Waiting for God

Waiting for God, by Xochitl Dixon, is a nice little 31 devotional that is filled with personal experiences of the author’s and people she knows. Each day offers some encouraging words, Bible verses to look up that go along with that day’s reading and a prayer.

I appreciated having the added backing of the day’s Bible verses and found this devotional to be inspiring. I like to use a Bible website, when working with devotionals like this, so I can look the verses up quickly and easily. The stories were thought provoking and added to the daily message. Overall, this is a very nice devotional.

When I saw the cover of this book I wanted to read it. The book did not disappoint. I love that they give a today's truth with a bible reading then they emphasize on the reading. after that they have you inhale with another reading then exhale with a prayer to the Lord. I really liked it. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review this great book.

What an encouraging and inspiring book! I’ve read some of this author’s daily devotions on the “Our Daily Bread” website and knew that I wanted to read her book. Xochitl Dixon shares some of her own personal stories about waiting on God even through times of pain and suffering, and my own heart was challenged again and again as I read through these daily installments. This author is an excellent communicator, and I felt as if I’d had a personal visit with her as I finished this book. This book is meant to be read one chapter at a time through 31 days. There’s scripture to meditate on, and she’s written beautiful, heartfelt prayers to go along with each day’s reading. Because I was writing a review on this book, I read several of them at one sitting, but I am planning on going back and using this book as the author intended. If you find yourself yourself in a time of trial and waiting for an outcome, this book would be of great encouragement to you.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This book is a good collection of 31 devotionals. Dixon writes from her own experiences of trusting God in times of continuing pain and loss. She also includes stories of others waiting for God to move. The devotions deal with tough subjects yet are very encouraging. It is faith building to see how others remain faithful to God during tough times.

My favorite aspect of this book is the material Dixon provides at the end of each reading. There is a Scripture to inhale and a prayer to exhale. Then there are thought provoking questions for reflection. She also provides a place on her website for readers to continue the discussion.

This is a great devotional for people going through a time of pain or loss.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

“God’s work in the wait is worth celebrating.”

Xochitl Dixon created a wonderful collection of 31 devotionals based on her life or others as they faced challenges, disappointments, illness, wounded hearts and other setbacks of life in Waiting for God: Trusting Daily in God’s Plan and Pace. As human beings we want our answers immediately from our Heavenly Father, but there are times when God’s plan is for us to wait and grow in Him. Each devotional is uplifting and provides encouragement to the reader. Waiting for God is perfect to give to others who are struggling and waiting for their answer or miracle from God.

Each devotional is several pages long with a Biblical truth to read followed by Scripture verses to read for the day. Then she shares thoughts and experiences about herself or a friend related to the topic for the day. After the reading she provides a Bible verse to inhale, a prayer to exhale with, questions to ponder over and answer, then with a closing thought to end the devotional reading. There are no pages to journal your thoughts and answers; thus, I recommend those using this devotional to have a journal handy.

I received a complimentary copy of this devotional from NetGalley, Discovery House Publishing and Celebrate Lit Tours. I was not required to write a positive review but have shared my own opinion for this devotional.

I use a variety of devotional material in my daily Bible time so appreciate adding this volume to my collection. This book offers a unique approach, sharing honest, authentic stories of individuals’ trials and their overcoming them, then sharing Scriptures and principles to apply to readers’ lives. These universal hardships are things we can identify with and learn from. I have met the author personally and know she suffers from much pain, so her insightful perspective adds depth to the stories included. This helpful text offers 31 chapters, that can be used one a day for a month or however the reader wishes—perhaps by topic. Some of them have catchy titles, such as “F.R.O.G. Faith.” Each entry begins with “Today’s Truth” and a Bible passage to read, and concludes with a Bible verse to inhale and a prayer to exhale, followed by a few application questions. The book is easy to read and encouraging. It’s one I will go through again, perhaps many times. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

This is a nice and encouraging book. Each chapter is short and can be read quickly. I really enjoyed it when the author used real life stories whether they were her personal stories or stories of others.

