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God's New Work

Stories of how God has helped others realize their dearest dreams encourage me as I reach for a new dream. I am not going to name it because I am still striving to define it, but I’ll write more about that in a future post. For now, I will tell you that it has to do with reaching some of my writing goals. A few days ago, though, I encountered one of those success stories of God helping one of His children realize a long-held dream.

I discovered the story because I had seen reviews of a new author’s first novel online a few years ago and added it to my TBR. Then, a few weeks ago, I saw reviews of her second novel which reminded me I still want to read the first. I moved that novel to the top of my list and then looked to see if our library had it. Somewhere in the process, I discovered that before she wrote either of these books, this author wrote a book on prayer. * I purchased it to read right away—and did so!

I was surprised to discover that the author had self-published this 38-page book and that the prayers were all geared toward achieving her dream of writing a novel. She published the prayers to encourage others to bravely (and prayerfully) take steps toward reaching their dreams. She published the book in 2017, just five years before Revell released her first novel. They are getting ready to release her third next year. Five years from self-published book of prayers to traditionally published novel. Two more books in three more years.

“Lord, will you do that for me?” I prayed. Somewhere deep inside I sensed His reply. God has a unique plan for me. I need to keep writing and wait patiently. God won’t reveal my future, but everything will happen in just the right way at just the right time. I do believe this.

Being encouraged by the success stories of others is one thing, but comparing my story to another’s and hoping God will do the same in me is something else. Isaiah 43:19 (NLT) says, “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Not only does our God make every person unique, but He also has a unique way of working in every individual life. God doesn’t want to repeat someone else’s story in me. Through my life, He wants to do a new thing.

A few days after my talk with God about His plan for me, our pastor preached from Romans 4. He told us how God did an entirely new thing through Abraham. Abraham came from a pagan culture and had no knowledge of God. Abraham had no human mentors to follow. He had no Scripture—no 10 Commandments, no Torah, no Psalms or Proverbs or Gospels or letters from Paul. Abraham only had God, yet He took God at His Word and followed His instructions by faith. Romans 4:20 (NLT) says, “Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.” Abraham waited several decades for the child God promised to him and Sarah, his wife. The waiting wasn’t wasted; it tried and strengthened his faith.

God hasn’t made me any specific promises about my dream. But He has promised He has a plan for me—and by faith, I believe I am living it out. I need to stop imagining what God might do and simply let Him do it. In the meantime, I’ll do whatever my hand finds to do—with all my might—and trust God to work out His plan.

*Brunsvold, Sara. Uncage My Brave: Pray Brave, Fly Free. Kansas City, 2017

Photo by elvinstar on Freeimages.com

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