Shannon here: Kristen Hogrefe Parnell shares how insight into waiting, a glimpse into her latest Romantic Suspense, Hold Your Breath (book 2 in the Crossroads Suspense series), plus a chance to win an audiobook copy of Take My Hand (book 1 in the series). Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing. Deadline: Nov 25th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Kristen:
Waiting for Something? Try Waiting on Someone:
I love waiting.
Said no one ever.
We don’t like waiting in line at the grocery store or the drive-thru, let alone for important life stages and changes.
I know. I’ve certainly waited for many prayer requests to come to pass. I waited into my early thirties before meeting and marrying my spouse, and then we had to wait—and wade through a painful experience—before God graciously answered our prayer for a baby.
Even now, I’m waiting, but I’m also starting to realize that some things I thought I had only to “wait” for may never happen. That discovery has been a hard one to accept, but it has led me to this breakthrough: Waiting for something may disappoint me, but waiting on God never will.
I think of the story of the spies sent to assess the Promised Land in Numbers 13. The Israelites had traveled all the way from Egypt to live in a land “flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8 KJV). They had waited, and they were ready to be done with the waiting.
Unfortunately, in the process of waiting for the Promised Land, they had not learned the lesson of waiting on God. As a result, they were terrified when the spies brought back the report of giants in the land.
They did not trust God to do what He said, because what they had waited for wasn’t what they expected.
Therein lies the problem. When we focus on the “thing” we desperately want, we see all the giants—obstacles, problems—preventing us from reaching our goal. When we focus on the God we serve, we understand the giants aren’t the real problem. They may seem impossible, but when we wait on God, we can be more than conquerors in any situation (Romans 8:37).
Is it easy to become discouraged in our waiting? Sure it is. My character Liam Bracken in Hold Your Breath has served as a groomsman to so many friends that he’s on a first-name basis with the tuxedo rental company. It doesn’t help that the last girl he liked chose his best friend over him—and bless his
Giveaway
heart, he still helps that best friend plan his proposal.
But what Liam discovers—what we often forget—is that God writes our stories better than we ever could. The process may be more painful and challenging than we would have chosen, but God ultimately has a purpose that is for our good and His glory.
That plan is living out the gospel of Jesus, which is exactly what Liam does for a broken, beautiful woman who needs to experience God’s redemptive love.
If you find yourself waiting today, be encouraged that there’s a purpose, maybe one you can’t see right now or on this side of heaven. When we shift our perspective from waiting for something to waiting on Someone, we can experience a rich relationship with our Savior in a way we might not if He didn’t ask us to wait.
Question for Readers: How have you waited in the past, and how did the waiting journey strengthen your relationship with God?
About Kristen: Kristen Hogrefe Parnell writes suspenseful fiction from a faith perspective for women and young adults. Her own suspense story involved waiting on God into her thirties to meet her husband, and she desires to keep embracing God’s plan for her life when it’s not what she expects. Kristen’s books have won the Selah Award and the Grace Award, among others. An educator at heart, she also teaches English online and enjoys being a podcast guest. Kristen lives in the Tampa, Florida area with her husband and young son. Learn more & connect:
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About the Book – Hold Your Breath
The end justifies the means—or does it?
Serial dater and travel blogger Jayna Scott lands a dream assignment in Bimini, Bahamas at Mario Delgado’s resort. But after she falls hard and fast for her host, she discovers his terrible secret. Her flight instinct sends her to the mountains of North Carolina on a trip with a Tampa church group, but Mario pursues her, determined to prove his actions were justified.
Private investigator Liam Bracken helps his best friend plan a surprise engagement in Beech Mountain to the woman he once liked. Now, the mysterious Jayna, the new addition to their group, tugs at his heart, but his instincts warn him she’s running from something. When Jayna emerges at the epicenter of his agency’s high-profile drug investigation, Liam prays he can save her—and guard his heart at the same time.
Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Kristen’s other titles? Get your copy/copies now!
Hold Your Breath Kristen’s Books
Come back Nov 17th for Ruth Wuwong!
You rely on God more and understand that He is in control.
Can’t wait to read your story!!!!
Amen to that! Thank you so much!!
I can so totally relate. I also had to wait on God’s timing to finally find and marry my hubby at the age of 32. It wasn’t always easy but so worth it. We have been married 23 years now.
I love that our stories are so similar, though my husband and I are only 4 years into our adventure. Congratulations on 23 years!!
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I have a winner! Bonnie won this drawing. I appreciate Kristen for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.