Writing is a career that careens out of control. It’s a dream that sucks the very marrow from your bones and leaves you spent. I’m firmly convinced God has me in publishing because so much is so far outside of my control.

Right when I am my most stressed and worried, He reminds me He’s in control of this journey.

A couple nights ago my husband and I were talking about how drained I felt. The merry-go-round of teaching, taking classes, marketing, homeschooling, etc., etc. had worn me down. It also made me a bit pessimistic about life. This from someone who is usually an optimist through and through!

Sometimes I know God is just smiling at me as I stress about what the future holds. As I wonder if I’m doing the right things. As I long for a little peace and quiet.

He knew I’d be worn out this week after another round of final exams. He also knew, my publisher had planned a promotion for Shadowed by Grace. They’ve offered promotions before, and I’ve felt very supported by their efforts, and I wondered if this one would really be different.

Ummm. Yeah.

First I asked God if I could hit top 20 on one of Amazon’s lists. He offered this: It sent time yesterday on three lists in that one and two slot. When that happened I realized, I’d also hit a number on the overall list that had me crying. Then my son (the 10 year-old) told me I should ask God for #1 of all books. I wanted to remind him there are authors people know on that list. So instead, I asked if I could crack the top 100 Kindle books. The numbers kept creeping up and I began to wonder if I slept if I might just miss the blip.

God woke me at 5:30, and I snapped these screen shots (and then had an impossible time falling back asleep).

Through this God has reminded me that He sees me and those secret desires I hesitate to voice.

He has used this book time and again to remind me it is truly His story. Let me tell you — that is pretty humbling as I watch Him open doors I could never force open.

He’s whispered that He has my career in His hands. Whether this is my last book or only one stop on the way to 100, all that matters is that I am in the center of His will and His plan for my life.

In a couple days, I might stop compulsively watching the Amazon numbers — but as I’ve watched them the last 48 hours, I have witnessed God do something new and introduce this book to audiences that might not otherwise have discovered this story about the search for our heavenly Father.

And all I can do is clap from the sidelines and whisper, “Thank You, Abba Daddy!” And pray that this serves as encouragement for those dreams that lay dormant in your heart. Bring them out, pray over them, and offer them to Him as a sacrifice. You might just be amazed at what He does!