"Many times when you are living an abusive life, your abuser steals your hopes and dreams from you. This is very sad, but not impossible to regain back."
Deliverance Out of Egypt by Lupita-Luna Cook Trafford Publishing
book review by P. Hooper
"Many times when you are living an abusive life, your abuser steals your hopes and dreams from you. This is very sad, but not impossible to regain back."
It's a not uncommon story: a young woman gets pregnant, marries very early in life, and subsequently discovers that her new husband is an abuser. Cook's life story reads like a made-for-TV movie, complete with conflict and good Samaritans along the way who help her get out of trouble. The purpose in sharing her experience, though, is not to entertain. Rather, it is to provide hope and a blueprint for escape to any woman who might find herself in a similar situation. Cook, now a reverend, claims that she has the answers to break free from the bondage of abuse, and it all centers on Jesus.
According to Cook, Jesus is always there for His children, waiting to bless and help them. With His help, anything is possible, including escape from abuse. Cook's main goal seems to be to prevent others from making the same mistakes she did as a young woman. She says, "If you are going through this, like the bad dark place where I was, you do not have to stay there. Don’t wait like I did, ask the Father for his help to save you."
Though poorly edited, Cook's book is an easy read. The tone throughout is conversational and not at all intimidating or judgmental. Cook's advice has the feel of a pep talk from an older and wiser friend who deeply cares. Refreshingly, her life experiences are described with no self-pity or bitterness. Instead, Cook focuses on forgiveness and how that attitude can set one free.