I have always loved stories. I love how stories can awaken a sense of wonder. I love how they can take ordinary, familiar things and show them in a new light. I love how stories can communicate truth. This led me to pursue my dream of being a children’s author.
I started coming to Re:Hope in 2016. I was working on a novel at the time and considered applying for a Creative Writing course in Dublin. I thought it was probably too late to apply and they probably wouldn’t accept writing for children, but I decided to send an email to enquire.
They replied saying they did accept writing for children and, although the deadline for applying had passed, they would reopen the application portal for me if I wanted to apply!
After my application was accepted, I arranged to meet the course leaders. I asked God to make it clear from the meeting if I was to go. They answered all my questions favourably, including my request to work in the department as a tutor. I came out of the meeting knowing it was the right decision and had a fantastic year in Dublin.
Once I completed the course, I moved back to Glasgow. I started the process of submitting my work to agents, publishers, and writing competitions, committing it to God and His purposes.
Getting my work published has been one of the points on my prayer card during every Fasting Week, 50 Days of Prayer, 40 Days of Prayer, and 40 Days of Answered Prayer since 2018. There have been a lot of obstacles along the way, including a rat-infested flat, struggling to find work, and a global pandemic, not to mention battling doubts that I was on the right track.
At the start of 2022 I had started making daily declarations about my calling as a writer and sending my work out again. In June 2022 a publisher expressed interest in my book and in September, during last year’s 40 Days of Answered Prayer, I was offered a publishing contract.
I am so thankful to God for inspiring me, for giving me opportunities to develop my writing skills, and for making a way for my work to be read. I couldn’t have done any of it without Him.
This answer to prayer encourages me to persevere with other longstanding prayers I haven’t seen answers to yet. If there’s a prayer you’ve been praying for a long time that hasn’t been answered yet, don’t give up! Keep praying!
Susanna Naismith
Re:Hope West End
Have you a prayer you’ve been praying for years? Thank God for giving you perseverance to keep praying this far, and remember ways He has answered other prayers — to fuel fresh faith today!