Tessa Afshar was born in Iran into a nominal Muslim family. After coming to Christ in her twenties Tessa authored several books, including the novel Pearl in the Sand about Rahab. Today she joins Susie to talk about her new novel, written about Nehemiah’s fictional cousin, titled Harvest of Rubies.
Tessa talks with Susie about our dreams and our identity in Christ. Tessa shares that she struggled to fully grasp her identity in Christ as a new believer, and it’s something she thinks many also struggle with.
“In our head we mistake our destiny and our identity. The Bible is very clear, our identity is in the fact that not only are we a daughter, not only have we become sons and daughters, but God has chosen us before the foundation of the world to belong to him.”
Often we don’t internalize that fact, and we focus on achievement and accomplishment. Tessa explains that focusing on our identity in Christ gives us fuel to be the people we are called to be.
“The more I recognize who I am in Christ the more he is able to release his true destiny in me.”
Tessa talks about the story behind her new novel. She explains that the inspiration for “Harvest of Rubies” came from a desire to write about how walls play into the lives of biblical characters.
The main character Sarah is the fictional cousin of the prophet Nehemiah. Sarah has a wall up between her and God. Because of the hardships she has endured, shes’s not sure she can trust God.
In the book Sarah realizes that relying on herself will only hold her down. In fact, the more success she gains, the more insecure she feels.
Tessa and Susie also talk about worth and parallels between Tessa’s life and the character of Sarah in their chat.
Key Scriptures: Hosea 2:14-16
