As a writer, I love crafting stories with surprises—plot twists that take my characters in directions they never expected. These moments remind me that trusting God in difficult times is essential because when He writes the plot twists, then that often leads to something far better than we could have planned.
Over the years, I’ve learned that God, the ultimate Author, often writes unexpected turns into my story. Even though I may become frustrated, I’m learning that God is simply growing my faith and reminding me who is truly in control.
In September, I attended and taught classes at my two favorite writing conferences, and those two trips reminded me of that truth.
Plot Twist #1 — The Hotel That Was Full… Until It Wasn’t
I discovered a mistake on my hotel reservation three days before leaving for the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference—I hadn’t booked enough nights. What was I thinking? While I wanted to keep kicking myself, I tried to focus on giving myself grace. And this experience turned into a lesson in trusting God’s plan for my life because He cares about the small things and the big things.
The next morning, my stomach dropped when the hotel staff told me they were full and couldn’t extend my stay. That meant my roommate and I would need to check out mid-day on the final full day of the conference—the same day when I was teaching—and move to another hotel.
My roommate was so gracious and booked us into a nearby hotel for our final night’s stay. It wasn’t ideal, but it would work. The front desk attendants at our main hotel encouraged us to
keep checking back. We did, but they still didn’t have any vacancies.
Then, the night before we were supposed to move, I was meeting with a group of authors, and my roommate ran up to me…Praise God, the hotel had a vacancy. Not only could we stay for the entire conference, but we could stay in the same room. No packing up, no switching hotels, no stress.
Only God could work out those details so perfectly.
(And my roommate “fired” me from handling conference reservations in the future. 😂)
Plot Twist #2 — The Flight That Was Canceled… and the Favor That Followed
Several months ago, I’d booked a flight to Phoenix, Arizona, for the Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW) Conference. To save money, I used a third-party site that found a lower-than-expected flight, but it meant flying out of a regional airport, and having two connections—three mistakes I now see clearly in hindsight. Little did I know that this experience would become a real-life example of God’s perfect timing and faithfulness.
On the morning of my trip, I drove through early morning thick fog and dark country roads, dodging deer and praying for safe travels. I arrived at the airport at 5 a.m.—only to find out my flight had been canceled. Due to fog, the plane hadn’t come in the night before.
No one had notified me because the airline said I didn’t have contact info on file, which wasn’t true. I stayed calm and kind, returned to my car, called my husband, then booked a next-day flight on my regular airline, flying out of my regular airport. I felt a calm settle over me. God whispered, “Trust Me.” It cost nearly $800, but I ch
ose peace over panic. I spent the night with two of my best friends—one of whom drove me to the airport the next morning.
That second flight was smooth. I even had a delicious gluten-free breakfast sandwich while waiting to board. The conference was wonderful, full of God-inspired connections and encouragement. However, trying to get a response or a refund through the third-party app proved impossible.
When I returned home, I emailed the airline to explain the situation, hoping for a refund but expecting little. A week passed with no response. This past weekend, I received an email from the airline, giving me a full refund, not just a travel credit.
Grinning, I did a little happy dance and whispered thanks to the One who turns frustration into favor.
Trusting the Author of Your Story
Both of these experiences reminded me that what feels like chaos in the moment is often just part of God’s carefully woven plotline. God’s plan for your life may include unexpected challenges, but those moments are opportunities for growth and transformation. Plus, we don’t know what God could be protecting us from when He allows delays in our lives.
When I’m beginning a new story, I get to know my characters, then create a scene-by-scene plan. To keep the reader turning pages, I always include moments where my characters feel lost—those black moments they think the Author has forgotten them. Those scenes are necessary for spiritual growth for my characters. Without conflict, there’s no transformation. Without tension, there’s no triumph.
The same is true for us.
When the plan falls apart, the hotel’s full, or the flight’s canceled, trust that God is writing a better ending. His timing is precise, His details perfect, and His favor faithful.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
The next time your story takes an unexpected turn, don’t panic. Pause. Breathe. Trust the Author. Remember that God’s plan for your life, even with its plot twists, is unfolding with perfect timing and purpose. He’s not done writing your story yet.
Your Turn: Have you ever experienced a ‘plot twist’ moment when God showed up unexpectedly? Whether it’s a canceled flight, a full hotel, or another unexpected setback, I’d love to hear how trusting God in difficult times strengthened your faith.
For more encouragement that weaves faith and fiction together, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter, where I share how God uses different chapters and stories for His glory.
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