Slow Burn: The Work and Wonder of the Wait

by DawnChere Wilkerson

When waiting on God feels like nothing is happening, that's when the slow burn of your faith can quietly kindle inner change.

No one escapes the wait that life brings. Whether it's a job offer, a life partner, or some kind of relief, direction, or healing, we wish we could skip the wait and see what's ahead. And we're weary. Discouraged. Wondering why it has to be this way.

But as we're consumed with longing, are we missing the potential of where we are?

What if the ache of waiting can pull our heart closer to God's heart?

What if waiting is the way to soul transformation, more intimacy with God, and deeper joy along our journey?

Pastor DawnCheré Wilkerson shares her story of waiting on parenthood during her eight-year struggle with infertility and helps you see how to move forward in your own story with faith. Saturated with Scripture, stories, and insights, Slow Burn will help

view waiting as an invitation to transformation and preparation for what's ahead;choose to trust, surrender, and gain strength through intimacy with God;open yourself up to community and support;fan the flame of faith, not fear, and celebrate during uncertainty;live confident that he is working more powerfully than you know; andfind the purpose, fruit-bearing works, and life-giving moments he has for you now.  

Life is a slow burn. Waiting is not a punishment; it's a process. God is not delaying; He's developing. He is not leaving you; He's loving you. Your Father wants to make use of every moment of your wait by transforming you through it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Faith, Christianity, Spirituality, Religion, Christian Non Fiction

272 pages, Paperback

Published April 29, 2025

Reviews

[Serena Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for anyone in any season of life!
“We don’t like waiting, but that’s when God does the best work on our soul.”

[Lynne Brecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked this book, if I was reading it at a significant time of “wait” in my life I think it would be a 5 ⭐️

[Ginny Yurich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book about the value in waiting ❤️

[Annie McArthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some real gems to hold onto in a season of waiting. Was hoping for more of her story.

[Ansley Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawncheré is one of my greatest role models and reading her story in book form was so beautiful. She writes from a place of authenticity, and every page is full of wisdom and depth from personal experience. This book is encouraging, practical, and full of biblical truth. Loved it!!

[Lauren Wicker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so timely- if you are struggling with questions and doubts in a season where it seems like nothing is happening, this book is a must read. DC shares her journey and the secrets she’s discovered along the way that not only make the wait bearable, but turn it into a sacred journey. would read again!

[Shannon Greiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need a refresher on all of the good God does during your seasons of waiting, read this book. The age we live in encourages us to rush through achievements, seasons, and feelings like they’re to-do lists, whereas, if we tune into what God’s positioning us for each and every moment, we can find lessons and the fine tuning being done during our wait. God’s timing is perfect.

[Nicole S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Christian who has experienced waiting and pain in waiting, I really wanted to enjoy this book. However, I feel as if it just missed the mark for me.

I found the voice of the author to be that more of a speaker than of a writer. She does sound like a lovely speaker. After some research, I learned that she is a pastor, which makes a lot of sense. It felt as if I was sitting in a conference or a sermon rather than reading a book. Definitely a unique perspective in her writing.

However, it was difficult for me to decipher the main points per chapter and to connect the dots between each of the topics. I also felt as if the author meandered through topics. It was difficult for me to narrow down exactly what we were talking about. I did end up highlighting and writing down notes as I read the book. However, I felt as if the majority of the notes and main points could be taken at the beginning and end of chapters with the middle of each chapter noted to be more with fillers.

She uses poetic and flowery speech along with a lot of imagery in her writing. However, I feel as if the same topics were repeated over and over again, just in different and beautiful ways. Unfortunately, to that point, I wish that the book went a little bit deeper as well. Instead of repeating topics multiple times, I would have liked for the author to delve deeper into those topics in a more biblical sense.

I did enjoy reading about the author’s testimony. It felt as if I was invited into her life and world. Seeing how God worked in her and in the people around her was encouraging. To me, this book read more like a testimony.