I also liked at the end of each chapter the Inhale scripture section and the Exhale a prayer and there are questions for group discussion or reflection.

I also like the fact in the ebook you can just click in the daily Bible reading and get taken right to that scripture.


A copy of this book was given to me through the Celebrate Lit Team. All opinions are my own.

“Hurry up and wait!” With unknown origins but generally attributed to the American military, this phrase encapsulates contemporary culture. Always bustling, stampeding through life at a pace often well above the safe speed limit and bemoaning any red lights we encounter along the way. We want what we want, when we want it. Manifest destiny, right? The American Dream. Have it all, do it all, be it all—on our own timeline, of course. We are not usually patient people; I know I’m not. I try, but far too frequently I fall short and haste reigns. It’s the waiting that trips us up. It’s also the waiting that offers us peace and fortitude.

When I began reading Xochitl Dixon’s “Waiting for God: Trusting Daily in God’s Plan and Pace”, I knew that the timing was God-ordained. I just didn’t realize how much so. It dovetailed nicely with my previous read, “Obedience Over Hustle” by Malinda Fuller. Trust is something I’m really focusing on in my faith walk this year. Some days are better than others. This week has fallen into the “others” category. Sometimes the thing we wait for takes us by surprise and turns us upside down, even when we were expecting it. The day after I began “Waiting for God”, one of my very dearest friends and sisters in Christ went home to be with Jesus. We bonded over shared chronic illnesses, and in the short four-and-a-half years that we knew each other, we prayed expectantly for healing. The Lord worked in miraculous ways in her life, bringing her back from the valley of the shadow on multiple occasions. This last crisis was different, though, and in my heart I knew that the time had come for her to meet Jesus face-to-face.

As I slowly read through “Waiting for God”, my mind hazy with a mixture of grief and joy, the devotionals ministered to my heart. I have had my own seemingly long period of waiting, now over seven years into chronic illness life with a body that fails more each year, and waiting is not on my list of favorite pastimes. You know that a book is written through the power of the Holy Spirit when each Scripture cited speaks to you personally and you find yourself continuously highlighting quotations from the book itself. One of my favorites early on was: “When we focus on living for God, like Joseph, we can accept everything that occurs during the wait as an opportunity to grow closer to Him and others.” That’s what it’s all about! Learning to rely upon God completely, and to look beyond the superficial shell of our trials to see the pearls growing within.

Living with multiple chronic illnesses, some days it can be so difficult to see life from the lens of eternity, the way that God does. Our suffering seems to go on forever, and eternal life with the Lord seems so far away. We know that one day all of our suffering will end, yet that one day can seem terribly long in coming. This quotation from the book offers a new insight: “Living by faith one day at a time is of greater value than recounting the number of days we’ve been hurting or trying to figure out how much longer we’ll have to endure our trials.” Indeed, “He promises peace, even when we don’t experience relief from our suffering on this side of eternity.” Our part is to accept it! In order to do so, we must surrender to Him, which is a recurrent theme in “Waiting for God.”

With a devotional format, “Waiting for God” can be read straight through or on a daily basis. Each chapter opens with “Today’s Truth” and a Bible reading, which in the Kindle version is a hyperlink that conveniently takes you to the Scripture online. Each chapter ends with an Inhale, which is a relevant verse from Scripture, and an Exhale in the form of a prayer. There are also 3-4 discussion questions that are relative to what is currently going on in your life and can therefore be re-explored with each read-through. This is a book to be savored, and one that I would recommend for anyone at any point in their life’s journey. Personal stories drive home the point that we all need to be growing in our relationship with the Lord, regardless of what our waiting looks like and whether we are experiencing a mountaintop zenith or a valley nadir.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

I don’t know about you, but I am the most impatient person around. I don’t like to wait in lines, wait for a food order to be delivered to my table or even sit in traffic. It is hard for me to understand why God isn’t answering my prayers sometimes and it frustrates me. When I received this book to review, I laughed because I knew I needed this book to stop my pity party and listen to God.

As I began to read the book, it gave me a wake up call. How many of you have ever felt like God wasn’t working fast enough on your behalf? I can easily raise my hand and confess I am guilty of that. It is easy for us to point fingers at others and tell God they need to change ; that it wasn’t my fault we stopped talking to our friend or family member. After all, we don’t have a problem. I loved how the author shared how she finally realized that God does hear our prayers and He is answering them in His timing not ours.

The author uses examples from the Bible to illustrate how God shows people like Hannah that He is waiting for her to surrender her whole heart to Him. It is so easy to become selfish and whine about our problems. Hannah in the Bible wanted a child but needed to give her love to God. He answered her prayer, but it was with change within Hannah that made it come to pass. The book also includes personal stories that were inspiring and showed how God worked in their lives. The author includes prayer and questions at the end of each chapter which I enjoyed.

At the beginning of each chapter is a reading assignment, which I decided to do. The reading was encouraging and very relatable to the chapter. The author has done a great job of giving readers a book that guides you through challenges in your life while refreshing your mind and soul with God. I learned a valuable lesson while reading this book. I had become a full time caregiver in January for my brother who had Stage IV colon cancer. Day after day, I cared for him and made sure he knew that he was loved and important. Some days were hard as a I saw him start to slip away. I prayed for strength each day to be there for my brother. There were days I didn’t know if I could go on, but I was determined to make my brother comfortable in his last days. I wondered where God was and why wasn’t He healing my brother. Through this book I found peace and knew that God had been beside me each day as I cared for my brother. He gave me the courage to lead my brother to Jesus before he passed away. The book showed me that I had found a new relationship with Jesus as He gave me strength to care for my brother,

I encourage everyone to read this book. It is filled with scriptures, stories and wisdom that will renew your relationship with God and soften your heart to those who have caused you pain.

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

I received an ARC of this book from Discovery House Publishers via NetGalley, this review is my personal opinion.


This book was no doubt an unexpected blessing. Xochitl Dixon talks from the first person from her own health trial and waiting process and she takes us on a 31-day journey of interesting people of faith and their own waiting. I’ve been in a long process of waiting, so talking from my own experience when I read this book I could relate to many things and cry to the truth of that. All do a necessary time in life it’s also a time when need words that help us especially when the days seem longs and hard. I like that each day has a truth, a bible reading, a prayer and questions for you to be honest with God and let Him speak to your heart.


I recommend this book to anyone that can feel tired of waiting and don’t know how to continue living life in that same situation, you are not alone and all do your situation may not change by the moment. I believe this book would open your eyes to many truth you didn’t know and never thought. Because it happens to me.

Beyond grateful to Discovery House Publishers for the ARC of this book, it was a blessing in my life.

A collection of stories about people living with pain, living with cancer and other diseases: the author lives chronic pain every day but has found a way to help others still. She is a prayer warrior. There is a lot of encouraging stories in this nonfiction book — real-life stories. At the end of each story, there is a bible verse and reflection and questions. One of my favorite in the book is “who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Luke 12:25”. Worrying is something that we all struggle with.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. This book review is my own opinion.

Waiting for God is an important part of the Christian life. By our human nature we are constantly tempted to move ahead, around, or through HIm, often to our detriment. We can never receive the message regarding the value of patience too much. Xochitl Dixon's Waiting for God offers excellent tips on how to wait well by using scripture as a guide.

Each chapter includes a vignette or personal story of a person who is confronted with a delay of a dream or goal. These stories also document part of the author's own journey, which includes bouts with chronic pain, caring for an elderly parent, her husband's unemployment, and a transition to a new city. Each chapter applies scripture to the personal stories and offers Biblically-centered advice on coping with a variety of issues. Dixon also includes helpful questions for reflection at the end of each chapter.

