God’s Good Plan

Thank you, Tricia, for inviting me to be your guest and for introducing me to your friends.

Tricia and I recently met at a writers’/speakers/ conference in Charlotte, NC. As I stood in a buffet line amid more than seven-hundred others, someone pointed me out to Tricia as being from Kentucky. We hastily exchanged cards, and I didn’t see her again at the conference. While in Charlotte, I met many talented writers and speakers, and I made new friends, but my heart felt heavy on the drive home. I’d hoped to acquire a new agent, but as I registered for the program so late I didn’t receive any agent appointments. Bummer!

A week later, I received an email from Tricia, and we met for coffee. I knew immediately, Tricia was the appointment God planned for me. One of the best blessings of the writing journey is the friendships I make along the way.

I believe the fiction novel is one of the most effective evangelical tools available to us. That’s why I risk embarrassment and criticism by writing stories, and sometimes, I speak for women’s groups. Self-doubt and fear of rejection plagues almost every writer and speaker. It’s gut-wrenching! That’s why it’s a blessing to have someone like Tricia, with a similar calling, as a friend and encourager with whom I can share a cup of coffee, my struggles, and my joys.

My writing journey began when I was asked to meditate on the question, “What is God asking you to do that you don’t want to do?’” God spoke to me, “I want you to write a book.” My immediate response was, “No, I can’t do it. I don’t know how.” Then, the first and only email promoting a Christian writer’s conference landed in my work email. I reluctantly signed up for the program. That was eight years ago, and since then, Worthy Inspired books published my devotionals in three of their books, and I’ve written two novels.

God continues to ask me to do things that make me uncomfortable. I’ve traveled to Africa eight times since 2011 on short-term mission teams. Recently, He asked me to approach a woman sitting in a car with her window down. After blasting me with scorn for the Lord, she spent forty-five minutes telling me all the things wrong in her life. But then something miraculous happened. She allowed me to pray with her. Since then, we’ve met twice, and she’s hugged me.

When you surrender your life to God, He will probably ask you to do something that makes you squirm. But if you let go of your fear and pick up your cross, your life will be full of adventures and blessings.

God has a good plan for you too, and He’s prepared work for you to do, too. I’m thankful for my new friendship with Tricia, and I can’t wait to see how God will grow her ministry, and I am honored she is allowing me to support her efforts. God arranged for us to meet, just as He arranged for me to meet my new agent. Yes, even though I failed to get the appointments I wanted at the conference, God solved my problem. Ask God to lead you, and He will not let go of your hand.

I’ll close with the question that led me to the writing journey. What is God asking you to do that you don’t want to do? I hope you’ll share your responses with me so I can pray for you to have courage.

If you want to follow my writing, you can subscribe to my blog at www.sheliastovall.com. You’ll read stories of friendship and hope, and I often promote other Christian writers. If you want me to speak at a women’s event, send an email to shelia@sheliastovall.com. I promise to pray over every request.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I am praying the words I write will be sent to the ones God intended. May God bless you and give you courage to follow Him.

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear: I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 NIV

About the Author: Shelia Stovall is a small-town librarian in a Southern state, and she enjoys reading stories almost as much as she loves writing them. Shelia’s roots, profession, and life observations have given her an understanding of community and women’s friendships, which she loves to include in her books. Her writing deals with difficult contemporary issues, but there’s always a thread of hope amid the calamity. She is a member of ACFW, president of the Middle Tennessee ACFW chapter, a member of the Kentucky Public Library Association and the American Library Association. Shelia is passionate about African missions, and she’s traveled to both Niger and Kenya to serve on eight short-term mission teams since 2011. Married for thirty-six years, her husband, Michael Stovall is her best friend. Their two adult children live in neighboring communities, and Shelia's favorite pastime is spending time with her two adorable grandsons, Matthew and Jacob, and her precious granddaughter, Wren. Her favorite book? Why, that’s usually the one in her hand.