Overall, I believe the concept of the slow burn, and the purpose of faith in the wait are important and powerful moments in our lives that God uses to shape us and bring honor to Him. I also respect the author’s experiences and the pain that she had during her time of wait. I guess I was just hoping for a little bit more.

[Nikki Yaste · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t read this anymore.

Ladies, we do not need to accept the overly saccharine, overly written language from these female gospel teachers anymore. This book could be written in a few chapters. I’m five chapters in and it’s just repeating itself with annoyingly singsong stories that are written at such a surface level that I’m having an extremely hard time relating to it. This is why over the years my “church” reading has predominantly consisted of male authors who give us hard hitting truths in a matter a fact way. Females write to us like we’re stupid and like we can’t absorb anything not written to us like a children’s songbook and for goodness sakes, the stories….the overload of the Instagram reel.

I just read a chapter with, of course, another story where the author admits she’s a chronic interrupter and then goes on to describe her babies cries in detail and y’all, there are some cries that she doesn’t understand…but God understands our cries. Every. Single. One.

Jesus meets us where we are.

Five chapters in to repeat that over and over. Yes, I know. But with full faith I ask, HOW DOES THIS HELP ME WITH THE WAIT?! Job’s response in his waiting was raw and emotional as wrestled with doubts, anger, depression, bad friends, etc. It wasn’t this generic.

Disappointing. I’m in a season of waiting and this book was just a sugary shallow example of nothingness. Yet another “lady preacher” who just loves the sound of her own voice.

[Marcia reading past dark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is not by chance that I was offered the opportunity to read and review SLOWBURN at the very time that I am in my own time of waiting. Reading this heartwarming, encouraging, and scripture-based book is a healing balm. I could instantly connect with the author’s own feelings as she waited for her prayers to be answered.

Dawnchere Wilkerson shares her season of infertility, and her weariness is evident; but her words bring hope and insight to all of us navigating any long journey of waiting, especially when we feel like we are just marking time.

“If we are meant to embrace the wait, what do we do while we wait—especially when it seems we are just burning time?” That’s the phrase that hits me. As we offer our seasons as a sacrifice, as an act of worship, He fulfills His promise—that our pain will be used for a greater purpose.

“C. S. Lewis wrote, “Holy places are dark places. It is life and strength, not knowledge and words, that we get in them.’” Isn’t that so true? It’s a dark place, a lonely place, but not a hopeless place.

This is not a book to be read in a weekend but one that is best absorbed in daily doses. SLOWBURN is a read-again-and-again book. Make sure that you have a copy for reference when it comes your time to wait in that dark, but holy place.

272 pages, Paperback
Published April 29, 2025
Thomas Nelson

[Rianna *Hermione* B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawnchere' wrote this, thinking that her 3rd kid was the last of her (in)fertility journey. But God surprised her again with a 4th kid. God has the timing for His purposes, and trusting that is so difficult. But we know that we have an expected end in Heaven. We need to keep faithful bc God is so faithful. Keep using our lives for His purposes. Live and enjoy during your wait. If you don't, you grow bitter.

My current wait is reuniting with someone after 2 years, but all the examples she used in this book from her life & the bible have encouraged me. Good tears as I read these things and insightful/ spirit-led statements/ revelations pierced my heart. It's not for nothing. Keep the faith. I highlighted and underlined and annotated more than 20 pages of this book. Goodness. Thank you! This is DC's first book, but I have a feeling it's not her last.

[Phoebe Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

“who says the waiting room of your life must be dead and boring? The waiting room is what you make it”. I’ve read A LOT of books on waiting and wilderness seasons, so I fully expected this to be just like the rest. I wasn’t sure it would offer me anything I didn’t already know….and I was wrong. Wilkerson used her personal season of waiting combined with God’s Word to encourage and challenge my heart and perspective in my own waiting. I’ve been challenged to come alive how I can right here in the present, while trusting God with tomorrow/what I cannot do on my own. I’m trusting God with the healing & transformation, while choosing to see His goodness, purpose, and provision right where my feet are.

