Kristin Hannah’s The Four Winds is a powerful and deeply moving novel set during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. Through the eyes of Elsa Martinelli, we experience the harsh realities of poverty, drought, and displacement—but also the unyielding strength of a woman determined to protect her family and hold onto hope, a woman who discovers her inner courage as she struggles to provide for her family, amid hardship and loss.

Elsa’s journey from a quiet, uncertain young woman to a courageous mother who fights for justice and survival is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Hannah vividly captures the suffering of those called “Okies” as they fled the Dust Bowl for a better life in California, only to find new struggles awaiting them there. Through Elsa’s journey, we witness the incredible resilience that grows from love —especially a mother’s love —and from the unshakable hope that things can get better, even in the darkest of times.

One line that truly stands out says. “Courage is fear you ignore.” This simple, profound reminder calls us, as women of faith, to continue standing strong in times of uncertainty—to care for others, to advocate for justice, and to trust that God is with us in every storm.

Much like Elsa, we, too, are invited to move forward with hope, grounded in faith and guided by love.

Marilyn Reid