Obedience Over Fear: The Story Behind Hatteras House
Hatteras House almost never happened.
Not because the story wasn't ready. It was finished a long time ago, sitting quietly, waiting. The truth is, I was the one who wasn't ready. I sat on this book for years, wrestling with self doubt, disobedience if I'm being fully honest, and some pretty poor stewardship of what God had already given me to do.
Have you ever known exactly what you were supposed to do and still found a hundred reasons to put it off?
That was me.
I told myself it wasn't the right time. I told myself the story needed more work. If I'm honest, what I was really telling myself was that I wasn't enough. Not talented enough, not brave enough, not ready enough to let people see this part of me.
Obedience is a tough lesson to learn sometimes. It's easy to talk about trusting God when things are simple. It's a whole different thing to actually walk it out when what He's asking feels exposing.
But here's what I've learned. Two things can be true at the same time.
I can look back and wish I hadn't waited so long. And I can also rest in knowing that God's timing is always right on time, even when it doesn't feel that way from where we're standing.
Romans 8:28 reminds us that all things work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Not some things. All things. Even the delays. Even the years of sitting on something out of fear instead of stepping into it.
When I finally released Hatteras House, it wasn't because I suddenly felt brave. It was because I got tired of letting fear of man keep me from obedience to God. This story means something to the first responder community, to families walking through their own storms, to anyone who has ever needed to be reminded that healing is possible and God's grace really is sufficient, even in our weakness, just like it says in 2 Corinthians 12.
That's the heart behind Hatteras House. It's fiction, but it's also deeply personal. It's a story about a family finding truth, forgiveness, reconciliation, healing, and hope on the other side of their storm, and honestly, it's a little bit my story too.
If you've ever needed permission to stop waiting for the perfect moment and just start walking in what God has already asked of you, I hope this book encourages you the way writing it encouraged me.
Grab your copy of Hatteras House on Amazon
And since we're talking about obedience and not waiting too long, I have to tell you what's coming next.
Weathering the Storm continues the Garrison family's journey. Kayla and Eric find themselves trapped together as a hurricane bears down on the coast, forcing them to face questions about love, growing up, and what direction their lives are really headed. And Matt and Laura are still navigating life after Matt's PTSD diagnosis, learning that healing isn't a one time decision, it's a daily one.
I'll be sharing more soon, so stay close.
And if you want to be part of the everyday moments in between, come find me on Instagram. That's where I share the real, unfiltered, sometimes chipper, sometimes not so chipper version of me.
Whatever it is God has asked you to release, friend, I hope today is the day you stop waiting and start walking.
