Two Decembers: How Surrendering Transformed a Dark Storyline into a Christian Fiction Novel
- cwoodson67
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
The seed for Two Decembers arrived in the way so many sacred things do — not with thunder or spectacle, but quietly, planted in a dream one spring night in 2022. I didn’t recognize it for what it was at the time. I was searching for a purpose in my life, secular by choice for the better part of my adulthood, building my house on sand and calling it a foundation. But God is patient with the seeds He sows, even when we are careless with where they land.
What began as a conventional romance novel — one that mirrored my own shadowed headspace — became something I never anticipated. A story that changed its own author before it ever reached a reader. And I believe that transformation is precisely what makes Two Decembers the Christian novel this moment demands.
A Turning Point Through Unexpected Grace
I want to be transparent about something, because I think it matters. I did not set out to write a faith-based novel. The early drafts of Two Decembers carried a darker tone, a storyline shaped more by my own unresolved doubts and insecurities than by any redemptive arc. It was a prayer app that redirected everything.
One afternoon, listening to a reflection on Matthew 13, I recognized myself in the Parable of the Sower with a clarity that stilled my hands on the keyboard. The seeds in my life had fallen among thorns. Despite hearing God’s Word, despite attempting to follow Jesus’s example, my vehement desire to be in control wouldn’t relent. My very actions were choking out the good He was trying to work.
“The seeds in my life had fallen among thorns.” And it was from these thorns I was writing.
That recognition was the turning point — not just for the manuscript, but for my life. I asked God to take charge of my path, knowing that change would not come by my own will. And with that surrender, Two Decembers began its metamorphosis from a story about two people falling in love into a story about what happens when love — human and divine — meets the full weight of suffering.
This transformation is what makes Two Decembers stand out. It is not just a story about love but about the power of surrender to change lives. Readers experience a journey that feels authentic because it was born from real struggle and real change.
Why Two Decembers Resonates Today
In a world where many feel overwhelmed by control, anxiety, and brokenness, Two Decembers offers a message of hope grounded in faith. It speaks to anyone who has felt stuck in a dark place, showing that surrender is not weakness but the beginning of true strength.
The novel’s honest portrayal of struggle makes it relatable and inspiring. It invites readers to reflect on their own lives and consider where they might need to let go and trust in something greater.
Practical Lessons from the Story
Two Decembers teaches several valuable lessons that readers can apply in their own lives:
Recognize where control is choking growth. Like the thorns in the parable, our need to control can prevent good things from taking root.
Be open to moments of clarity. Sometimes, unexpected insights come from quiet moments or simple reflections.
Surrender is a choice, not a feeling. It requires a conscious decision to let go and trust.
Transformation takes time. Just as the story evolved slowly, personal change happens step by step.
Faith can bring hope to dark places. Even when life feels hopeless, surrender opens the door to renewal.
The Impact Beyond the Pages
Two Decembers has already touched many readers who see their own struggles reflected in the story. It encourages conversations about faith, healing, and the power of surrender. The novel’s journey from darkness to light serves as a reminder that God’s patience and grace can transform even the most broken parts of our lives.
This impact shows that Christian fiction can be both deeply personal and widely relevant. It can challenge readers to rethink their own stories and inspire them to embrace change.
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