Elizabeth Laing Thompson - When God Says Wait: Navigating Lifes Detours and Delays Without Losing Your Faith, Your Friends, or Your Mind

In When God Says, Wait, Elizabeth captures readers through previously unexplored anecdotes of familiar Bible stories and then connects you with these ancient icons, venturing deeper into their narratives. With Elizabeths own graceful confessions and by linking our own emotions to those of these past heroes, we internalize so much more than just the moral of their stories. We take on their hope, their insight, and their love for God in a way that helps us navigate this lonely, unmarked territory that is waiting. We have known Elizabeth and her husband Kevin for many years. We value their guidance, direction, and most of all their genuine desire for a relationship with Christ. This book is the culmination of years of grappling with questions and faith-testing waiting with practical insights of the way God works in these times.

Pauli and Chip Wade, Lead Creative at Wade Works, Star of HGTVs Elbow Room and Curb Appeal

Elizabeth Thompson is a kindred spirit. I love her writing style, heart, and quirky humor. She writes with authenticity and wisdom. When God Says, Wait gives practical, biblical precepts, but it also unites our hearts with beloved biblical characters. Thompson masterfully paints scenes from these characters lives in such a way, you feel youre there. Time is removed. Rather than biblical saints, they become people just like us. Their stories are ours. Its a must-read for anyone struggling with Gods timetable. Healing, hopeful, and filled with grace to help us trust God as we wait on Him.

Andy Lee, Author of A Mary Like Me: Flawed Yet Called

When God Says, Wait is a must-read. Elizabeth gives us confidence and courage in times of waiting, ensuring that we will be better because of the wait. We are better because of this book, too! With solid scriptural advice, practical prompts, and unmatched wit, Elizabeth helps us find faith in times of uncertainty. Whether youre a mom, student, business owner, or wife, this book is for you!

Lara Casey Isaacson, Author of Make It Happen

Its hard to be the example, but someones gotta do it! Thank goodness it is Elizabethher journey through waiting, wit in expressing it, and wisdom to learn from it. This book is not only a beautiful testament of one womans faith, but a reminder of the many Bible heroes who God told to wait. Oftentimes life leaves us in the gap between what is and what will be. Thank you, Elizabeth, for refining the gifts that can only be given as we wait. Those gifts and this book will be a gap-filler and hope-giver to women all over the world.

Laura Whitaker, Executive Director, Extra Special People, Inc.

As Elizabeth writes, when speed is our cultural priority, wait feels like a bad word. Thanks be to God that this does not have to be the case and that through When God Says, Wait we can uncover a roadmap to prayerful, humble, practical, and hopeful waitingeven in the midst of heartbreaking trial! Any reader will feel indebted to Elizabeths fearless take on the misconceptions of waiting, sharing from a deep well of scripture-rich wisdom. While most authors dealing with such tender topics may shy away from hard-to-swallow truths, Elizabeth guides, challenges, and encourages just like a best friendwith vulnerability and humorso that your heart can fall deeper in love with a God who sees, hears, and cares.

Marilisa Schachinger, Founder and Event Planner, Martel Events

2017 by Elizabeth Laing Thompson

Print ISBN 978-1-68322-012-1

eBook Editions:
Adobe Digital Edition (.epub) 978-1-68322-304-7
Kindle and MobiPocket Edition (.prc) 978-1-68322-308-5

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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the H OLY B IBLE , N EW I NTERNATIONAL V ERSION . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked EXB are taken from The Expanded Bible, Copyright 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are from THE MESSAGE. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked P HILLIPS are taken from The New Testament in Modern English by J. B. Phillips copyright 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops Council of the Church of England. Used by permission.

Cover design: Faceout Studio, www.faceoutstudio.com

Published by Shiloh Run Press, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 719, Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683, www.shilohrunpress.com.

Our mission is to publish and distribute inspirational products offering exceptional value and biblical encouragement to the masses.

Printed in the United States of America.

For Kevin

I was made and meant to look for you and wait for you and become yours forever.
Robert Browning

When you pursue a writing career for thirteen years, you have a lot of people to thank.

Lysa TerKeurst has called writing a book a sacred adventure with God, and what a sacred adventure this was! Every day spent writing was a day spent in constant communion with God. Thank You, Father, for trusting me with Your Word and with this message.

My husband, Kevin, did not blink when I announced that I wanted to become a writer. He has read every draft, loved every story, humored every angsty moment. He has flown me to conferences, bought me a laptop when I ran over mine by accident (long story), and viewed every dollar spent as investment, not expense. He has gladly given me permission to do what I love and be who I am. Thank youI am so blessed to be yours.

Thanks to Cassidy, Blake, Avery, and Sawyer, for being you, my four spunky miracles.

I cant begin to describe the debt I owe my parents and familythey have read and critiqued and prayed and fasted and mourned and rejoiced with me. Thank you to Dad, Mom, David, Lisa, Jonathan, Talia, Alexandra, Jesse, and many of my aunts and uncles and cousins. Kevins parents, Bill and Glenda, have always encouraged, always believed, and often wrangled kids so I could write.