Unlocking Divine Possibilities: How Utter Surrender Transformed My Life

Published by helloredds@gmail.com on 07/22/2025 07/22/2025

Unlocking Divine Possibilities: How Utter Surrender Transformed My Life

As a Christian fiction author, I have the privilege and joy of letting my wild imagination run free as I pen my musings and share stories of hope with dear readers. 

In the Christian romantic suspense genre, I get to tug on heartstrings with complex relationships and send shivers up spines with life-or-death scenarios—all while offering encouragement and inspiration with the faith element.

It’s a fun, frustrating, fresh challenge every single time!

To be honest, there’s a little piece of me in every book I have written. Those who know me well can detect a certain character trait, a turn of phrase, a favorite food, or a particular passion.

Thankfully, I don’t have experience with devastating heartbreak, stalkers, murderers, or the like. But I often identify with the spiritual struggle. 

My Newest Book

In my new release, The Final Word, we have love at first sight, Cinderella vibes, the English countryside, murder, Paris secrets, sisters, baking, an author, and an opera singer… but the spiritual thread woven throughout is one of surrender.

“It is wonderful what miracles God works in wills that are utterly surrendered to Him.” Hannah Whitall Smith

EEK! Surrender… yes, this topic hits home for me.

Perhaps it’s a real and raw struggle for most of us.

As Christians, we know deep in our hearts that God requires us to surrender all things to Him for our good and His glory—yet it’s no easy thing! 

Considering Surrender

As I consider surrendering to God, I’m reminded of the story in Luke 19 and The Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. And the palm leaves waving in the warm breeze and crowds enraptured in celebration and song.

It’s also when a throng of devoted followers threw their cloaks upon the dusty ground before the King of Kings in a marked act of adoration and submission.

That image of cloaks laid down makes me wonder what manner of “cloaks” I might be willing to surrender before the feet of Jesus. What might be distracting, detracting, dimming my adoration of Him?

What fear, shame, pride, overwhelm, sorrow, or a hundred other “cloaks” are weighing me down? Or perhaps weighing you down, too, friend?

Surrendering it all sounds daring and daunting, yet I know that in this obedience there is joy, peace, and freedom.

Back to My Story of Surrender

So, back to my book—in this story of surrender, I ended up giving the protagonist, Sophie Brooks, my life verses along with a prayer I utter almost daily, making it extra personal and precious to me.

It was the least I could do(!) as I took her to the most desperate, dangerous, and dire of circumstances before she finally recalled fragments of Proverbs 3:5-6 to help pull her through:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart

  and lean not on your own understanding;

  in all your ways submit to him.

  And he will make your paths straight.” 

What I Cling To – Unlocking Divine Possibilities: How Utter Surrender Transformed My Life

I have clung to these beloved verses since I was an eleven-year-old schoolgirl living on the south coast of England.

Words I have come to treasure and trust more with each passing year as a wife, mom, grandmother, sister, daughter, friend, and author.

“God, I give You everyone.

  God, I give You everything.”

In My Book

For Sophie Brooks, she was finally able to utter these words of surrender when she came to the end of herself and knew God alone was trustworthy.

This rather audacious prayer challenges my soul and causes my gripping fingers to unclench when I trust Him with my plans, passions, health, hopes, family, writing, and everything else.

It’s incredibly hard and I’m a constant work-in-progress, yet it reminds me of His bigness and my smallness… and that He is ultimately in control.

“Love comes softly, it cannot be forced… cannot bear the weight of our expectations. Love always comes in the surrender—in the falling.” Ann Voskamp

Closing Thoughts – Unlocking Divine Possibilities: How Utter Surrender Transformed My Life

My desire in writing fiction books is to encourage and inspire readers in their REAL life. I wish to leave no shadow of a doubt that they are loved by God.

I pray this especially for all who crack open the pages of The Final Word, and for you today.

May we all know more of His love in the surrender…

About My Latest Book – The Final Word

“When aspiring author Sophie Brooks chooses to trade a vibrant Paris life for the tranquility of a quaint English village, she imagines her final days in the City of Lights will be magical. Sophie doesn’t anticipate a chilling encounter with an old flame—nor does she plan to find a new love on her very last night.

Miles Morgan’s life has been defined as a successful opera singer-until now. His chance encounter with Sophie in Paris ignites renewed hope … if he can figure out his next chapter and if she can accept what his future may hold.

In the heart of the English countryside, Sophie and Miles’ fairy tale romance turns into a noxious nightmare as the darkness of Sophie’s past—and her volatile ex—catch up with her. Both Sophie and Miles must surrender everything to the One they thought had betrayed them as they lean into love and fight for their lives.”

Website link: https://laurathomasauthor.com/project/the-final-word/

Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Final-Word-Bite-Betrayal-Book-ebook/dp/B0DT468FW1?ref

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230202233-the-final-word

About the Author: Laura Thomas

A published, award-winning Christian author, Laura writes heartwarming encouragement for your soul—especially in her numerous romantic suspense novels, Christmas novellas, teen fiction, and children’s books, as well as her non-fiction writing.

Laura is a hope*writers certified writing coach, a book-loving chocoholic mom, and nanny.

Also, she is married to her high school sweetheart. Originally from the UK.

They now live the empty nest life in Kelowna, British Columbia, with their French bulldog!    

Connect with Laura Thomas:

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