Why I Don't Write Novels

I just finished reading Karen Kingsbury's book, Between Sundays.
And I loved it.
('Course, that's the way I've felt about almost every book of hers I have read.)
Anyway, I just loved the story. BUT there was one time I thought I might have been able to do a better job than she did in writing the book. Because there was this time, rather early on, when two of the characters were talking and I was just waiting for one to ask a critical question of the other. If he had asked the question, information would have come out which most likely would have answered some pretty big questions and provided clarity - which would have allowed them to move forward in their relationship, and skip over a lot of pain.
I mean, I was sure it would all work out in the end and ***spoiler alert*** it did. But I thought, C'mon, Karen. You're writing this story. You're in control of it. Why don't you just reveal the information NOW so they can get on with life???
Because waiting? Is not my favorite thing to do. And I didn't want the characters in this novel (whom I was growing to love) to go through unnecessary trials. It just seemed so reasonable to me to let them know all the information and move along.

And that, my dear friends, is why I don't write novels.

Besides the fact that I would have really short books, I fear I would also have really shallow characters. Because as the story went along in Between Sundays, the characters grew in beautiful ways. Karen Kingsbury used their pain and struggles to get them to evaluate themselves. They faced their pasts with honesty, and allowed God to use the bad for good. They learned what it meant to trust their Creator. They learned about humbling themselves. And by the end of the story they had become absolutely beautiful characters. They loved purely and honestly. They looked beyond the outward appearance. They truly wanted what was best for one another. And I was so excited for their future. I knew it would be glorious.
Because of who they had become through their trials.

And that is when I discovered my reading of this novel was a great big object lesson God was using to speak to me. Just like Karen Kingsbury was writing Between Sundays, and she was in control and knew how things would turn out - so God is writing my (& your) story. He is in control. Completely. He knows how everything is going to end. He knows all the information, but He doesn't reveal it all up front. Rather, God allows us to go through times of pain and struggle - and He uses those experiences to shape and grow us. To make us into the people He wants us to be.
And even though I am not a fan of waiting, I can trust that it's all going work out in the end.

Ahhhh. That understanding makes me feel a little more peaceful. How about you?