The Book Connection...: Guest Post & Giveaway: Delia Hayward, Author of From Turmoil to Peace

Delia Hayward, one of eight children, grew up during the Hippie Era in a dysfunctional family, for whom emotional and physical abuse was a normal occurrence of her childhood.

Her marriage further deteriorated what little self-esteem she retained from her childhood. Perhaps these torments are what made her desperately seek God and a personal relationship with Him.

When her marriage fell apart, she rose to the challenge of raising three sons alone. With the help of God and sheer determination, Delia managed to instill positive self-esteem and a love for God into the hearts of the next generation.

As you read this book, may you also find hope in the midst of your storm, and may God bring you from turmoil to peace.

GUEST POST:

Title: When Pain Meets Purpose — Sharing My Story and God's Grace

Writing my story felt like standing at the edge of a cliff and trusting God to carry me across the canyon. It was terrifying, exhilarating, and deeply healing. Putting your life on paper—especially the parts marked by trauma, heartbreak, and spiritual transformation—is no easy task. You're laying your soul bare for strangers to read. But for me, the thought that my story could help someone feel less alone, or guide them toward hope, made it all worth it. I’ve received messages from readers saying they couldn’t put the book down—and that alone has been one of the greatest confirmations that the risk of vulnerability was not in vain.

The journey from journaling my experiences to publishing a book was never a straight path. God planted the seed in my heart long before I could see the fruit. I always had the sense that my story wasn’t just mine to keep—it was meant to be shared. But it wasn’t until I was laid off from work in 2014 that the vision truly came into focus. I had started writing while working full-time, but progress was slow and sporadic. When the job fell away and doors didn’t open elsewhere, I felt a clear nudge from God: “This is the time. Finish it.” What felt like a loss of career turned out to be a divine invitation to create something lasting. Throughout the process, my faith anchored me. I trusted that if God called me to write this book, He would also equip me to finish it. And He did—but not without patience. It took eleven years of starts and stops, before it finally came to life in printed form. I had to learn to wait, to be okay with God's timing, which rarely matched my own.

The most helpful companion in this journey, without question, was my relationship with God. In moments when self-doubt crept in or the words wouldn’t flow, I leaned on Him. I also had friends and family who encouraged me along the way, reminding me that the pain I endured had purpose, and that sharing it could bring healing—not just to me, but to others. This book isn’t just a testimony—it’s a love letter to anyone walking through the fire, wondering if there's a way out.

Read sample here.

From Turmoil to Peace is available at Amazon and Barnes&Noble.

Delia Hayward is a proud mother of three wonderful sons, a beautiful granddaughter and a precious grandson. God put it on her heart to write this book "From Turmoil to Peace" so that people could benefit from her life experiences. She has been blessed and hopes her book blesses others.

You can visit her website at https://deliahayward.name/ and follow her at Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/delia.hayward.14.

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