Joanne Bieler

From the time I was a little girl I had a single, burning dream: to be a mother — and to be a young mom at that. To reflect quickly for a moment, I was the 3rd child of 3 and raised in a traditional family. My parents raised us to be ethical, diligent, authentic and kind. I grew up very quickly, got married and when motherhood didn’t happen in the timing I expected, I poured myself into developing my career, eventually landing in sales and management. Over the years, I excelled within my career and developed many good relationships and for a time, my job became my identity. I love people and any success I experienced was developed though establishing authentic relationships with customers and co-workers. 

As my career continued to build, and about 15 years later, God answered my single solitary prayer; one which I had carried for years, wondering if it would ever come to pass. In October 2000, God blessed me with my daughter who remains to be my greatest gift from the Lord! 

A few years later, however, I faced the hardest season of my life: in Spring 2005 I was swept into an emotionally charged custody battle over the child I had prayed for. During that season I clung to Scripture and, quite literally, a little purple book by Joyce Meyer, entitled — The Secret Power of Speaking God’s Word — which sat on my lap as I went through court proceedings. That book and God’s promises helped ground me then and changed me forever. 

Out of those previously painful years, and with continued focus on raising my daughter, came a slight stirring from the Lord. In 2006, in the midst of new-found peace, yet with continued challenges, God placed a call on my life to write a Christian Children’s book. I was very surprised, but I later realized the connection was to me raising my 6-year-old daughter, and intentionally guarding her ‘ear-and-eye gates’. I was very aware of what she heard and saw and I truly believe this is why the Lord spoke to me at this specific time. I didn’t step fully into that call until years later, recognizing that it had been a seed planted for another season. In the meantime, I focused on raising my daughter and advancing in my career, where I developed valuable skills in communication, project management and leadership. At the same time, I grew in my capacity as a children’s ministry teacher, which quickly became a deep passion — and a ministry I have devoted myself to wholeheartedly, for many years. 

Everything shifted again in the fall of 2017 when I was unexpectedly restructured out of a job I had held for more than eleven years. That seismic moment was shocking, but it also quickly became a doorway of opportunity. I began to take the steps God had been awakening in me, ever-so-slightly, but fully intentional. In 2021, I finally answered the call in a visible way and published my first children’s book. Today I am the author of three books in the Ethan & Abby: Faith Adventure series, with book 2 published in November 2024 and book 3 recently published in March 2025. 

My journey has taught me that success and hard work are not substitutes for a solid foundation. For many years, although unaddressed, I was insecure and overtly trying to fill that hole, which led me to filling the gap with achievements and/or human-approvals. Ultimately, it left me vulnerable to poor choices and shaky boundaries, all originating from very early-on in life. 

Romans 8:28 has been one of my focuses during this transition in life: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” That promise anchors my work and thankfully God has redeemed those years and used the struggles to help shape my calling. My books are designed to plant faith in young hearts; to spark conversations between parents and children; and to help children discover who they are in Christ. A child who knows their God-given potential will grow into a person who is confident and maintains a clear sense of identity, equipped to face life’s storms with confidence and faith! 

Beyond books, I’m passionate about encouraging women to “dream-listen-believe” and those three words are literally framed on my wall. I want to use my story to encourage other women who may feel they’ve missed their timing or have experienced seasons of loss. God redeems — and He often repurposes our pain into His purpose. All we need to do is intentionally press-in and listen for His direction, remembering that relationship-development with the Lord is required. Just as with any important friendship, if you don’t invest in it, you won’t experience its benefits — you won’t recognize guidance, nor grow in trust. The same is true with your relationship with God. I learned that the long way.