I love having a book drawing every month. This month I’m so happy to feature Debbie W. Wilson’s book Little Faith, Big God: Grace to Grow When Your Faith Feels Small.
Read below how to enter the drawing. And here’s an excerpt to give you a tasty sample of a wonderful book you’ll want to read.
Have You Ever Doubted God’s Goodness?
by Debbie W. Wilson
“Do you give samples of your chicken salad?” my friend asked our server.
“No ma’am,” he replied, leaving us to ponder our menus.
“I guess I’ll order something else,” she said.
As we enjoyed our meal, the manager dropped by our table to ask how our food was. We told her it was great. Then my friend repeated her question.
“We aren’t able to offer samples because we make each dish fresh when it’s ordered,” she said.
Her answer provided a legitimate reason for why they wouldn’t offer samples. But I still wasn’t convinced. I couldn’t imagine them chopping celery and nuts for one serving of chicken salad at a time.
When I arrived home, I received an email from my friend, who frequents the restaurant we’d just left. She’d remembered that their chicken salad was not the prepared dish we’d pictured, but a green salad with a grilled chicken breast on top. I laughed at our misunderstanding.
Chicken Salad and the Bible
I know God’s ways are perfect. But sometimes they don’t look that way. TWEET THAT!!!!!
I’ve wrestled through some Old Testament laws and the book of Job. Add to this the suffering I see around me. While I choose to trust him, some pesky questions still bother me. One day, I asked God:
- Why would you allow Job to suffer so much loss, pain, and misunderstanding when you said no one was as righteous as Job?
- Why did you treat slaves differently than free people and women differently than men?
- Why do you allow unrighteous judges to take away the rights of the innocent to protect the wicked?
- Why do you allow a faithful believer to suffer on a deathbed of pain and the wicked to die peacefully in their sleep?
God addressed my questions and then used the chicken salad incident to quiet my lingering doubts.
I realized that if a restaurant manager had good reasons for what first appeared to be arbitrary rules, then my wise Father also has good reasons for how he runs the world. TWEET THAT!
God is like the ocean; I’m like a child trying to understand the mysteries of the deep from my small pail of water. I can’t understand someone so much greater than I am. But I can trust that he is wiser and more loving than I can imagine.
Job got the opportunity to bring his questions to God. Instead of explaining the background of Job’s circumstances and his good intentions for Job, God asked Job to explain the mysteries of the seen world.
If Job couldn’t explain the mysteries of creation, how could he hope to understand the mysteries of the Creator? Job’s questions evaporated in that tiny glimpse of God’s majesty.
I used to say that some questions wouldn’t be answered until we get to heaven. Now I think that when I see the Lord, my questions will no longer matter.
“Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11 esv).
Faith in a Person
One key characteristic sets people with commendable faith apart. They trust God’s character and align their behavior with his revealed will.
If we focus on the size of our faith, we’re in danger of becoming either paralyzed by our inadequacy or proud and self-reliant. We aren’t enough for life’s challenges (2 Cor. 3:5). Jesus is the object of genuine faith. And he’s always enough.
(Excerpt from Little Faith, Big God, Feb. 11, 2020)
Thank you, Debbie, for sharing those inspiring words. Debbie’s book will help you know God cares more about you than your performance. Hebrews 11 shows ordinary people who, by faith, pleased God. By exploring these biblical men and women who failed, got up again, and finished well, Little Faith, Big God will inspire you to persevere in your faith. Present-day stories and guiding questions invite personal reflection, application, and discussion. Let the ordinary people from Hebrews 11 show you how to live strong and finish well.
Debbie wants to celebrate the release of her new book Little Faith, Big God with you by offering a copy to the winner of the drawing! To enter the drawing, please leave a comment on this blog post. Only US addresses can win. The drawing ends Saturday evening, May 9th, 2020. UPDATE: DONNA WON THE COPY OF ‘LITTLE FAITH, BIG GOD.” Thank you to everyone who entered the drawing. I hope you’ll consider purchasing the book. I know you’ll be blessed.
“Delightful… I highly recommend Little Faith, Big God …” -Josh McDowell, Christian apologist and best-selling author of Evidence That Demands a Verdict
Click here to watch the Little Faith, Big God Trailer.
Drawing from her walk with Christ, and decades as a Christian counselor, life coach, and Bible teacher, Debbie W. Wilson helps readers enjoy grace-filled lives. She is an Advanced Writers and Speakers Association certified speaking and writing coach. Debbie enjoys a good mystery, dark chocolate, and the antics of her two standard poodles. Refresh your faith with free resources at debbieWwilson.com.
There is not a day that goes by that I think that my faith needs to grow more. This looks like it would be a great book to read to help me with my walk with God.
Christina, your heart attitude shows such receptivity and hunger for HIm. Praise God! I’ve put your name into the drawing. It’s always a joy to have you stop by.
I don’t doubt that I need to read this book, and to put into practice this books lessons. I am continually questioning why God let’s things happen. I am not proud of questioning rather than just trusting. Who am I to question the creator?
Thank you for sharing, Christine. I’m so glad the Lord is so merciful, gracious, and understanding that He has made us “but dust.” (Psalm 103). We relate to what you’re saying! Thanks for entering the drawing!
Christina, I love being inspired and learning for biblical people of faith. I hope you they bless you as much as they have me.
Awesome insight! I can’t wait to read more of what is in the book to give it a a greater understanding of God’s will for our lives.
Mary, so glad you see the value of this book. Of course, I’m not surprised. We all desire a greater understanding of God’s will and thankfully, God wants to provide it for the rest of our lives with greater and greater depth. Thanks for entering the drawing!
