Laura Donovan helps readers evaluate their faith in God through this self-reflective workbook centered on the biblical story of the demoniac in Mark 4:35–5:20.

With imaginative artistic license, Donovan creates a backstory for the demon-possessed man whom Jesus delivers in the Book of Mark 4. Writing in first-person, Donovan takes readers into the suffering mind of the demoniac as he recalls being a young man lured into sins that ultimately cause a legion of demons to possess him. Donovan creatively captures the demoniac’s destitute state as he longs to be reconciled to his family and his good name. Then Jesus appears, sends the demons into a herd of swine and admonishes the newly cleansed man to return to his family and spread the good news of the gospel.

After her retelling of this classic Bible story, Donovan quotes the entire biblical account and then invites readers to examine their own feelings about the passage through a thought-provoking workbook of questions. For example, referring to the storm-tossed seas Jesus and his disciples sail through to reach the possessed man, she asks: “Has God ever led you into a storm?”

At just 33 pages, including workbook questions and endnotes, Donovan’s book may leave readers wanting more from the author in terms of theological interpretation of the text. Most of her exposition is the fictional backstory that gets muddled with jarring interjections. For example, the demoniac says of the demons within him, “Do they see that Jesus is inviting them to speak, even though every other encounter has Him telling them to be quiet?” (BlueInk italics). These other encounters refer to events recounted in the Bible, which this man wouldn’t have read. Such flaws impede readers’ ability to immerse themselves in the story.

As a Bible study guide, Donovan does a decent job of providing readers with deep questions to ponder, but more teaching from the author on the subject would greatly enhance this title.

Also available in hardcover and ebook.