Those Who Wait: Finding God in disappointment, doubt and delay

by Tanya Marlow

"My whole life has been a long wandering, a long hunger that hasn’t yet been satisfied.” - Sarah's Story

Everyone is waiting. We wait for a bus, a spouse, a different job, a better life. We wait for Christ. At best, it's irritating; at worst, unbearable. But what if our frustrated longings have spiritual value?

Enter four Bible heroes who waited impatiently: Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist and Mary. Through gripping storytelling, we immerse ourselves in their lives. We find empathy for our disappointment and doubt. We find perspective and purpose in delay. Above all, we find God in the waiting.

With reflective questions and six Bible studies, Those Who Wait is ideal for personal devotion or group discussion.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Theology, Christianity, Faith, Spirituality

220 pages, Paperback

Published October 20, 2017

About the author

Tanya Marlow is a writer, speaker and broadcaster on faith and spirituality. She is the author of Those Who Wait: Finding God in disappointment, doubt and delay (Malcolm Down Publishing, 2017), Coming Back to God When You Feel Empty (2015) and a contributor to Soul Bare (IVP, 2016).

Keep in touch - sign up for her newsletter for personal updates, offers and your free book: http://tinyurl.com/tanyamarlowwaits

For a decade she was a Christian minister and subsequently a lecturer in Biblical Theology. Now housebound with severe M.E., she maintains a writing ministry from her bed and campaigns for others with chronic illness and disability.

She can be found in a vicarage in Devon reading fairy tales to her son, or via her popular blog, Thorns and Gold, where she writes on the Bible and finding God in the messy edges of life: www.tanyamarlow.com.

Reviews

[Heather Caliri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tanya Marlow's book on disappointment is grounded in retelling of Biblical stories. Marlow's deft reimaginings of scripture put me in mind of Geraldine Brooks' THE SECRET CHORD. She captures the humanity of these ancient people with an eye to their angst that feels true even in our tech-laden, cynical context. Her Biblical characters breathe honest air.
Readers wondering what the Bible has to say about the coldness of waiting will find ancient, wise teachers that walk alongside them—instead of tired Christian platitudes.
This interactive, artful book is a needed resource for weary souls.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the faith-based book on disappointment that the world needed.

So many Christian books that attempt to tackle this topic resort to pat answers that are anything but, empty platitudes, and even shaming.

Tanya Marlow's book is a refreshing new addition to this uncomfortable sub-genre. I'm delighted that it exists.

[Fiona Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanya Marlow skilfully brings biblical characters to life as she explores the themes of waiting, and of dealing with disappointment and delay. I found this approach really helpful: imagining how people in the Bible felt about their situations helps me to think about how God might be working in my own life. The questions and prayers at the end of each chapter are useful for further reflection, although some of them felt a bit uncomfortable! Definitely a book I shall re-read.

[Cheryl Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting book for those who are in a time of waiting and God doesn't seem to be listening. The author looks at several Bible characters and follows their story as they endured suffering and waiting for deliverance. Take heart, God did hear their cries and answered and He will you as well.

[J.A. Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

I'm not necessarily a huge fan of devotional type books with questions, mostly because I usually find the chapters to be a repetition of all the other things I've heard about that Bible story over a year of church going, and because the questions are rarely that thought provoking.

This book is different, though.

Ms. Marlow tells the stories of four different Bible characters in dramatic retellings that make them feel more real than I've ever thought of them.

My very favorite part was John the Baptist. I confess that I have never really liked John. Too strange and ascetic and stoic. But this book...this book utterly changed that for me.

Reading about John's wait in prison while he wondered what Jesus would say in response to his questions, and reading Jesus' answer in the way John would have heard it was such a moment of understanding for what John must have gone through.

Highly recommend this for anyone who is waiting for things that feel like they may never come, and anyone needing to see the Bible characters with fresh eyes.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘This book is for those who are waiting, which is all of us. It’s for those who struggle with waiting, which is many of us.’ If you are struggling with waiting, doubting, wondering why God hasn’t shown up yet in your situation, then this book is for you. Some books try to do too many different things and fail to do any of them well. This, on the other hand, successfully combines the wisdom born of personal experience, theological insights, imaginative first-person narratives, honest reflections, beautiful prayers, and creative exercises. Every chapter is deeply rooted in biblical truth and points to Jesus. It can be used as a personal devotional, an Advent book, or a group Bible study (with full Bible study notes at the end of the book). Or – if you can’t wait(!) – just read it cover to cover in one go, as it is hard to put down. I loved the Foreword so much – highlighting gem after gem of wisdom and insight – that I was afraid the imaginative first-person narratives would be disappointing in comparison. But they brought the Bible stories and characters to life in such an engaging way that I had to keep reading ‘just one more chapter’. I am looking forward to reading it more slowly and engaging properly with the prayers and exercises in Advent. An honest and engaging book which may touch on the hurts and disappointments in your life but which will, ultimately, help to bind up your wounds, restore your soul, and bring you the hope and encouragement that God is waiting with you whatever your circumstances, and that the end of the story is good.

[Kevin Todhunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

You won’t be surprised to hear that Those Who Wait is written for those who are waiting. Despite our attempts to create a microwavable, instant world, those who wait actually includes every one of us. And even if God seems to answer all of your prayers almost as quickly as you can say them, every Jesus-follower is still waiting for the return of Jesus. “Is this book for me then?” Yes, definitely.
Tanya Marlow has not written a quick-fix book on waiting. You won’t find, “How to stop waiting and be happy again in five easy steps”, here. Rather than patronise her readers, she invites them into the experience of four Bible characters who all knew the pain and the reality of what it is to wait. By imaginatively re-telling their stories in the first person – while still remaining faithful to the text – she invites us to examine our waiting in the light of their experience and what they learnt about God in it.

In effect, this book is a guided reflection on why and how we wait. It grapples with what the Bible has to say about waiting without offering up over-simple answers or platitudes. In addition, the book contains many helpful suggestions for ways to personally reflect on and process the content. If you read the book as part of a group, you can utilise group discussion studies provided. And if the biblical stories pique your interest, explanatory notes are provided on the background and context of the scriptures used.

A great read – and a treasure trove of resources. What are you waiting for?

[David Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

These re-imaginings of the bible stories of Sarah, Isaiah, John and Mary bring into focus their lives on an emotional level which makes it easier to connect with them as real people. The stories strongly bring home that these individuals had all the same daily hopes and worries that we face, the same feelings of disappointment and frustration at delay and apparent failure.

I found the writing of these narratives engaging and approachable. The strongly drawn parallels with the inequalities of modern Britain in the story of Isaiah are powerful and striking. I also found myself reflecting on my own struggles to be heard and believed as a patient dealing with medical professionals who are unwilling or unable acknowledge the limits of their training, experience and capabilities.

However, for me the real soul of this book is not in the narratives, they only set the scene for the reflections, questions and prayers which follow each chapter and section. These are clearly drawn from the heart of someone with a deep personal experience of what it is to wait, to be disappointed, to doubt and question, experience Tanya brings to a her words from living with long-term chronic illness.

An advance copy of the book came to me at a time when I most needed to read it. It was not an easy read for me - it was deeply challenging and emotionally difficult. I admit being brought to tears at times as I read. If you are struggling to cope with waiting, doubt and disappointment and are truly ready to face these challenges head-on, I recommend this book to you.

[Jennie Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

When looking for a Bible study, I like to find one that opens up the familiar texts and stories in a new way. It constantly amazes me how we can find fresh insights into stories we’ve known all our lives. Tanya Marlow’s new book, 'Those who Wait' does just this. Using a mix of rigorous research and inspired imagination Tanya brings Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist and Mary (Jesus’ mother) to life, and helps us to imagine what it was like for them to wait for God’s promises, some of which were very slow in coming.

Tanya herself knows a bit about waiting. Diagnosed with ME ten years ago, she spends much of her life confined to one small bed (with a view of the ever-changing sky). So if anyone is qualified to understand what it is like to wonder what on earth God might be thinking, and when he will fulfil his promises to wipe away every tear, she certainly is. But you’d never know it from reading her studies. This isn’t a maudlin book, it isn’t filled with despair and longing for the end of the world as we know it. It is a book of hope and courage, a book that will lead you deeper into the Bible and the God of the Bible as you learn from the example and experiences of those who have waited before us. It doesn’t shy away from the difficulties and the confusion or the ‘why?’ and ‘how long?’ questions, but it brings them back to the only place they can be answered, the loving sovereignty of God.