Mary, I know God delights in supplying that desire of your heart. Blessings to you.
Please ad me for the drawing
I really love the fresh perspective in looking at some of the same questions we have for God. The chicken salad analogy is awesome! I am looking forward to hearing more from Debbie W. Wilson. Thanks for the introduction!
Awesome insight! I can’t wait to read more of what is in the book to give it a a greater understanding of God’s will for our lives.
There is not a day that goes by that I think that my faith needs to grow more. This looks like it would be a great book to read to help me with my walk with God
Hi Teresa, thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to enter the drawing. I know this book will strengthen the faith of everyone who reads it. God’s richest blessings to you.
Teresa, I think to want our faith to keep growing shows real spiritual health. I hope you enjoy this study. I sure enjoy the men and women in Hebrews 11.
Wonderful post; and a wonderful book. Since I already have three copies, please don’t enter me in drawing. 🙂 I still have two more to give as gifts. 🙂 God’s blessings ladies.
Thank you J.D. I know my readers will be assured this book will bless them. And thank you for your generosity in not entering the drawing. Blessings to you!
Perfect book for me and so many who wonder. God doesn’t mind that we ask, but He wants us to trust.
Hi Jeanne, thanks for stopping by and entering the drawing for “Little Faith; Big God.” It’s always a treat to be connected with you.
Jeanne, I agree. In fact, I love that Jesus told us to ask (Luke 11) and promised everyone who does will receive!
I really love the fresh perspective in looking at some of the same questions we have for God. The chicken salad analogy is awesome! I am looking forward to hearing more from Debbie W. Wilson. Thanks for the introduction!
Hi Nancy, you are right about Debbie’s fresh perspective. She is able to communicate deep spiritual truths in understandable ways. I’m so glad you’ve entered the drawing.
Please ad me for the drawing.
Thank you.
Mona.
Hi Mona. I’m glad to enter your name into the drawing. Blessings to you!
I was reading the exerpt and I realized that exact style of misunderstanding happens all the time and we may never realize it
So true, Candie! We are so easily misguided by a variety of things, including our own assumptions. I know everyone who reads Debbie’s book will feel like their understanding has been cleared up to believe the truth.
What a wonderful post please enter me in the contest would love to read this book! Thank you for the chance!
God bless you, Sarah. I’ve entered you into the drawing.
This sounds like a wonderful read! Please add me to the giveaway! Thanks!
Hi Phyllis, thanks so much for entering the drawing. I know you’ll be blessed by Debbie’s book whether you win it or purchase it. God bless you.
A good reminder that our perspective is not the only one.
Thanks for your comment. I agree. We can be so easily swayed. And thank you for entering the drawing. I’ve put your name in.
Survivor of many life’s tragedies. My faith has helped. I wouldn’t love to read this book
Thanks for stopping by, Betty. I’ve put you into the drawing. I’m so glad your faith has strengthened you.
Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy – it sounds like it is the perfect antidote to these trying times.
You are welcome, Linda. That is a great way of saying it: antidote for trying times. I’ve entered you into the drawing.
Please enter me in the drawing. Great post!
Thanks, Julie, you are in!
Thank you for the chance! Have a fantastic evening!
God bless you, Beth. You are in the drawing!
Wow exactly what I have been dealing with lately. This book sounds great!
Hi Liz, I love how Debbie’s heart is aligned with all of us in our desire to increase our faith. I’ve put your name into the drawing!
I appreciate the title. It is a reminder of one of God’s characteristics. The Bible tells us God will fight for us, we just need to be still. Jesus said in this world we will have trouble but He will overcome the world. Yet, in the midst of hurt, we take our eyes off God and focus on the problem. Thank you for this book.
So glad you stopped by, Yvonne. I’ve put you into the drawing and thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
Congratulations, Debbie! I’m writing my first book so beginning to understand just how much perseverance and hard work goes into completing such a labor of love. Would love to read your book! Sounds like a very uplifting, encouraging message that we all need to be reminded of. Thank you.
Hi Becky, I’m so glad you are writing! And indeed, writing is a labor of love along with keeping in mind the “reader” out there you hope you will be encouraging on their walk with God. I know that is Debbie’s heart. I’ve put you into the drawing!
Becky, good for you. I hope you enjoy the writing journey.
This book looks exciting, especially the sections about Job.
Could you please enter me into the drawing.
Thank you
Theresa
Theresa, I’m so glad to enter you into the drawing. I’m also glad you are appreciating Debbie’s writings.
I really enjoyed the analogy about chicken salad and Job. So often we want to know why, but if we truly trust God, we will understand He knows best and we can move forward and leave it all up to Him. Thank you for the sample devotion!
Thank you, Beverly, for commenting. I agree with you. It’s a wonderful connection and we sure can relate to it. Besides I love a chicken salad croissant! I’v put your name into the drawing. Thanks for your faithful support!
Beverly, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I agree, the better we know Him, the easier it is to trust Him with what we can’t understand.
I loved this excerpt!! I tend to question God when I don’t ynderstand. But its vital to trust Him. Not easy, but so important!!!
Hi Kim, I know Debbie will be so pleased to hear that her excerpt was meaningful for you. It ministered to me also. Thanks for commenting and I’ve put your name into the drawing.
Sounds like a good read! Thanks for this chance.
RD, thanks for commenting. I think you’ll find it is indeed a good read whether you win it or buy it. Thanks for entering the drawing!
Faith is an area I need to grow in. Thank you for this insightful post.
Caryl, thanks for entering the drawing. And I relate, faith is something I need to grow in also. Debbie’s book will help us all in that!