More than I could ask or think

I confess, I didn’t know until yesterday what I would post today. I’m not usually that late in deciding my topic. (Actually writing the post? Well, that might be a different story!) Anyway, I had no idea what to write about. But, strangely, I wasn’t stressed. I figured the Lord would come through with an idea just in the nick of time.

However, I didn’t expect Him to do it in such a big way!

I should have. After all, Ephesians 4:20 tells me that God is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that I can ask or think. And yet I am continually humbled and amazed when He does just that.

Here’s a bit of backstory: You already know that these last 5 years have been a writing drought for me. You also know the drought lifted when we moved back to Rockwall.

What you don’t know is that during the drought I let go of my agent. That was a big deal for me, because I didn’t get an agent until after I’d published four books. But nothing was happening with my writing to need an agent. A couple of years ago, I felt strongly that I needed to just let that go. And so by the time we ended our life in Austin, I was not only in a writing desert, I was also agent-less. I literally thought I had no way to even get my toe back in the publication door.

But little did I know . . .

Not long after we moved back, my dear friend and critique partner of almost 20 years, Mary DeMuth, stepped into a new role as an agent with Books & Such. I did not presume on her to even consider me as a client. I didn’t even suggest it as a possibility! But one day she called and asked if I had any interest in auditioning for write-for-hire opportunities. I said yes, because it did, indeed, intrigue me. She took me on as her first client.

Immediately, she let me know about two audition opportunities. I did them both with fear and trepidation, not for myself as much as for her. I wanted her first submissions as an agent to be stellar. As I’ve said before in a post, the words and ideas flowed for both stories as they hadn’t in years. The first audition response was a no—but a no with great compliments and a desire to see my work when other opportunities arose.

Then just last night, Mary called me. Not super unusual. But when I answered and asked, “What’s up?” her response floored me. My second audition had been accepted! Suddenly, I was on my way to publication once again.

As this year goes on I’ll let you know more details, including things big and small that God set in place to make this work. But for now, suffice it to say that only God could have done this.

Only. God.

He took what I thought was dead and brought it back to life. I’ve seen His goodness and His faithfulness in so many areas of my life, and yet each time I see it again it’s with the same gratitude. And humility. And amazement. God doesn’t always give us what we think we want. Instead, He so often gives us more than we imagined possible. And I especially love that He did this in answer to my prayer for my dear, dear friend. I was her first client, and now I’m her first sale. That is more exciting to me than even getting to write another book!

Has the Lord done something amazing in your life lately? Big or small? Let’s give some praise to our God for His amazing care and abundance!

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D'Ann Mateer

Inspired by novelist Eugenia Price, D’Ann’s dream of writing historical fiction with an element of faith began in middle school, though her serious drive toward publication took a bit longer. D’Ann is the author of four historical novels and one novella, as well as a contemporary short stories in a compilation volume. D’Ann and her husband of 30 years can be found in Austin, TX when they aren’t touring historic sites or visiting their grown children.

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