I’m thrilled to have my friend and fellow author, Crystal Caudill as guest today. She shares a personal message of how the Lord used some challenging circumstances in her life to give her a deeper understanding of her heroine in her debut novel, Counterfeit Love.

 

Will you love God, “even if…”?

By Crystal Caudill

Rarely does an author write a book in a vacuum. The outside world infiltrates our writing, and our struggles bleed onto the page in one form or another. Counterfeit Love is one of those books for me.

In the story, Theresa Plane struggles with several questions about God revolving around “even if.” Even if God strips everything away from me, will I still love Him? Will I still trust Him, even if the worst happens? Can I still believe God’s promises, even if all this is happening? These are some of the very same questions I wrestled with as I wrote Counterfeit Love and my world around me exploded.

Theresa’s Story

When I began writing Theresa’s story, I had no idea I would endure the drawn-out, painful-to-watch death of my grandmother. Grandma Connie was a vibrant, stubborn woman who lived a hard life and survived. Until Parkinson’s, dementia, and finally, cancer took her in cruel slow bits.

For almost two years, my mom flew back and forth between Kentucky and Idaho to help care for her. I still remember Mom telling me Grandma would not be seeking cancer treatment and that I needed to go see her now before she got any worse.

That trip was the beginning of the stripping of me. Not only was I unable to be there for my mom as she cared for Grandma and then the long drawn out aftermath, my own world at home faced significant challenges. My mother-in-law suffered severe complications from a hip replacement that almost took her life, and I was her caregiver.

Not only was I raising two boys, trying to meet her severe caregiving needs, and pack a house for a move, but my husband was traveling extensively for his job. It was in this season that I wrestled with my faith in ways I’d never done before.

Just Like Theresa

Together we had to walk through things we never imagined. We felt alone, abandoned, and unable to bear it all on our own strength. However, it was during this time that God really worked on our hearts. He taught us that even if everything goes wrong, all our dreams are shattered, and we feel terribly alone, God is right there with us, asking us to surrender all to Him. To not be afraid by all that is happening, but to stand sill, set our eyes on Jesus, and see the salvation of the Lord. This battle is not ours, but His.

Whatever you are facing today, let me encourage you. You can trust Him. You can love Him. You can believe His promises. Because the Lord will be with you, even if.

“Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” – 2 Chronicles 20:17

Meet Crystal

Crystal Caudill is the author of “dangerously good historical romance,” with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Crystal can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Find out more at crystalcaudill.com.

 

CRYSTAL’S UPCOMING BOOK

Can this undercover agent save the woman he loves–or is her heart as counterfeit as the money he’s been sent to track down?

Isn’t that cover stunning? I’m eager to read this novel. Releases March 15!

 

 

MORE INSPIRATIONAL READS

Stories of faith and resilience on the Midwest prairie & the Civil War Era

Inspirational Historical Romance

~Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble
**Connect with Cynthia Roemer on FacebookGoodreads Bookbub and Twitter.

 

GIVEAWAY

 

Crystal is offering some fun giveaway items, including a couple of bookmarks, a homemade book sleeve and hot chocolate mixes. Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below for a chance to win! (US Addresses only)

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway