Finding Hope When It Feels Too Late: A Chat with Rebecca George

Author Rebecca George shares biblical encouragement for seasons of waiting, reminding us: you’re not too late for God’s purpose, joy, or redemption.

A conversation of hope with Rebecca George

Have you ever felt like you’re running out of time? Like you’ve missed your moment and maybe it’s too late for that dream, that calling, or even that prayer you keep lifting up to God? If so, friend, you’re not alone. So many of us wrestle with this feeling, but today’s guest is here to remind us of a powerful truth: You’re not too late.

We’re talking with Rebecca George, author of the brand new book, You’re Not Too Late: Trusting God’s Timing in a Hurry-Up World. She’s here to help us navigate seasons of waiting, disappointment, and longing—and how to trust God in the in-between moments of our lives.

Why Rebecca Wrote You’re Not Too Late

Ginger:
For those who don’t know you yet, you are the founder of Radical Radiance, where you help people blend what they love with Jesus who makes them shine. You’re a speaker, podcaster, and now the author of You’re Not Too Late, which is such a timely message. Can you tell us a little about why you wrote this book and why it’s so important right now?

Rebecca:
I started seeing this need in myself and in the women around me for a conversation about waiting—seasons when we feel like we’ve missed our moment, or wonder if it’s ever going to work out for us. My last book focused on how to use our gifts and talents for the glory of God, but the next question I kept hearing was: “What do I do in the waiting?”

Even when we take steps of obedience, sometimes we don’t see fruit right away. We wonder how God will provide or if the outcome will match our expectations. Through conversations and self-reflection, I realized that this is a universal need.

Our culture constantly tells us to hurry—”When you get to this milestone, then you’ll be happy.” But we live in a broken world, and the longing will never fully go away this side of heaven.

My passion is helping us ask: what do we do with the waiting? How do we point ourselves back to truth, experience real joy, and place our hope in Him when things feel uncertain?

Longing is No Respecter of Persons

Ginger:
That message resonates with so many of us. I remember reading this quote in your book: “Longing comes in different forms and is no respecter of persons.” It reminded me that no one is exempt from this feeling.

Rebecca:
Honestly, in the beginning, I thought it was a singleness book. I got married later than probably most of the women in my mom’s or maybe my grandmother’s generation. I had been a bridesmaid 12 times before I walked down the aisle in a white dress instead of every other color but white.

In that season, I was really met with trusting God for my future spouse, navigating what was a good desire from the Lord. He created marriage. He put the desire to be married in my heart.

Navigating, “Yes, I want that, but I also don’t want it to become an idol,” was a challenging tension to manage. I think a lot of people in my generation and younger are getting married later, and watching other people experience what you desire can be hard.

What I noticed was that once I got married and that longing was fulfilled, another one bubbled up pretty quickly. After I got married, the desire and the questions of, “When are you going to have kids?” started coming up.

One longing would lead to another longing. That’s why I say it’s no respecter of persons—we never really escape that.

It’s an imperfect glimpse of the deeper longing in our hearts for the redemption and restoration of all things. We won’t experience the perfection of that until heaven.

We wonder how God will provide, how He’s at work. But one day, He will restore all things. We’ll understand the story He was writing all along.

But today, we sit in the meanwhile—and that’s hard.

A Story of God’s Kindness: The Bench in the Smokies

Ginger:
That perspective is powerful. And I love the story you share in the book about the bench in the Smokies. It’s a beautiful picture of how God is working while we wait.

Rebecca:
Yes, it was such a God story. I had gone hiking with a friend and prayed my heart out that day about waiting for my future husband. I took a picture on a bench by a waterfall and posted it on Instagram.

Years later, my now-husband showed me a picture of that same bench where he had prayed for his future wife. He saw my photo and realized it was the exact spot. Out of all the trails and benches in the Smokies, God sent us to that same place years apart to pray for each other. It was His kindness. It reminds me He is always at work in ways we can’t see.

Ginger:
Absolutely. And I think that speaks to one of the habits of hope you write about: the “Search Me, God” prayer from Psalm 139.

The “Search Me, God” Prayer

Rebecca:
The passage that comes to mind is Psalm 139:23-24. I memorized it when I was very young:

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23–24, NIV)

This prayer has anchored me in so many seasons. I use it as a prayer guide and include it at the end of every chapter in the book. It’s so easy to let bitterness or doubt build in our hearts. This prayer helps me invite God to search my thoughts and point me back to truth. I ask Him to help me see things from His vantage point and to give me wisdom.

Ginger:
That’s such a practical way to stay connected to God in those hard seasons. It can be a habit of hope. Sometimes we don’t even fully understand what we’re feeling. That prayer helps us untangle what’s going on in our hearts.

When the Longing Remains Unmet

Ginger:
What would you say to the person who feels like it really is too late—for a relationship, a dream, or even for God to use them?