At thirty-one chapters, Waiting for God would make a good month long devotional or study on the topic of waiting for God. Since each chapter follows the same formula, it may not be the best pick for a long reading session on the beach. Although many of the personal stories end in victory, the struggles highlighted in the book can be a little disheartening. Reading, reflecting and praying over the message in each chapter over a period of time would be an ideal way to enjoy Waiting for God.

This is an excellent non fiction title! I thought that Xochitl did a wonderful job of drawing the reader closer to the Lord through this book.

This book was formatted very nicely. Each topic had a verse and a story that fit nicely with it. It sort of reads like a devotional.

What Will Waiting for God Do for You?
If you’d told me someone could write a “feel good” book that is both hard-hitting and shows example after example of people going through suffering, sometimes without relief this side of heaven, I’d have laughed. That’s not how I define “feel good,” and it’s not how this Christian life thing is supposed to work. Right?

Ha! Sorry, but I always have trouble not laughing when people claim that God’s people will only have joy, peace, prosperity, and perfect health if their hearts are perfectly aligned with God.

See, I think that’s true. I really do.

The key phrase there is “perfectly aligned.” That happens in heaven, folks. Here, we’re still fallen, messed up creatures. Saved by God’s grace? Definitely. Given the ability to hold fast in tough times? Absolutely. Free from trials?

Not hardly.

So how is this a “feel good” book?

Time after time, story after story, Scripture after Scripture, Xochitl Dixon shows the faithfulness of God even in the dark, hard, horrible times. She reminds us of Who holds our faith and hope in His hands.

Not only that, she does it without climbing into a lofty tower, having cornered the market on spiritual things. No, slugging her way through the dark times alongside the rest of us, she admits her faults, her failings, her moments of frustration and despair.

I don’t know how she does it, but in the midst of all of it, her devotion to prayer, to the Word, and to encouraging the body of Christ, she shows just what living an authentic Christian life really looks like.

That’s what Waiting for God does for you.
It brings you back to the feet of Jesus, time and time again. In a brilliant turn of phrasing that I’m totally stealing here, Dixon’s book helps you grow from being a do-it-yourself disciple into one waiting on the Potter’s wheel, ready for Him to make of you and your life what He wills.

Waiting for His will.

Waiting for Him.

And, as she shows us in story after story, Scripture after Scripture, Jesus is always worth the wait.

Devotionals aren’t usually my forte, but the moment I saw Xochitl Dixon’s unique name on the cover, I immediately requested a free review copy. I wanted to love it, but… devotional…

I didn’t need to worry. The book lives up to its claim. Waiting for God really does teach and encourage us to trust daily in God’s plan and place.

Recommended for anyone who has ever wondered if God is even listening—if He even cares. Also recommended for those who care about careful attention to not putting words in God’s mouth. While I didn’t read every word of the book before writing this review, I didn’t find a single place where I went, “Where’s that in Scripture?” Even when she spoke of God whispering to her to wait, she shares that He used the Word… His words in the Word to do it.

This is a great devotional! I love the structure. Each day you find: Today’s Truth, Today’s Reading, a real-life story that leads to a biblical account, Inhale, Exhale, questions to consider, and a thought to remember.

Each “Inhale” is a Bible verse for you to meditate and contemplate upon. Each “Exhale” is a prayer that leads you to interact with God about the biblical principles in the devotional.

Through each devotional you will come to better understand that waiting doesn’t mean sitting around doing nothing. Waiting is an action verb. Waiting on God means you continue focusing your heart and mind on God and His character as you anticipate how He will work in a particular situation.

I read it straight through, but have added it to my rotation of devotional books I use each day.

NOTE: I received a complimentary copy of this book for reviewing from Xochitl Dixon . I was not required to provide a positive review. Thoughts in “My Two Cents” are my own opinion.