This would be a perfect book to read through during Advent (there are a couple of ideas of how to structure your reading of the 24 chapters depending on your advent tradition), or to give as a gift to anyone who is waiting for God to meet them in their deepest needs.

All in all, I highly recommend this book for anyone who is waiting which, as Tanya points out, is all of us!

[Amanda Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sometimes I wait for better health like an irritated adult, struggling against the awkwardness and discomfort of waiting. Sometimes I wait like a preschool child on the way to the beach, yelling to God repeatedly, “Are we nearly there yet?” and whining and fidgeting…Often I wait with peace – or resignation.”
I can relate well to the above quote, I’m sure all of us can when we’re stuck in traffic! Tanya has had ME for the last 20 years, she is very experienced in waiting. I have been suffering with deteriorating health and waiting for a diagnosis for 15years which is why I was attracted to this book. I was hoping to gain some of Tanya’s insights but I learnt so much more.
The book takes us through the story of Sarah waiting to be pregnant, Isaiah waiting for peace, John the Baptist waiting for Jesus and then waiting in prison and Mary waiting for the birth of Jesus. Tanya’s empathy for the suffering and isolation they experienced shines through each chapter. Reading this book gave me so much more of an understanding of these characters, it brought these Bible stories alive for me and renewed my passion for the Bible.
The questions and exercises at the end of each chapter caused me to reflect on how I cope with waiting, they helped me to think about what I needed to do to help me persevere through waiting, to remind me that God is always with me. The book also reminds us that suffering is part of this world and that demonstrates to us how we are all waiting to get to heaven or for Jesus to return.
Tanya finishes the book with some of her personal insights; what she has learnt from these Biblical Characters. Her thoughts are wise and yet simply put, this is something I will return to whenever I am struggling with waiting. I would thoroughly recommend this book, both to individuals or to book groups.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I recieved an advanced copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it)

“How long can one person carry on believing, when the reality bears no resemblance to the promise?”

There are misunderstandings throughout each of our lives. However, in some situations, the [mis]conceptions we live with can be brought into a brighter light and better comprehended when we see with shared support.

Such is the premise of Tanya Marlow’s fascinating book: Those Who Wait. Marlow approaches her life with spectacles of a faith that has been and continues to be tested by health issues that defy explaination. She readily admits to feeling defeated at times, but continues to be motivated by the examples of the Biblical figures Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist and Mary, four who had to “hurry up and wait” for whatever reason. These four may have felt isolated by their calls and God’s promises, but continue to be prototypes of faith throughout history.

That’s where this book shines. As a retired ordained minister, who spent the better part of my ministry working with churches in transition, I can see this as being hugely helpful to a church or group that is faced with insurmountable change. In times like those, it can be hard to see the hope in the chaos, the “whys” in the worst possible situations, and the hope in the loss of tentative faith tested by our realities.

This is not an easy book. It is challenging to read in the bad times. It might be even more challenging in the good times. I think it should be a supportive look at how Faith can support us and in turn how we can support each other.

[Kristy]

Beautifully written. Easy to read. Very deep, theologically, without feeling dense or dry.

I’ve studied the Bible for decades. I know these stories well. I’m also familiar with biblical theology: the study of the “big picture” redemption story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Tanya Marlow has managed to bring these familiar stories to life for me in a profound and touching way. Wow. It’s funny: you don’t think about these Bible characters being real people with real doubts.

The storytelling is captivating and the discussion questions after each chapter are thought-provoking and interesting. I found the epilogue particularly moving. I highly recommend this book to individuals and groups who are seeking to have a fresh encounter with the God of eternity who is, at the same time, so beyond our comprehension yet so intimately involved in our lives. I’ll remember this book for many years and will be recommending it to people.

[Jessica Kantrowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Those Who Wait, Tanya Marlow takes four characters from the Bible and tells their story with imagination and compassion. The question she asks of those characters, and of her readers, is: What is it like to wait for God? For Marlow herself this is not a theoretical question. A serious illness has confined her to her bed for many years, and neither she nor her doctors knows whether she will recover. She does not, however, write either from a place of bitterness or of false hope; rather she faces her own questions honestly and creates space for her readers to be honest about theirs.

