"On Purpose..." Almost Didn't Happen

“On Purpose…” is a book that I almost didn’t write. As those of you who follow me know, I publish drafts of what will eventually become a book. I almost abandoned this project, not because I didn’t believe in the message, but because I wasn’t sure I was ready to carry it.

“On Purpose” has been on my idea development list for months. I vacillated between feeling inspired about the book and feeling unsure about moving forward. Writing a book about following God’s will—while grieving, while exhausted, while unsure of what was next—felt like too much, too soon, too bold.

Denton, my father-in-law, died recently.

He was the man who first introduced me to chaplain ministry, the one who showed me what it meant to stand beside others in sacred moments. His death wasn’t just personal—it was transformational.

In that raw space we call grief, I almost walked away from this manuscript. I told myself maybe I’d circle back later and just write something “safe” for now. Maybe I could come back to it when I was stronger. Clearer. Braver.

But then, something unexpected happened:

A whisper, the still small voice of God that shouted within me: “Write this now. Not in spite of the grief, but through it.”

And I realized: this is exactly what the journey of following God looks like. My experience is exactly why “On Purpose…” is the perfect book to write right now.

I didn’t need clarity before action—but faith in motion.

I don’t have to know all the answers—but just say yes to what’s in front of me.

I shouldn’t wait for the right moment—but trust that the act of showing up makes the moment right.

So I began. Slowly. Honestly. Tired, but open.

This book is the result.

“On Purpose…” is not a declaration from someone who’s figured it all out.

It’s a trail of breadcrumbs from someone who is still finding his way—by following the small invitations God places in his path.

If you’re asking, “What does God want me to do next?”

If you’re afraid to move without full clarity…

If you feel like your life is too messy, too late, or too small to have a divine purpose—you are exactly who this book is for.

You don’t need to see the whole path.

You just need to take the next true step.

Let’s begin there.

—Brent