[Tessa Poyner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written and read book by DawnChere. I found it inspiring, applicable, and could think of a few friends I could send it to. The only challenge I had is at time it felt it lacked the deep authentic vulnerability (which is not a God given right for all of us to experience) of her struggle through her story but I had a hard time seeing myself in her story because she just exuded positivity. My fear for someone who is really really struggling in the waiting is that they may feel this book encouraged spiritual bypassing (although I believe it does not).

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books I’m going to recommend to everyone. I think I actually took notes on half of the book (if this wasn’t a library book I would have highlighted the majority of it haha)! We all are in the waiting period of life. Waiting for eternity with Christ! But we’re also each waiting on something that God either promises or doesn’t promise - so how can we live in our wait here on earth? SO SO GOOD. If you’re struggling in your wait (slow burn) highly recommend!!!

[Lindsay Lemus · Rating 4 out of 5]

She had some great nuggets of truth and encouragement that I enjoyed and I really like listening to books read by the author. You could hear her joy in the Lord while she shared her story through the work and wonder of waiting on God's timing. I didn't relate to everything but was still able glean from her testimony of her waiting seasons.

[Brittany Crutchfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me feel warm and cozy.

[Annie Balsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t have enough words to describe the gift this book was to me. Wow.

[Emma Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this so idk if it counts ha BUT just wanted my 6 Goodreads followers to know this is an AWESOME book and am very encouraged to live while I’m waiting on what we are all ultimately waiting on— eternity!

[Somer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book! Life is a wait, so what do we do while we're waiting to not waste it, is beautifully answered in this book.

[Alexis Rohrer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love her character, her faithfulness and insight. I like that she also didn’t really focus on the promise that much. She focused on the importance of waiting. I’ll definitely be looking her messages up more often!

[Olivia Honeysett · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I think I’ve ever read. I know I will be reading it again. Applicable to every person as we all go through tough, “waiting” seasons and DC shares so much wisdom from her own experiences. There was just so much gold throughout this book! I had so read it slowly in order to take it in, although I know when I read it again I’m going to get even more out.

[Courtney Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

When waiting on God feels like nothing is happening, that’s when the slow burn of your faith can quietly kindle inner change.

No one escapes the wait that life brings—whether it’s for a job offer, a life partner, healing, or direction. In Slow Burn, Pastor DawnCheré Wilkerson vulnerably shares her own season of waiting during an eight-year struggle with infertility. She reminds us that waiting is not wasted time, but an invitation to transformation. Through Scripture, stories, and gentle encouragement, she helps readers see how the ache of waiting can actually draw our hearts closer to God’s, offering us strength, surrender, intimacy with Him, and even joy along the way.

Life is a slow burn. Waiting is not a punishment; it’s a process. God is not delaying; He’s developing. He is not leaving you; He’s loving you.

This book was beautifully written, and I loved the message, though I don’t think I was in the right season of life to fully appreciate it.

[Cass · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Lauren Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book forever changed my perspective on living in the “waiting” and how to steward where God has you in the present while sowing in faith, waiting with hope, and leaning in with trust for what God holds for you in the future. I could go on and on about all the lessons that this book has taught me about God’s character and how life as a whole is ultimately a “waiting season” as our hearts long for something that can’t be fulfilled here on earth. A great reminder that our citizenship here is only temporary, and that our home is in our Father’s house in heaven.

[Alycia Bini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deeply grateful for the vulnerability and authenticity of this book! Dawnchere does a beautiful job of tying together Biblical truth, personal experiences, and Christ-centered wisdom all throughout. She shares from her eight year journey of infertility, but writes in a way that is applicable for any season of waiting.

I read this book in a season of praying for contentment in singleness and trust in the Lord’s timing. I’ve read a couple of books on the topic and listened to many sermons and podcasts. I started this book thinking I would just hear more of the same, but she really brings new insights and fresh beautiful perspective on the topic. I definitely will be recommending this to anyone desiring to find peace and joy while they wait on the Lord’s provision and timing.

