On June 4, 2021, Linda submitted an application on behalf of The Sublime Soiree to join the launch team for the book This Book Is for You by Tricia Lott Williford. The book’s content seemed to be an excellent source of wisdom for some upcoming articles Sue and Linda were preparing. Being huge fans of God’s Good Book — the Bible — Sue and Linda also knew they would love Tricia’s book and would want to share it with others.
But God’s plan was bigger.
Just three weeks after Linda submitted the launch team application – and three days before receiving an advanced copy of Tricia’s book – Linda and her family suffered a tragic loss. Their 25-year-old son/brother passed away. Linda’s first reaction was to step down from the book launching team. When she opened the book, however, Linda knew that she had received Tricia’s book for such a time as this.
As any of you who have been following Sue and Linda would attest, they have clearly stated that the message of The Sublime Soiree is NOT “life is a party.” Indeed, they have testified to the reality that life has deep and difficult struggles; thus, The Sublime Soiree is about looking forward to the hope God has prepared for us, even in the midst of life’s hardest circumstances. For Linda’s family, that truth could not be more profound than it is right now.
But God’s grace is sufficient.
When the apostle Paul had a proverbial thorn in his flesh, Scripture tells us he begged God on three different occasions to remove it. God’s answer was no. Instead, He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Oh, how Linda and her family would love to remove the thorn of losing their son/brother/grandson/nephew/cousin. But God instead met them right where they are and equipped Linda with This Book Is for You, guiding her through new ways to lean into His word for life and living.
Over the next several days, Sue and Linda will be sharing with you some of the beautiful insights they gleaned from This Book Is for You. Our prayer is that the posts will equip anyone who is hurting or struggling with some strength from the very words of our Creator, just as it has done for Linda. And if you would like to read Tricia’s book yourself, you can visit Amazon’s preorder page here to reserve your copy.
God’s Word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. May the upcoming posts encourage you to engage more fully with the Author Himself. And, as Tricia writes, may He draw you in right where you are.
— Linda R. Maynard © August 2021