“Everyone is waiting for something.”
I wrote Those Who Wait for everyone in a season of waiting, stuck in a time of uncertainty, with their life permanently on pause.
Which is now the situation the world finds itself in.
To be in a state of limbo is incredibly hard work, physically and mentally exhausting.
You may be asking while you’re in this season, ‘where is God? Where is God in my disappointment and grief? Where is God in this uncertainty?’
The book, Those Who Wait, takes you through a journey to find God in a season just like this, by following through the lives of four other flawed believers who lived in times of uncertainty. It’s got almost 100 5* reviews on Amazon, is endorsed by Pete Greig, founder of 24:7 Prayer, Dr David Wenham, Addie Zierman, Idelette McVIcker and more.
I want to do my part to offer support to all who are going through hard times, which is why I’m offering two things to help you.
ONLINE RETREAT
The great thing about Those Who Wait is that it can be read as a set of devotions over four weeks, or it can be done as a group study over 4-6 weeks.
There’s something about going on a spiritual journey alongside other people in community that helps turn the theory into practice.
This is why I’m offering a five-week online retreat, based on the book, but specifically applying it to our situation today.
WHAT:
Week One: What are we waiting for? (Reviewing our lives, letting God speak through our longings, learning to lament)
Week Two: Dealing with Disappointment(Sarah’s Story: finding God even in bitterness, the God who sees, love letters from God)
Week Three:Dealing with Delay(Isaiah’s Story: finding God in the bigger political picture, thinking communally, dealing with anxiety, communal lament)
Week Four: Dealing with Doubt(John’s story: how to cope in isolation and anxiety, how doubt can be a gift, recentring ourselves and finding a foothold)
Week Five: The Biggest Wait (Mary’s story: interpreting uncertainty theologically, finding hope despite the circumstances)
WHEN:
8pm-9pm British Summer Time, (3-4pm EDT) on 5 Tuesdays after Easter, starting Tues 14th April.
The dates are 14 April, 21 April, 28 April, 5th May, 12th May.
HOW:
Using Zoom, I will be hosting a guided spiritual reflection, talking a little over the journey you’ve been through with that particular Bible character that week, and taking the creative exercises and prayers in the book and doing them as a group. I anticipate that the interaction will be via text chat that I highlight, rather than many people talking at once, to make it a more peaceful atmosphere.
REQUIREMENTS:
A copy of the book in whichever form is best for you.
An ability to use Zoom on your computer or app.
COST:
Donation to https://www.paypal.me/tanyamarlow or FREE.
Let me explain: a retreat like this would normally cost £40-120, but I want this to be accessible to as many as possible, so it will be on a donation-only basis and free for anyone who needs it to be free.
I went back and forth on what to charge. On the one hand, there’s a lot of great free stuff out there right now, especially from big names, as people give what they can. On the other hand, I also know a lot of freelancers out there who are struggling because their living depends upon people paying for stuff and not expecting it for free. If everyone offers stuff for free it undercuts everyone else, and that’s not helpful.
If the idea of contributing anything puts you off, COME ANYWAY and don’t pay. I would also be happy with a donation to your local foodbank instead, if that’s how you would like to do it. Because places are limited, however, I would ask that you commit to coming each week (as far as is possible) and sign up. Spaces are limited to 100.
ACT:
Sign up at EventBrite for your FREE ticket with your email address, donate if applicable, and then I will be in contact about the Zoom link.
Buy a copy of the book if you haven’t already (see below), and read the Introduction only. Don’t worry about doing the exercises because we will be doing them together.
SALE
To help get the book out to as many people as would benefit from it as possible, I’ve managed to get an ebook sale. If you’ve already read it and benefitted from it, please do help get the word out to others.
Ebook:
Those Who Wait is available on ebook via Amazon for just £1.99 / $2.99, which is a fraction of the list price of £9.99 / $16.99.
Print:
In the UK, Eden is charging list price but doing £5 off when you spend £30 (code SHOPPING).
The cheapest place to buy Those Who Wait is still 10ofThose at £7. If your local Christian bookshop is still doing delivery, get it from there. Also available from Amazon.
Audiobook:
Hopefully, this will be releasing soon in the next couple of weeks, if I can get my head round the technology of putting it up.
*** COMING SOON – PODCAST – WATCH THIS SPACE***
Catch up on the blog: Interview with Premier, Interview with UCB, One Spiritual Practice for Covid-19 Fear, Two Prayers for Uncertain Times.
Tanya leads this retreat so beautifully. Her knowledge of the Bible is apparent but her amazing gift of story telling is quite extraordinary. She brings well known Bible characters to life in her retelling of their life events. Tanya’s insights into their probable thoughts and emotions are revelatory.
That’s not all – Tanya has a wonderful ability to lead contemplative prayer in a way that allows one to hear God listening to our heartfelt yearnings and to hear his quiet voice speaking into our souls.
Thank you so much, Tanya. Looking forward to more opportunities to meet with you.
Lorraine
Thanks so much, Lorraine! It was my pleasure.