DtJ icons vs realism

These are for a book about a woman who goes from a drunk to finding Jesus, but it not quite fixing her life. The author's concept for the cover was a triptych. She's passed out drunk/puking in the first image, then kneeling/praying in church, then in the third there will be an asteroid crashing into Earth (to symbolize disaster.)

I am wondering whether it should be realistic or simplistic iconographs. As it's a non-fiction book, I'm not sure an illustrative look is the right choice. Thoughts?