Those Who Wait carries us inside the lives of Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Jesus' mother, Mary, imagining how each of them coped with the long periods of waiting in their lives. The reflection questions at the end of the chapter invite us to ponder what we may have in common with these ancient God-seekers, and how their stories may speak to ours.

Marlow's writing is evocative and vivid, and her pacing is gentle and patient, embodying the years, decades, and centuries that pass before God's purpose in the lives of these four people. The book is a quick read, but it can also be used as a longer daily devotional, reading a chapter every day and writing, pondering, or praying through the questions.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly wonderful book based on the theme of waiting. We have all experienced waiting at some point in our lives and Tanya more than most as she bravely lives with a debilitating illness that sees her bed bound for most of her day. The book focuses on four bible characters who are in a place of waiting - Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist and Mary and the book imaginatively draws out the human side of their individual journeys as they each encounter the mysterious nature of God. Through their stories Tanya helps us apply their God experiences to our everyday moments of waiting and gives us encouragement and hope that there is purpose in our waiting and that God is there even when we feel He is silent and has forgotten us. This is an emotionally honest book that gives us optimism in those places of doubt and disappointment. This book works well for both individuals and groups. There are reflective exercises and prayers for an extended personal study and an additional Bible study section if you want to use it within a group. The chapters have also been written in a way that the book can be used as an Advent devotional should you wish. I can't recommend this book highly enough and will definitely be buying it for others to read!

[Penelope Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of the book, and voluntarily reviewed it.
I am not a great reader of this kind of Bible story/reflection book, but I definitely enjoyed this one, and would recommend it to individuals and groups. Tanya Marlow has worked very hard to devise a resource that can be used in many different ways. She refuses to settle for easy answers.
Her rewriting of the Bible stories is imaginative and thoroughly researched and explained in the fascinating historical/theological notes at the end. I was particularly interested in her version of Isaiah: one often thinks of Jeremiah and Hosea as people with stories,but I think not so often Isaiah. All the stories were well told, with only occasional jolts from 21st century language and attitudes (!) and I found John the Baptist's especially moving.
The Epilogue should not be missed, as it summarises and moves forward, with some fascinating imagery from pregnancy and labour, which mothers may find evocative, and non-mothers intriguing!

[Bayta · Rating 5 out of 5]

It can be so easy at times to forget that those familiar characters in the Bible were real people. People like us, who become frustrated, fearful, even angry, as God seemingly delays intervening in their situation. Tanya Marlow helps us overcome the distance of centuries, culture and familiarity, by taking us right into their story. As we walk through their story with them, we become more aware of our own – the waiting, the longing, but also the disappointment, sadness and resentment. And like He did with Sarah, Isaiah, John and Mary, God meets us in all of it. Very powerful! I have not had a chance yet to use the group study guide but it looks great, and I look forward to going through it soon.

[Better is Possible · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading my advance copy of "Those Who Wait; Finding God in disappointment, doubt and delay" , by Tanya Marlow. It was a worthwhile read. The story accounts of Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Mary the mother of Jesus, were captivating and fresh, considering I've been hearing those stories since toddlerhood, which was decades ago!
Although my life is not much like Sarah's, I was able to connect with her waiting. In my case, waiting not for a physical birth, but for the birth of a next chapter of life. This reminder that God is there in the 'waiting' was encouraging.
Thank you to Tanya Marlow for seeking out people to pre-read this wonderful book. I highly recommend it!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in a while a book comes across my path that I feel I have been waiting for, for a long time. This book is one of those. We are all waiting, for something or someone, and waiting is not easy......it is often described as 'in the mean time' and mean it can be quite often ! This book focuses in on four biblical characters, and really breathes life into them and their stories of waiting and questioning and doubting........It was a great encouragement to me to journey with these characters in their stories.
Reflections at the end of each chapter, prayers, benedictions and creative exercises add and bring more meaning and understanding to their stories.
Definitely recommend.

[Cat Caird · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant devotional book with a twist. Tanya retells the stories of Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist and Mary, drawing the audience into their lives and thoughts while reflecting on what it means to wait. Its been wonderfully written with plenty of space for creative responses and challenging questions as you read through the book.