Rebecca:
I would never want to throw toxic positivity at your heart’s unmet desire. I’d want to sit with you and recognize that it’s really difficult. Maybe it’s an un-reconciled relationship, infertility, or something you’ve prayed for that hasn’t happened. That’s hard.

When I think back on those moments in my life, as difficult and heart-wrenching as they were, they’ve been some of the greatest teachers. They’ve shaped and refined me. That’s part of sanctification—becoming more like Jesus.

When things don’t work out, I encourage you to:

• Ask God to open your eyes to how He sees the situation.
• Ask Him to show you how He’s working.
• Look for the ways He’s inviting you to trust Him and be used in the present.

Dealing with Comparison and Envy

Ginger:
It’s so easy to compare when people around you are getting what you’ve been praying for. How do we navigate that without falling into resentment or bitterness?

Rebecca:
That’s such a good question. We’re exposed to more details about other people’s lives than we were created to carry. We weren’t built to carry everyone’s highlight reels.

When I feel comparison creeping in, I:

• Go before the Lord and be honest.
• Ask Him to transform my heart.
• Pre-decide how I’m going to show up when celebrating someone else’s joy.

There were weddings I stood in where I had to pray, “Lord, I don’t have the joy today. You’re going to have to give it to me.” And He did.

Sometimes people ask questions like, “When are you going to have kids?”—and it’s not from a place of harm. But it can stir up pain. I’ve learned to decide in advance how I’ll respond in a way that honors them and also protects my heart.

Ginger:
That brings to mind a picture I’ve shared before: God can help us hold both longing and joy. We can experience both at the same time.

How Fear Shows Up in Our Waiting

Ginger:
Fear can show up in our longing too—disguised as grief, anxiety, or even annoyance. What are some ways we can handle those fear-based emotions?

Rebecca:
Fear often causes us to play out worst-case scenarios. Then we start grieving a story that hasn’t even happened. That’s a tactic of the enemy.

We can also feel anger—toward God, toward others, or even ourselves. If we don’t deal with it, resentment starts to fill our hearts.

Here’s what helps:

• Take inventory: What is my heart full of?
• Spend time with God so that when life bumps into me, what spills out is truth and grace.
• Let the “Search Me, God” prayer be part of that ongoing habit.

It’s Not Too Late

Ginger:
For someone listening right now who feels like things will never work out—for their calling, marriage, or even their faith—what encouragement would you offer?

Rebecca:
The most important thing I can say is this: It’s never too late for salvation.

“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2, NIV)

Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life, died for our sins, and rose again. If you place your faith in Him, God sees you through the righteousness of Jesus. That’s the heart of the gospel.

And if you’re thinking it’s too late for your purpose or calling? It’s not. I know so many people who made a pivot in their 40s, 50s, or even later. If you’re still breathing, God still has purpose for your life.

Final Encouragement + Where to Find Rebecca

Ginger:
Rebecca, thank you for such a rich and encouraging conversation. Where can people connect with you and find your book?

Rebecca:
The book is You’re Not Too Late: Trusting God’s Timing in a Hurry-Up World. You can find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever books are sold.

You can connect with me on Instagram @rebeccageorgeauthor, or at radicalradiance.live, where you can find my podcast and both of my books.

Ginger:
Friends, if today’s conversation spoke to you, don’t let this message stop here. Pick up Rebecca’s book, share this episode with a friend, and most importantly—bring your heart to God in whatever season you’re in.

 

The Book: You’re Not Too Late

 

In a world that constantly tells us to hustle, hurry, and measure our worth by what we’ve accomplished, You’re Not Too Late: Trusting God’s Timing in a Hurry-Up World offers a countercultural message of grace and hope. Author and podcaster Rebecca George invites readers to release the fear that they’ve missed their moment and instead trust the God who is never late and always at work.

Through personal stories, biblical truth, and practical reflection, Rebecca helps you navigate the tension of longing, disappointment, and delay—so you can live fully and faithfully in the season you’re in.

This book is for every woman who’s ever wondered:
🌿 “Did I miss my chance?”
💛 “Why is everyone else getting what I’ve prayed for?”
🕊️ “Is it too late for me?”

The answer: You’re not too late.

My Thoughts on the Book

I’m really enjoying You’re Not Too Late—I read the first 70 pages in one sitting because it was so engaging and spoke directly to my heart and my own struggles. The concept of entrusting the deep longings of our heart to God, trusting Him with the timing, and holding fast to hope in the process is a message that deeply resonates with me.

From the moment I saw the title, I knew this was a book I needed to read. And it’s lived up to every expectation. The book is just as warm, honest, and encouraging as Rebecca’s voice and personality in our interview. Each chapter thoughtfully explores the emotional and spiritual challenges we face when God asks us to wait—offering biblical insight, personal stories, and gentle reminders that His timing is both good and purposeful.

If you’re in a season of waiting, wrestling with doubt, or simply longing for reassurance that God hasn’t forgotten you, this book will meet you right where you are.

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