I didn’t have time for it. I was going to say no. But something told me—do it anyway.

Have you ever heard that little voice in your head? The one that says, “I know you think you’re right but I really need you to reconsider. Trust me.” Yep. That’s the Holy Spirit. And wow, am I ever glad I listened.

In February, my agent called me about an opportunity to pitch a devotional project for Our Daily Bread. You might remember I told you last fall about Moments With God for Kids, a 100-day devotional for ages 9–12 that I crammed to finish by the deadline for Our Daily Bread Publishing. That book comes out in August and I’m super proud of it. So when ODB opened the door to write the next book in the series, for teens, I jumped at the chance.

At first.

It was a knee-jerk reaction, really, because I love teens, I have a teen daughter who is smack in the center of the target market, and my heart is HUGE to equip her and her friends and tons others like them with the Word of God… because they need encouragement and truth in a cruel and truthless world. Amen?

But. Then I considered my calendar, and I realized—no way was I going to be able to write this next book in time. The publisher was slapping it with an inhumane deadline, just two months to write 100 devotions, which, considering I was already working full-time hours managing my coaching business, was an insane leap I didn’t want to risk. I knew how much time and effort went into Moments With God for Kids, and the teen version was only going to be trickier. Because, well, teens are teens and they’re no joke, people. This was going to be a mighty and delicate assignment.

So sadly, I rallied the courage to pass up the chance to throw my hat in the ring. The job wasn’t mine yet; I had to apply for the opportunity to write the book, along with who knows how many other writers whom I’m sure would’ve been equally if not more qualified. But the more I prayed about it, the more I sensed God telling me, do it.

“Whaaat, Lord? You’re crazy. You know how much I’ve got on my plate right now.”

“Yes. Do it anyway.”

“Well, I trust you, Lord, I really do. But you know if I actually get this gig, something else has got to give, right?” (Don’t you love it when we think we need to tell the God of the universe the details of our life, as if He doesn’t already know it better than we do.)

“I know. And I want you to pitch your idea for this book. Leave the rest to me.”

{Let me just clarify that I did not actually hear an audible voice speak those exact words. I’m not that holy. But you get the gist… the Spirit pressed upon my heart and led me in a direction opposite from the one I was going to go, and that’s when the story got good.}

“Okay, God, I’ll do it. I’ll submit my pitch. And I don’t think they’re going to pick me. But if they do… IF THEY DO… then I’ll know it was from you. And that you really did want me to write this book. Even though I don’t have time for it. Have I mentioned that? Just saying.”

I don’t need to tell you. They picked me.

And I spent about a month panicking over how I did NOT have time in my calendar to write the kind of devotions this book deserved. I can string sentences together, yes, God has gifted me with that skill. But this wasn’t just about writing. It was about parenting. Discipleship. Mentoring TEENS, and I’m still a newbie at that job; my firstborn is still just a ninth grader. I don’t have decades of wisdom under my belt in pointing high school kids to Christ. Do you know what goes on in high schools these days? It’s downright petrifying. I am not equipped.

But I know someone who is.

And God said… call her.

Can you guess what happened? She said yes, too. And suddenly I found myself shored up by a co-writer, a mentor, a wise and experienced mom of teens and disciple-maker of students, the woman with more analogies and object lessons spilling out the top of her head than anyone I’ve ever met. She is the reason God told me, “Do it anyway.”

Her name is Tammy Muller. And she is my very dear friend… and co-author of Moments With God for Teens: 100 Real-Life Devotions.

Tammy made this book happen. When I was flailing, she came to my rescue and shared her ideas and her stories and her deep knowledge of Scripture. We wrote this book side by side, we prayed over it every morning, we wrestled with difficult topics and countercultural truths from God’s Word, and I am still in awe of how He showed up.

Tammy and I wrote the entire thing inside of a month. Because God is just that cool.

Together we accomplished SO MUCH MORE than I could have attempted on my own. I am in love with these devotions… and with God, all over again, for covering me with His providence and allowing me to play a role in His kingdom work. He knew I didn’t have time to do this project alone. Yet He also knew He had picked Tammy to do it alongside me. If I hadn’t listened to Him and submitted my pitch… if I hadn’t allowed the publisher a chance to select me… then I might’ve denied God His desire to use Tammy for His glory. Yes, I know He’s sovereign and I can’t screw up His plan. But it’s pretty darn awesome when He allows us to see just how we played a part in it, through obedience and faith. And a little bit of crazy.

The best result of all, besides the book manuscript, which is beautiful if we do say so ourselves, is that I learned an incredible lesson.

God answers our prayers, based not on what we know at the moment, but on what HE knows for all time.

So. What has God been speaking to you lately? Where are you resisting His invitation? How might you unleash His amazing power with your willingness to listen, to step out, to trust Him even when what He’s asking makes no sense?

I’m so glad I did. 100 Moments With God for Teens has a road to travel before it hits shelves, but I’m hoping to be able to share the first copies with you in early 2023. Meanwhile, Tammy and I have committed to keep praying weekly… for the publishing staff, the editors, the students and parents who will pick up a copy of this devotional and maybe, hopefully, if God allows, be changed by it.

Will you join us in praying? Our teens need help. They need hope. They need us to rise up and encourage them, equip them, and arm them with truth as they face a hostile world. Jesus is the answer to every struggle they face, and every struggle you and I face, too. I’m so grateful I belong to Him. Don’t you?

Much love,
Becky

*This article was originally posted on Becky's personal blog, beckykopitzke.com.