[Melissa Booker · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe if I didn't read the Bible I could have appreciated this more. I found the "slow burn" wasn't her eaiting on a specific thing and how the Lord brought her throygh it slowly and maybe uncomfortably. I found it more like a chorus in a song. It was never anything specific.
She mantioned some verses in the Bible but never explained what or where the Lord was in that situation rather she made the versus pertain to the reader if that meant changing what scripture was actually talking about. I think it didn't take long for red flags to go up but I continued reading bc a friend loaned it to me
It was either her mentioning secular music bands or shows with magin (dr Strange) or a false teacher that I will not name. I looked her up and saw she calls herself a pastor which means she creats a god in her own image because the creator of this universe said women should not usurp authority over a man to teach and be silent in church...seeing Eve was deceived 1st. Another thing she explained how Joseph felt how he was overwhelmed with feelings of betrayl etc when seeing his brothers in Egypt when no where does it say such a thing. I think more people should read their bibles and get some discernment.

[Renée · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Dawncheré’s heart. I’ve enjoyed many sermons by her and you can tell she loves God so much. This book reflects her love and passion for the Gospel and people. She uses the Bible as well as her personal story to teach the reader how to walk through seasons of waiting. It’s not shallow, it’s deep and lived-through. It doesn’t feel heavy; The book is easy to get through and leaves you feeling uplifted.

I think it will be a very helpful book for most people in a season of waiting. I had hoped it would give me new insights to navigate my long journey of the decline of my health, but it didn’t do that. And that’s ok. I’m still grateful to be reminded to fix my eyes on God and to trust that He’s got me. And I’m also grateful this book will likely help so many people.

If you want to read another helpful book for a season of waiting, I highly recommend Anonymous by Alicia Britt Chole. There’s a lot of overlap with the message of Dawncheré’s book, but it digs a bit deeper.

Landing somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars.

[Annie Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book with my bible study and absolutely loved this and found these reminders to be so impactful in this season of life.


These are some of my takeaways:

When you isolated in the wait, you become the center of your world and your desires turn inwardly

Conversations in the waiting room turns the sterile cold waiting room into a living room—> invite others into this season of your life

Celebration aligns our heart with God’s presence and brings resilience and strength. Waiting rooms are built for celebrating others but this is a discipline and a choice of what we set our mind to and notice.

When we rest in the Lord, He will put a new song in our heart and remind us that His work is not yet complete in us.

Do not worry about the pace of your life, but how faithful your life is.

“I do not want to move fast, but move faithfully”

Be faithful in little things to be faithful in bigger things

Obedience flows blessings

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted this book to be helpful. It wasn’t.

I didn’t finish it because it was repeating the same point over and over different personal stories. This book could have been written in far fewer chapters. Instead, it drags out a Disney princess type storyline that isn’t what women want or need to hear, especially when they’re in a real season of waiting.

She never really goes into detail about her actual waiting period or the pain she experienced. Everything stays surface level and polished, without the raw honesty that would make it relatable or helpful. I kept waiting for something deeper. Something real that never came.

Yes, I understand the message. But understanding something and actually being helped by it are two different things. Instead, it feels like a lot of talking without saying much.

[Macy Kovarik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow Burn is a thoughtful, encouraging reminder that waiting isn’t wasted. While it touches on many familiar themes found in other books about seasons of waiting, DawnCheré Wilkerson brings warmth, relatability and a few fresh insights that made it worth the read.

One thing that really stuck with me was when she recalled God saying, “What I’m creating for you is custom, and custom takes a bit more time.” That simple truth reframed so much for me.

The writing is accessible and personal, and I appreciated how she wove in her own stories and reflections without sounding preachy or formulaic. It may not break new ground, but it speaks with heart and hope. A solid, grace-filled read for anyone feeling stuck in the waiting.