Wednesday in the Word: Worth the Wait with Liana George

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Wednesday, October 27th, 2021 by Heather Greer One Comment

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…” – Psalm 37:7

Patience has never been my strong suit. When I was a child, I would carefully unwrap my Christmas presents, learn what was inside, then put everything back in proper order. As an adult, I can’t surprise anyone because I’m too impatient to see their reaction to my gift and usually end up telling them about it or giving it to them before the big event.

I have an issue, I know. I’m working on it, I promise!

But I haven’t conquered all my demons yet. Above all else, my writing journey has tested my patience time and time again. It’s also the one area in which I’ve failed the most.

Little did I know, December 2020 would challenge my ability to be patient, unlike ever before.

I spent three years working on my debut novel, Perfectly Arranged. When I sent it out to the ‘gatekeepers of the industry’, no one was interested. All I heard were crickets. So, rather than force the issue, I tucked the manuscript into a drawer and began a new writing project.

Yet something still nagged at me, especially when anyone would say, “I can’t wait to read your book.” Although I wasn’t ready to self-publish the novel, I toyed with the idea of blogging a chapter a week on my website, just to share the story with those who might be interested.

In the past, I would have immediately posted the first ten pages as soon as the idea came to me. Instead, I decided to take the situation to the Lord first.

For weeks I prayed, asking God to give me direction and show me whether this was a good idea or not. Again, crickets. I could feel my finger getting antsy, wanting to hit publish. However, I was determined to wait this out.

A few weeks later, as I was having my morning quiet time, I prayed again for wisdom about the situation. I had my Bible, my journal, and a box of cards with God’s promises next to me. After waiting but not feeling lead one way or the other, I stood and prepared to start my day. When I did, the box of promise cards fell to the ground, scattering them everywhere.

As I dropped to the floor and gathered them, I noticed one lying off to the side. I picked it up. Rather than add it to the pile, I stopped to read it: “God’s best is always worth the wait.”

Right then, I had my answer. I needed to wait. While it would be extremely hard, I was willing to wait as long as necessary – five days or five years – for whatever God had planned for this book.

Surprisingly, I didn’t have to wait long. A week later, I received an email from Scrivenings Press. After reading the first three chapters I had submitted six months prior, they requested the entire manuscript. Ten days after that, I signed a contract with them to publish Perfectly Arranged in 2021.

Although being patient is still a challenge for me, I’m learning to be still and wait on God. After all, His best is always worth the wait.

More about Liana:

Liana George is a sought-after speaker, blogger, and author. Before pursuing a career in writing, she was a professional organizer and the former owner of By George Organizing Solutions in Houston, Texas. Her debut novel, Perfectly Arranged, was inspired by one of her eccentric clients and Liana’s love for China, where she lived for two and a half years. When she’s not putting things in order or scribbling away, you can find her reading, traveling, or playing tennis.