Faith Over Fear: The Thread that Makes Our Suspense “Christian”

 

Faith Over Fear: The Thread that Makes Our Suspense “Christian”

by Gina Holder

We’ve all faced fear—that moment when circumstances slip out of our control. Did you know that’s the source of all fear? If we could control it, we wouldn’t be afraid.

We fear when others make decisions that could harm us and we can’t make them change. We fear when we feel powerless to right a wrong—or afraid we’ll make the wrong choice trying to avoid tragedy.

Suspense novels feed on these fears. As authors, we put our characters into situations many would call life’s worst moments—a kidnapping, the death of a loved one, being hunted by a killer, or facing a natural disaster.

But in Christian suspense, fear is never the end of the story.

General market and Christian suspense share many of the same elements—danger, secrets, romance, high stakes, and characters in law enforcement.

But what makes Christian suspense different is that our characters never face these trials alone. A single thread runs through every story—faith in a God who knows all, sees all, and is in control of it all. He brings us through the darkest days—safe on the other side. Even if that “other side” is our home with Him in Heaven.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
—2 Timothy 1:7

In every dangerous decision our characters face, they must choose: will they trust in their own abilities, or will they have faith in the God who holds the unknown?

These trials either grow a believer’s faith or lead an unbeliever to discover God for the first time. Amid danger, love becomes an act of courage—not just trusting another person but trusting God’s plan through them.

Christian suspense isn’t just about who survives the deadly and the dangerous. It’s about discovering Who holds your life in His hands when fear closes in and the world falls apart.

What’s your favorite Christian suspense novel that turned fear into faith? Share it in the comments below—I’d love to hear your recommendations!

U.S. Army Special Forces sniper Gerald "Jerry" McBride is no stranger to danger, but his heart faces uncharted territory when he reconnects with surgical nurse Olive Duncan. Years after she patched his wounds in a German hospital, their chance reunion at Fort Campbell sparks a romance the sweeps both of them off their feet. When Jerry invites Olive as his plus-one to a friend's wedding on a Caribbean cruise, he's ready to take the leap with a ring in his pocket.

But the ship's idyllic voyage hides a deadly undercurrent. A Chinese-backed plot to smuggle thousands of weapons into Haiti threatens to destabilize the region, and the pirates orchestrating it have infiltrated the crew.

When the pirates take the cruise ship with Jerry's special forces team on board, it turns the wedding venue from a celebration into a battlefield.

They have no weapons and no gear. Can they take back the ship and save the people they love, or will celebration turn to tragedy?

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Makes-Way-Honor-Book/dp/1681902915

I'm giving away a paperback copy of Hallee Bridgeman's new book, Love Makes Way. The Bridgeman's faced one of lives worst tragedies in recent years. It is their faith in God that has brought them through and holds them close in a grief that never really ends. 

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below with your name and email address so I can contact the winner. US residents only.

Gina Holder is an author and stay-at-home mom. She’s had an infatuation with books for as long as she can remember. She loves sharing uplifting messages from God’s Word and introducing readers to new and new-to-them authors on her blog. When she’s not writing, Gina enjoys playing the piano, cooking, reading, watching Hallmark mysteries, and solving “escape room” puzzles. She loves growing in her craft as an author. She published her debut novel in 2017. Gina lives in Wyoming with her husband and daughter.