Many of my writing friends are coming out with books! It’s a joy to introduce them to you and as we celebrate through the Interview Series. Let’s give a warm welcome to the lovely Kris Camealy as she talks about her advent book, Come, Lord Jesus: The Weight of Waiting.
Interview with Kris Camealy
Tell us a little bit about why you decided to write “Come, Lord Jesus”:
The idea for Come, Lord Jesus was actually planted in my heart about 2 years ago. Through a series of events, I began working on a different book, and became so immersed in that, that I shelved Come, Lord Jesus for a season. For nearly two years, while working on the other book project, I experienced numerous long periods of waiting.There was a go-and-stop-and-wait kind of rhythm to my work. And then, that project hit a full-stop. It isn’t complete, but I knew God was saying, “wait”. One morning while I was sort of praying, sort of wrestling over the forced stop God had led me to, I heard in my heart, God’s whisper to write Come, Lord Jesus. So I laid one project aside, and started on this one. I don’t know that it’s so much that I decided to write it, but more like I felt God say that it was time. For this book at least, the waiting season was over.
What is something that you are currently waiting on? What is a specific verse, biblical principal, or strategy that you use as you wait?
I admit I smirked when I read this question. If I am honest, what I am waiting for most right now is for God to resurrect the project I was working on before Come, Lord Jesus. I’ve invested so much into it up to this point, and I am not ready to let it go—and I don’t think God is asking me to. But He is telling me to wait, and allowing me to see things about myself in the waiting that are hard, things I’d rather not admit, but that is the gift of waiting with God, He uses all the moments—we’re never as idle as we feel when we’re waiting with Jesus. As far as verse or strategy, I am partial to the Scripture from Isaiah 40:31 that says, “Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.” I have experienced this renewal again and again in the waiting. As for strategy, lots of prayer, and staying connected to the people who mentor me and encourage me.
What do you hope readers willgain as they read your book?
I think the main thing I hope for readers is that they would be drawn towards God’s heart for them in their own waiting seasons. God is the only one who can sustain us as we wait and long for things promised but not attained, and my prayer and hope for readers of Come, Lord Jesus is that they would find rest in His comfort and presence, both in Advent and always.
What was one of the most rewarding aspects of completing this project? What was one of the most challenging?
I think the most rewarding thing has been the feedback people have shared with me about the book. Come, Lord Jesus has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the early stages (Advance readers) to the feedback from the general public. That is so encouraging, and feels like confirmation that I did the right thing in making time to write it right now.
The most challenging thing was probably the actual writing. I woke up every day during the month of July at 4AM to write before my family woke up. Some days I just sat there with a candle burning and my coffee, praying through the scheduled scripture for that day’s work, and waiting on God to give me something. Even though I wrote the book in a month, the writing itself felt slow. The irony of waking to wait on God is not lost on me. It all ended up in the book somewhere. I lived the tension for 31 days and I think the work reflects that.
What advice do you have for writers in regards to the book writing process?
My advice for writers regarding the book writing process would be first, settle into it. Set deadlines and work faithfully, always keeping in mind that God’s plans may be different than yours. You can be called to a project for a season, and then wind up doing something else. I would encourage writers to hold it all loosely, because God sees what is beyond our scope. And write what’s burning in you, not what the market demands. Life is too short to write with the sole intent to publish. Write what matters.
Could you leave us with a prayer for all of us who are waiting on something big?
Gladly. Gracious God, you are so good to let us endure hard waiting seasons. We don’t understand it, we may not even like it, but while we’re waiting, while our hearts are weighted with want, you come and fill us with your presence. Transform our hunger and impatience into a holy hunger and thirst for more of you. Teach us to wait patiently, expectantly and hopefully for what you have promised but not yet revealed. Come, Lord Jesus, knit us to your heart, and let us learn the beauty of waiting on you. Amen.
Anything else you would like to share?
Thanks so much for the opportunity to share about Come, Lord Jesus: The Weight of Waiting. The book is available on Amazon in print editions and for Kindle. I pray it blesses you this Advent season.
Waiting with Anticipation,
Kris
As a sequin-wearing, homeschooling mother of four, Kris Camealy is passionate about Jesus, people and words. Her heart beats to share the hard, but glorious truth about life in Christ. She’s been known to take gratuitous pictures of her culinary creations, causing mouths to water all across Instagram. Once upon a time, she ran 10 miles for Compassion International, a ministry for which she serves as an advocate. Kris is the author of, Come, Lord Jesus: The Weight of Waiting and Holey, Wholly, Holy: A Lenten Journey of Refinement, and the follow up, Companion Workbook. She has contributed to numerous other books, is the host of Refine {the retreat} and the founder and Executive editor of GraceTable.org. In her free time, she writes at kriscamealy.com.
Thank you Kris for sharing your heart and words with us!
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