CWL Book Shelf
Book Review Of
LOOK AT THE FUTURE AND LAUGH
By Anna R. Hernandez
Review written by Joy Mathis Chadwick
If the reader read the acknowledgement page only of “Look At The Future And Laugh”, even a quick glance would reveal that this book is a testament of the faith, love of God, and priorities of its author, Anna R. Hernandez. Through her stories of Old Testament biblical faith and perseverance, Ms. Hernandez has clearly shown the revelation of what a Christian’s life can be. She has woven personal accounts, in addition to the age old biblical accounts, of a difficult upbringing, disappointments, shattered dreams, heartache and loss, leaving the reader a clear pathway to an enriched life with Jesus Christ.
“Look At The Future And Laugh” presents the reader the realities of life, detailing the pain, bitterness, and emptiness of the author as she shares her personal account of multiple miscarriages which led to her inability to conceive. She parallels her own healing process with the healing of a broken bone: a broken bone must be identified and carefully reset in order to properly heal; someone who is broken emotionally or spiritually must be identified and reset/restored by Jesus Christ. She goes on throughout the book’s chapters to introduce the reader to others who have had their own personal experiences with impossibilities: the woman with the issue of blood, the virtuous woman, Esther, Rahab, Naomi and Ruth, Abraham and Sarah, David and Mephibosheth, Lot and his wife, and others.
From her own personal experience, Ms. Hernandez has introduced the concept of not settling for discounts when it comes to God’s promises to His children; God has already provided all things that pertain to life and godliness. Christians must trust His Word and not accept a “discount” when waiting for the right situation to happen. She clearly encourages Christians to “see beyond now” which almost always requires stepping out of the proverbial comfort zone. The biblical account of Lot not wanting to travel too far from his own comfort zone of Sodom and Gomorrah prevented God from giving him something much greater; it also resulted in the tragic death of a woman who was known to us as “Lot’s wife”. Ms. Hernandez reinforces that what we esteem most will drive the decisions we make. She also asks the question, “What are we holding on to from the past that will turn us to salt?”
Ms. Hernandez devotes a chapter to “sudden” circumstances that arise out of nowhere and instantly pose a challenge to even those of hard core faith. A quote from Chapter 5 best sums up the heart and soul of this book when the author shares her ultimate reaction to her own “sudden” circumstances: “The children that God sent into my (Sunday school) class were going to know that God loved them and when they stepped into my classroom, they were going to find a place where His presence could be felt at a very young age. I determined to channel all the love I have for my six children that are waiting for me in heaven into the life of any child I meet while I am here on earth. This is how I can Look at the Future and Laugh.” She goes on to state that God will meet any need by multiplying what we yield to him.
In Chapter 6, “From Venom to Virtue”, Ms. Hernandez relates an occasion when she and her husband were part of a team that was hosting Christmas services at a women’s correctional facility. She shared her initial apprehensions, and also shared how the Lord had spoken to her heart about whether she truly believed that He could find a virtuous woman even behind the bars of a state penitentiary. The heartwarming encounters with these imprisoned women led to the author’s account of Rahab who was used by God in a mighty way; Rahab went on to become the great grandmother of King David, who was of the royal lineage of Jesus Christ.
The final chapter of “Look At The Future And Laugh” gives the account of two ordinary people who overcame impossible situations and were used by God in mighty ways. Ms. Hernandez shares with the reader the details of the struggles of her own parents who were, by all accounts, the most unlikely to beat the odds and be used to further God’s kingdom.