[Vicki Cottingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title of Tanya's book indicates, waiting can lead to disappointment and doubt. The book explores how it is possible to find God during those waiting times.

The book covers four Biblical characters - Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist and Mary (the mother of Jesus) - and their experiences of waiting. I particularly enjoyed the creative accounts of their lives which brought a fresh perspective and understanding of them, and how they really are very similar to us.

Tanya includes further Bible reading, creative exercises, prayer suggestions, and questions and reflections to help the reader apply what they have read to their own lives.

The second half of the book is a Six Week Group Bible Study which is connected to the first half. Those who like to meet in groups will enjoy working through these studies together, and will have the benefit of the support and encouragement of the group as they journey together.

The book is particularly useful for any one who is going through a season of waiting. Hope is found within the pages as the theme of waiting is explored. A person reading this with an open mind and heart cannot help but find a deeper personal relationship with God as they go through and interact with the book.

I am someone who enjoys going deeper in Bible Study and its historical background so I found the section 'Theological and Historical Notes' very helpful and interesting. However, it is not an essential part of the book to read if you are not interested in these things. If you don't read that section it won't take away from your experience of the book itself.

I like the balance found within these pages - in that it is both Biblically sound, so there are things to learn, whilst also being very practical.

[Margaret Kazmierczak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I longed for a second child, but nothing seemed to happen for such a long time and for those who wait the expectancy feels like a snail on holiday. Fortunately, I did not have to mark time as long as Sarah.

Are you a fidget?

It seems that those who wait for something, often try to fill their time. I find it hard not to. It might be searching the internet for an answer or occupying my mind with what if’s. As Tanya Marlow says in her book there are the ‘little waitings’ to the ‘big waits’.

What I liked

What I like about this book is that it makes you think. To contemplate waiting. Beautifully portrayed through the stories of four people, Tanya Marlow beckons the reader in to understand waiting on a deeper level.

“The Clock – What are you waiting for? On a blank piece of paper, draw a small clock. Think about all the areas of your life where you feel ‘liminal’: in between, unfulfilled, in limbo. Around the clock, write down everything in your life that you are waiting for. Keep this clock somewhere prominent while you work through this book, as a reminder of all you’re waiting for.”

A personal journey

Consequently, “Those who wait” is a personal journey that you take alongside Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist and Mary. And the book works well if you take time to ponder, reflect and meditate on the subjects. It is a tremendous personal read for Advent to prepare you for the coming of Jesus. However, it can also be used in groups and for Bible Study as it would work well for them too.

What I loved

I loved the story of Sarah, how it unfolded and could feel the weight of her disappointment. And I too have laughed at the craziness that a promise will be fulfilled. Sarah is the epitome of waiting (and what woman/mum isn’t in waiting) and a great reminder that God can do all things. Oh, how I love Sarah, human, broken and yet still waiting. But her laugh can be heard through the generations now.

What I didn’t like

Nothing – and for me, that is saying something! I know who I am going to give this book to as a Christmas present.

Would I recommend this book?

If you haven’t read this book then I would strongly recommend that you buy it for Advent or as a Christmas present. You will want to use it over again to go deeper into the process of waiting.

Thank you, Tanya, for writing this wonderful book.

*I received this book for free. No compensation was received, and all opinions are my own.*

[Sandy Hay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waiting: we should all be very good at this. We seem to spend most of our time waiting for something. “But we hate to wait…Why? Because we have a God-given instinct to want to know the end of the story, and for that ending to be good.” (page 15)

Those Who Wait is not about our everyday waiting. Tanya Marlow writes about an even greater wait, a season of waiting, a lifetime of waiting. As a teenager, she had mononucleosis which progressed “into a neurological illness: myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).” (page 13). There is only a slight chance she will recover. Yet she hopes.

Tanya married, went to seminary, taught at the graduate level, had a baby and has not been out of bed more than an hour a day since. That was 7 years ago. Yet she hopes.

“To wait means you are constantly straddling two realities-the hoped-for either happening or not. Yes, or no. Yes, or no. You feel the pull of both possibilities as you wait.” (page 16). Yet she hopes.

