Ladies of Substance Book Club

The Atonement Child - The Lessons Learnt

There is a question that is continually being asked to Christians, and that is: Why does bad things happen to good people? When Dynah, a Christian who had followed Christ since knowing how, is raped and falls pregnant, the foundation that she and those around her once so confidently stood upon begins to shake. However, despite the horrific event, this book teaches the reader lessons in trusting God in spite of difficult circumstances.

It’s so easy to see God in the good, but what happens when things seem to take a turn for the worst? Do we still say God’s hand is in it? Do we still say God is in total control and nothing happens unless God wills it? Such questions were raised when Dynah was raped. Many said God would never allow such to happen to a ‘good’ girl – but it did. God is always in control, even when such bad things happen. Remember that God has the power to work things together for the good of those that love Him! Will you trust God in the hardest of situations and believe that He is still seated on the throne watching over you? All that you need to get to the end of the tunnel He will give to you; He will take you through the storm.

This leads us to the next lesson: trusting and obeying God in the hard seasons. It’s easy to look to God in anger when we’re in a hard-pressed situation and question Him. But the truth of the matter is that He is allowing it to happen for one reason or the other. Dynah, albeit at first being uncertain of whether to have an abortion or not, chose to trust and obey God. She chose to trust and obey His Word and His guidance. Trusting and obeying God makes life a heck of a lot easier!

Through Dynah being a doer of the word and not just a hearer, she was a light to her mother and grandmother who had had abortions in the past. This is seen as she chose not to have an abortion despite being raped. Even though many justified her having one, she knew that sin is sin, and there is no excuse for it – that’s a hard truth. Our lives are testimonies, even in the hardest of situations we are being watched by those around us – especially as Christians. Be a light in every situation you face; you never know who your life is ministering to. Your hard season may not be of benefit to you directly, but it may be of benefit to someone watching you.

Finally throughout the book we were all trying to guess who the atonement child was. In the end it was revealed that Christ is our atonement. He is the only atonement for our sins (He makes amends for our sins). Since our sins have been atoned for we should live in the beauty of forgiveness and grace, letting go of all guilt and shame.