Dear readers,

Today I’m excited to introduce you to Maureen Miller, a dear friend who is a guest blogger this week. Maureen released her debut novel Gideon’s Book earlier this year. Here, she reflects on how learning to trust God’s perfect timing helped her craft the best version of her book. Gideon’s Book is a time-split novel that weaves the stories of three souls searching for purpose and healing, exploring the transformative power of faith and self-discovery. You can find the book here on Amazon .

—Jessica Brodie

Guest post by Maureen Miller

“The Bible by the bed.” That’s what I heard one morning in 2007.

And I knew—God wanted me to write. Not a work of nonfiction, which I was most comfortable with. Not a children’s picture book, which I hoped to write one day. Nope. A full-length novel.

“What?” I argued. “You realize you’ve wired me to write nonfiction … right?”

His silence told me. He was serious.

Several months later, I attended Write to Publish in Wheaton, Illinois, where Cecil Murphey offered the keynote. He repeated three words over and over: “Hone your craft.” It was a reminder—it’s not perfection but commitment to the call that matters most.

Write often. Write much. Write variety.

“And when you don’t feel like writing or battle writer’s block—write anyway. Yes, write through—whether letters, a favorite passage of scripture, or simply the phone book. Write. Write. Write.”

That’s what we were told.

Butterflies danced as I anticipated all the writing I would do once home—God’s whisper, “The Bible by the bed,” echoing in my heart and mind.

Before the conference ended, I gathered my courage to meet one-on-one with a representative from Tyndale. I had zero words of my story written and only a simple, several-sentence description scribbled down. Still, I took a deep breath, then shared my idea.

“I love it,” the woman exclaimed before concluding, “Send me the first chapter of your finished manuscript marked ‘WTP 2007’ and I’ll take a look.”

My heart soared with this invitation—a bonus often afforded for those who attend a writers’ conference, meeting editors and publishers face to face.

“All I have to do now is write the book,” I proclaimed to my mom, who’d attended the conference with me. She just nodded, wearing a proud smile.

Trouble was, I came home and… didn’t write the book.

Instead, I did face a major health crisis with my husband who underwent several surgeries and procedures. I did mourn the loss of a daughter after a failed adoption. I did fall into a pit of despair, battling anger and depression for a season—all while homeschooling our two elementary-age sons.

Yes, and I did inquire of God, sometimes with clenched fists—“What are you doing? Why? Why? Why?”

 

His Perfect Time

Truth was, I wasn’t trusting God’s timing; rather, I struggled under the weight of my self-imposed expectations.

It wasn’t until I released this to the Lord and walked, day after day, by faith—claiming God’s promise to achieve the purpose for which his word was sent (Isaiah 55:11). Only then did I experience what is also promised—to “go out with joy and be led forth in peace” (v. 12).

My husband recovered, and his disease went into remission. Our once-dreamed-of daughter didn’t return, but another little girl joined our family in 2012. The cloud of sadness lifted, and joy returned. Our boys grew into young men and became more independent.

And I continued to “hone my craft” in a variety of ways, though the season for my novel had not yet arrived.

Through it all, God affirmed—I was to write a work of fiction about a Bible by the bed, and he would help me, fully equip me … when the time came. My job was to continue writing and remain patient. Out of my obedience, the book he was birthing in my heart would be born in his perfect way, in his perfect time.

 

The Birth of a Book

In early 2019, I began writing The Bible by the Bed. Then, that summer, I attended Write to Publish again.

After prayerful consideration, with a more professional one-page in hand and several thousand words toward my work in progress, I met with the founder of Redemption Press, Athena Dean Holtz. In the time we spent together, I shared my story’s major themes as well as my passion for these topics—issues like adoption, the sanctity of life, and racial reconciliation.

When I returned home, I signed a contract with RP, then got to work to finish my first draft. In June 2020, I hit “send” on my manuscript, then waited for edits to return. But we all know what happened in 2020. During our Age of Isolation, it seemed anyone who ever wanted to write a book wrote a book.

