Sometimes, What Feels Like Meandering is Part of the Plan

Inside: Experienced marketer Bethany McIlrath joins us to talk about life’s zigs and zags, God’s timing and what it’s like to promote her own book instead of the work of other authors. ~

I’m not sure when Bethany McIlrath and I first crossed paths online, but at some point in my earlier days of blogging, we became friends.

She’s a couple of decades younger than me, but she’s an old soul with a sincere faith and a heart for encouragement, which she demonstrated by faithfully showing up in the comment section.

Our friendship grew from there, and last year, we finally got to meet in person when I had a long layover at an airport near her home. She and her husband Matt live in the Charlotte, N.C., area, where she works in marketing at the Good Book Co.

She joins us today to talk about life’s zigs and zags, God’s timing and her new children’s book, Abigail and the Big Start Over.

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LOIS: You may describe where you are, professionally, as your dream job, but it’s not necessarily where you ever expected to be. Briefly, can you tell us how you got to where you are?

BETHANY: Being brief in response to this question is tough! You’re right that I never expected to work in Christian publishing, but am very grateful to the Lord for the work I get to do.

I think it’s one of many examples in my life of me sort of accidentally receiving a good gift by God’s grace. In college, I started freelance copywriting professionally because it was a flexible way to earn a little money and I never seem to get tired of writing—or reading!

That work morphed into content writing, blogging, and eventually marketing work. In the meantime, I haphazardly wrote a few faith-related pieces which, to my surprise, other people read and connected with me over.

Some of those people invited me into Christian writing communities. There I found myself participating in book launch teams and learning more about publishing. I discovered The Good Book Company through one of those launch teams.

A few years later, I saw an advertisement for the job opening and applied. I’d been praying for a full-time opportunity to serve the Lord using my marketing experience—and wow did He provide!

LOIS: Isn’t it fun when we can look back at what may seem like a bunch of zigs and zags and see how God was moving us in a certain direction all along? What did you learn about waiting and God’s timing through all of that?

BETHANY: It’s amazing how God moves us along in a particular direction even as we feel like we’re meandering all over. That reminds me of one of my favorite verses, Proverbs 16:9: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”

Over the years, I’ve learned that waiting with God is never static. We might feel like nothing is happening, but He is working on our hearts and making a way forward too. By God’s grace, experiencing twists and turns and plenty of waiting has grown my trust in God that His ways and timing are perfect.

LOIS: Speaking of God’s timing, you are now a published children’s author! How did you come up with the idea for your Abigail series, and what do you hope readers will take away from this first story?

BETHANY: Years ago, I was listening to a few girls in Sunday School discuss problems they had at school. They referenced a favorite character from a secular book and what she did in such situations. I wondered if I could find a similar book, but with a character who realistically exemplified turning to Jesus for wisdom and help.

I couldn’t find one, so I played around with writing one, which turned into a few. My hope for readers of the first story, Abigail and the Big Start Over, is that they’ll find a fun, relatable, and faithful friend in the main character. I pray she’ll point them to Jesus as they grapple with grace, messiness and change in their own lives.

LOIS: Do you see yourself in Abigail at all? And what role does humor play in your life as a wife, marketing professional and believer?

BETHANY: The book isn’t at all autobiographical but Abigail carries some of my interests, quirks, questions, and yes—my sense of humor. Laughing plays a huge role in my life.

It’s good for the body and soul, good for relationships and resolving tensions and challenges, and good for gaining that last little oomph needed to endure hard things. I think humor is a gift from the Lord and one He often uses to help put things in perspective.

LOIS: It’s been wonderful to see Abigail shared in various places around the Internet, including on author Tim Challies’ blog in a post called “A Whole Batch of New Books for Kids.” As someone who works in marketing for a book publisher, you spend your days promoting other people’s work. But I’m guessing it’s a little different when you are the author sharing about your own book. What has that been like for you, and what are you learning from the process?

BETHANY: It is definitely different to be the author sharing, not just the marketing person behind the scenes. I had ample turmoil around being published, but God has graciously helped me through the fears to see this as a good gift and part of the good work He planned in advance for me to do (Ephesians 2:10).

I’ve spent years helping others through this and felt like quite a hypocrite when I didn’t heed the advice or assurances I’ve given others. But God.

God has changed so much in my heart through this process, especially through the words of friends (like you!) who have encouraged me in the truth when lies and fears kept pulling me back.

I think what I’ve learned most is that any work the Lord invites us into ultimately won’t be done individually. Even if much of it is carried out alone behind a screen!

LOIS: Thanks so much, Bethany! I can’t wait to see how the Lord continues to use you and your words.

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If you appreciated Bethany’s thoughts as much as I do, drop her a line in the comment section. And if your children or grandchildren enjoy wholesome chapter books with fun illustrations, please check out Abigail and the Big Start Over.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth.