book review: "waiting for wonder" by marlo schalesky

It's easy to believe in God when a promise is new and fresh, bubbling with life. It's hard when the years pass and nothing changes. It's hard to keep praying, keep hoping, keep believing. It's hard when those you love betray you, when desperation strikes, when your own plans backfire, and still God does not fill the emptiness. But what if this God of the waiting room is calling us to more?"

I was really excited to read this book! It was earlier this year that God showed me something about Abraham and Sarah. For the longest time, I've looked at Sarah as an example of what not to do. She ran ahead of God and looked what happen. I don't want to be like Sarah. But then God showed me something. He showed me that Abraham and Sarah's story is a story about His faithfulness. Even when Sarah messed up, because God keeps His promises, He still blessed the descendants that came from Ishmael...because God promised to make Abraham's descendants great. That's just amazing to me! So, when I saw this book come along to review, I knew I wanted to be a part. And as I'm going through a season of waiting myself, this was a "right time, right place" book for me.

Waiting for Wonder is a book to take your time with and highlight and make notes as you read. I like the parts in each chapter that tell Sarah's story from her possible point of view. I like all the backstory Marlo provides to the time period of Sarah, giving me a better understanding of her life and what it meant for her to be barren. I love how Marlo points out that God chose Sarah because she was barren. "The biblical account affirms that God looks barrenness in the face and makes his promise anyway. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say he promises because. From the beginning of Sarai's "chosenness" God chose the impossible, he chose to transform, he chose the redemption of her shame, and ours. He did not call a fertile woman to birth a nation. He chose a barren one...on purpose." Marlo talks about how not only did Sarah run ahead of God by giving Hagar to Abraham but Abraham also took matters into his own hands when he lied to Pharaoh that Sarah was his sister. He was basically throwing the promise of a son away in order to spare his life. But God stepped in. "This is a God who is not thwarted by the betrayals, mistakes, fears, or hurtful actions of others. Others may create difficult circumstances in our lives. We may even create the difficult circumstances ourselves. But none of that can derail God's promises. God can make things right." There is so much more I can say about this book! I like the personal stories Marlo includes (especially the one about the balloon!) to help illustrate her points. This is one of those books I know I'll go back to when I need reminders about God's faithfulness and His perfect timing. 

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. You can enter the giveaway by clicking here!