Peace Like a River

Miracles, morality, and the practices and beliefs of Christianity are woven throughout the story of Peace Like a River. The concept of faith sits at the center of this tapestry of ideas. Thematically, Leif Enger described it simply as belief and disbelief. Through characterization of Jeremiah and Reuben’s morality and religious beliefs, a plot arc rife with miracles and divine intervention, and a resolution that justifies the Land family’s trust in God, Enger’s theme about faith culminates in a simple message: Faith in God will be rewarded.

Reuben and Jeremiah’s beliefs and values are portrayed through character development. Reuben is characterized by his choices, as well as the preceding struggles to understand right from wrong in a complex world. Even when he falls short, his narrative humility in hindsight demonstrates his desire to act with honesty and integrity.

Jeremiah is characterized throughout the novel as a man of great faith. He prays often, chooses God’s will over his own, and teaches his children to believe in God’s guidance and protection. His choice to change which church the family attends establishes his beliefs about what’s important in life. While their former pastor chased popularity and adopted trendy views in his sermons, their new pastor “had a plain Bible, […] and preached right out of it” (28).