Once again, I grew frustrated in the waiting—often asking God, “When?” But he reminded me once more of Cecil Murphey’s words—hone your craft. It’s then I threw myself into collaborative writing—penning stories, devotions, essays, and articles for dozens of anthologies, covering a plethora of topics. And during this season I heard God whisper something else:

“You need to start over. You need to rewrite your book.”

What? Was he kidding? After all, my words were precious. My story was perfect. What could he mean, start over?

But God was serious, and as I sat with this truth, I knew—I’d not written quality fiction. I had much to learn. And yes, I needed to rewrite The Bible by the Bed.

And that’s what I did. But not before investing time to learn my craft—by reading quality fiction, reading about quality fiction, and asking God to direct me in the writing of what I knew he desired—quality fiction.

In 2023, I began again—hitting send on my second draft in the spring of 2024. And this time, I believed I’d done the best I could, had stewarded my time and talent well, and, in retrospect, could smile, rather than cry, as I pondered the journey.

Despite the tears, the fears, and all frustrations, there’d been joy as I walked—as I wrote—with Jesus.

 

Writing as Worship

Even with all the ups and downs, twists and turns, since that initial 2007 whisper, I am thankful.

As I reflect on what will soon be two decades, I wouldn’t change a thing—not because the road was easy. Not because there weren’t seasons of deep heartache, even loss. But through it all, I see God’s redemptive hand—his redemptive plan—at work. Guiding and directing. Binding up and healing. Exhorting and encouraging.

Truly, this has been a Romans 8:28 experience: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Over the years, writing became worship. As I showed up day after day, year after year, to write, I made it a habit to pray the prayer of Moses: “May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17 NIV). In doing so, I experienced his presence. His peace. His joy.

 

Words To Change the World

What later became Gideon’s Book—based on God’s whisper about the Bible by the bed—was born in June 2025, and I can testify with all humility: God is faithful. He is patient. He has a plan. Our words possess great and lasting power and timeless truths when they originate from the Word.

Indeed, God’s messages birthed in Christian writers to be offered to the world will do that which God intends. His words will not return void, whether we’re the ones courageous enough to write them or not.

As Esther 4:14 reminds us (paraphrase)—“And who knows but that you, writer, have come to your publication position for such a time as this?”

May it be so.

 

A Word of Gratitude

I am so grateful Jessica invited me to share the goodness of my writing journey. I pray it points to Jesus’s divine purpose and the power of our words. My hope is that I’ll continue writing for him, for his glory, and that—when he calls me home—though I may have many incomplete manuscripts, I’ll leave no unfinished business.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Maureen Miller is an award-winning author with stories in more than 20 collaboratives. She contributes to Guideposts’ All God’s Creatures, her local newspaper and several online devotion sites, including the award-winning Arise Daily and Inspire A Fire. Married for 36 years to her childhood sweetheart Bill, she enjoys life with their three born-in-their-hearts children and three grand-girls, not to mention a variety of furry beasts. They live on Selah Farm, a hobby homestead nestled in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Connect with Maureen at “Windows and Wallflowers” (https://www.maureenmillerauthor.com), on Facebook, or via email at maureen.miller913@gmail.com. Gideon’s Book is available wherever fine books are sold. Find it on Amazon here.

Have you read my newest novel, Tangled Roots? I hope you’ll head over to Amazon today. It’s available as an ebook, paperback, and audiobook. While it’s book two in the Dahlia series, you don’t need to have read book one, The Memory Garden, for it to make sense; it stands on its own. (But I’d love if you’d read both!)

If you know someone who would benefit from reading this blog, please share this with them: 

I’m trying to reach 200 Amazon reviews for The Memory Garden and 100 Amazon reviews for Tangled Roots! The more reviews they have, the more likely the algorithm will help reach other readers/book buyers. If you’ve read either, would you help me? I’d be truly grateful. You can review The Memory Garden here and Tangled Roots here.

Thanks to my Patreon sponsors: Matt Brodie, Emily Dodd, Jane, Marcia Hatcher, Frances Nwobi, Kathleen Patella, Billy Robinson, Yancy Rose, and Lanny Turner.

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