Those Who Wait is a narrative. We will read the stories of four people from the Bible who had to wait: Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Each story is about an “ordinary hero who wrestles with waiting but found God there. It has a twin focus: waiting for God’s specific promise but also ultimately awaiting Christ’s coming (for them), and Christ’s return (for us).” (page 17)

Tanya tells stories that are familiar to us but she allows us see them from an up-close and personal perspective. Of course, the actual conversations are fictional but the events are true. As you read, you will feel as if you are actually in the story, somewhere in Palestine centuries ago. Allow yourself to imagine being told by your husband, you and your entire household were moving “to the land I (God) will show you.” Genesis 12:1 Or imagine yourself in Pharaoh’s harem because your husband lied to save his life. Where is God? Why is He silent? Have I been abandoned?

Those Who Wait “does not offer straightforward solutions to the struggles of waiting. Nor is there a list of action points so it feels less like waiting and more like doing. I don’t offer these, because I don’t see them in the Bible stories. The Bible does not disguise the discomfort of waiting. Instead, I see people who battled through difficult times and prevailed. I see people who trusted, doubted and despaired-and trusted again.” (page 148)

[Lucy Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a tenderly written, creative piece of writing that is equally useful for individual or group use - and indeed it is meant to be so. Using storytelling as a way of drawing the reader in, the book focuses on the stories of Sarah and Isaiah in the Old Testament, and John and Mary in the new. It also supplies questions and exercises for reflection, together with some beautiful prayers. A work of love. If I had one quibble is that occasionally there is a turn of phrase that doesn’t quite sound authentic to the culture, rather too modern for the character using it, but that is minor indeed. Ideal for Advent, but not exclusively so, this book draws the reader into the tender pain that is waiting, reflecting on those who have ‘waited’ before us and encouraging us to consider our own times of waiting and what of God we might find in them.

[Christa Boaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marlow tackles the issues of disappointment, doubt, and delay through creative retelling of the journeys of Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Mary as they trusted and waited for God's promise to come to fruition. She does this with humor and knowledge, and brings the reader to garner ideas of what may have went on behind the scenes of the Biblical narrative. To boot, Marlow has her own insight into disappointment, doubt and delay and crafts insightful questions at the end of each chapter, encouraging the reader to think of their own faith journey. There are also Bible studies for small groups and insight for digging deeper on the stories shared and to review the rationale behind details she wrote about. 5 stars on multiple accords! This book was just what I needed.

[Kristy Burmeister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanya walks us through the stories of Sarah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, and Mary. But these aren't the versions we've read before. It's easy to look at these people as one-dimensional, but Tanya fleshes them out so we can appreciate what it must have been like for them. Tanya gets inside the heads of each person and humanizes them each in a way that helps us see our own stories reflected in theirs. She doesn't shy away from the doubts and the difficulties these people faced as they waited on God.

[Lizzie Lowrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. It's creative and challenging and offers fresh insight into the different struggles of waiting in Scripture. It's confidently and expertly crafted and has so much to offer. This sounds so superficial, but my only negative comment would be the front cover, if it was changed to something more contemporary, with more attractive colours and a clearer connection with the theme this book would sell a lot more copies and it should sell a lot more copies

[Laura Neale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rushed this read as I was using the book to guide group discussions and social media posts so I hope to read this again some day.

I really enjoyed it and really loved the story about retellings alongside the questions and reflections. Reading it in preparation for advent and our theme of waiting gave it an even deeper level of meaning and relatability as someone who is chronically ill and knows what it is to live a life of waiting.

[Lori Song · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and used it as a morning devotional. Having listened to Tanya Marlow’s story makes this read even more meaningful. Her imaginative writing allows the reader to really dig deep into the scripture and see it in a new way. Life is hard and filled with waiting and questions and suffering - Marlow’s book is a helpful companion to process and pray through the hard questions of life.

[Marvia Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are so many things we wait for in our walk of faith. Ups and downs. Highs and lows. Tanya weaves stories of faith heroes of the Bible and encouragement throughout this book for us who are in the waiting now.

[Sarah Greenup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this during the world wide season of waiting and trying to figure out what comes next after COVID 19 has been so helpful to my soul. I'm not usually a person who marks up my books, but this one now has all the highlights and pages marked that spoke to my heart.