Road Trip to Redemption {A Review}

A family of five in one SUV for a seven thousand mile road trip might sound crazy.

Maybe it does when you put it that way.

However, when you read the actual story, found in Road Trip to Redemption, it is nothing short of divine intervention.





The Book

Brad Mathias has written a transparent account of his family's road trip, which took place a few years ago. It was a trip that changed everything for himself and his family.

Mathias has long been an adventurer, taking long road trips through the western U.S. and Canada. It is during these trips that he experiences refreshment of his soul. Being in the wilds of creation, sensing the Lord's presence in a more powerful way, and having a certain measure of quietness work together on his road trip experiences. His family, a wife and three teenage children, had never gotten the opportunity to travel with him. Then, after a devastating and emotionally draining time, Mathias feels the Lord prompting him to take his family on such a journey. Humbly, Mathias seeks wise counsel and prays with his wife, Paige over the decision. In the end, they decide to go.

This road trip experience becomes life changing for each family member separately and as a family unit. The Lord showers the family with love, grace, and healing as they travel 7,000 miles. The remarkable events are captured with honest detail in the book Road Trip to Redemption.


My Thoughts

No family is perfect, and almost every family has something terrible happen to them. It is the reality of living in a fallen world, and it is the common thread all readers will find in this narrative. What some families might not realize is how much the Lord wants to heal each person and grow them closer together as a family in the midst of their current trials and tribulations. The reassurance of God's love, His grace, and His timing for redemption are the main themes, and the gems Road Trip to Redemption offers its readers.

Honestly, even after reading the book, I don't believe every family has to take a 7,000 mile road trip to experience the same love, grace, and healing. While it worked for the Mathias family, it may not work for another family in the same way. However, I think what we can all take away from this book is that in order to grow together as a family, you have to be together. It is of up most important for family members to be physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually present with one another. This isn't something that can easily occur in our modern homes for long stretches of time. Our many distractions get in the way. The best solution may just be to get away from it all, and whether that be 70 or 7,000 miles away is a mute point.


Bottom Line
The book is well worth reading. It is a humble telling of one man's family and the lessons they all learned. Their experiences offer hope and sound advice for all families, both those who are in the midst of a trial and those who believe they are doing well.

~ Dorie


Fine Print: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for this review. All opinions are my own.