know that in some small fraction of a way we can be of any impact. It was definitely a sacrifice to share our story with others, but we hope it can somehow, through Christ, offer hope to others. I know you sharing your own story is a sacrifice that we don’t take lightly. It blesses us to hear your story. We’ve put your name down in our prayer list to keep you and your wife in prayer. Many, many blessings to you, Ryan. Stay in touch. -In Christ: Michael & Sarah