by Dawn Sanders
I thought I was just writing a book.
In 2020, the world shut down, and I found myself in Genesis 1, staring at a formless, empty,
dark earth—and with tears in my eyes, I realized, that’s me.
What began as a quiet Bible study revealed a deeper truth: God wasn’t just showing His creative power through Scripture—He was preparing to work creatively in me. What started as a private prayer journal transformed into a platform. And I never saw it coming.
From Grief to a Calling
After Reggie died, my world ended.
I shut down, much like the world during COVID. I wasn’t trying to write a book—I was simply
trying to get through each day. But as I studied, something unexpected emerged: The parallels
between the creation story and my story were undeniable.
The pre-creation earth was formless and void, just like my life after Reggie died. Darkness covered the deep, and I struggled not to be swallowed by it. And just as God spoke light into that darkness, He began speaking a fresh hope into mine.
What began as a book slowly, gently evolved into something greater.
The seven steps of God’s creative process, outlined in its pages, became the foundation for a ministry I never set
out to build.
My book, When Your World Ends, wasn’t just part of my healing—it became a vessel for God’s message to
others.
Available at Amazon
Not just recovery—but rebuilding, brick by brick, not only for me—for anybody
staring down the rubble of a life well-loved.
That’s how the ministry was born—not with fanfare, but quietly and unexpectedly, like a
whisper in the night. God whispered, “Share this,” and I obeyed.
God’s Creative Process at Work
The book was just the start.
As I wrote, I began envisioning a prayer journal and then guided meditations. I wasn’t trying to
be clever—just faithful.
Each new tool was a nudge from God: Create space. Share what I’ve taught you.
These weren’t my plans—they were divine whispers guiding me in unexpected directions. The
undeniable parallels kept coming: Just as God created in stages over six days, He was creating
something new through me, step by step.
The podcast Rebuilding Your Life with Dawn Mann Sanders emerged organically when I realized
some “Roads to Rebuilding” need a voice, not just a page. Podcasting wasn’t in my plans. (I didn’t have a plan when COVID hit.) But apparently, it was in God’s. He kept showing me the
same truth:
He creates through process—light after darkness, order after chaos, purpose after pain. Now, I get to walk with others through that same holy sequence. To be candid? I’m scared. It’s stretching, to say the least.
Yet I heard God say, “Use what I’ve given you to rebuild your world…and others’ too.”
God’s shown up in every dark place—and every unexpected step. The message that carried me is the one I now carry for others.
This isn’t the plan I had.
But it’s better—because it’s God’s.
And I’m still in awe.
So, if you’re standing in the dark, unsure of what’s next, keep walking. Keep writing.
God might just be creating something new. I thought I was writing a book.
Turns out, I was being rewritten.
Dawn Sanders
Dawn Mann Sanders (MDiv, Bethel Seminary) is an associate minister at First Baptist Church of Glenarden International (FBCGI), where she serves as the director of the sermon-based life groups ministry. Her passion is expository teaching and sharing the wonderful insights God has shown her in his Word. She does this through writing weekly discussion guides for the life groups as well as teaching several in-depth Bible studies. Dawn has written and taught extensively on overcoming adversity and creating a new life, both at FBCGI and on her personal
blog.
