‘He makes no mistakes’: C-N professor releases new children’s devotional

Carson-Newman University’s Dr. Anita Azeem has a message for young people: “God created all in His image, and He makes no mistakes.” It’s a message that Azeem addresses in her new book published by Dove Christian Publishers, “Creator of All.” Drawing from a biblical foundation, the book is a children’s devotional emphasizing the beauty of God’s purposeful design in every person.

Azeem didn’t have to go far for inspiration for the book. That was found close to home with her two children. But the book’s origin did come from life experiences gleaned over 7,000 miles from Carson-Newman’s campus.

“I was born and raised in Pakistan, where Christians are less than 2% of the population,” said Azeem, who joined C-N’s faculty in 2023 as assistant professor of psychology. “I grew up viewing how religious identity shaped individuals’ views about themselves and about others. Christians and women were and still are considered ‘less human’ in that part of the world and do not have equal access to basic human rights like freedom of speech and education. So, on several occasions, I felt like a perpetual outsider even in the country where I was born.”

Azeem said that once she and her husband had children, she became concerned about the world they would grow up in.

It was when their family moved to New Zealand for Azeem to pursue her doctoral degree at the University of Otago, that her then three-year-old daughter began asking questions.

“She already had questions about why our skin color was different from others around us. She had noticed that her friends at preschool looked different, and she wondered what those differences meant. I knew I had to answer that question one day.”

Azeem realized that her children weren’t the only ones that had such questions about the world around them. She noted that children often wonder about differences in appearance, speech or attitudes, and whether one group is better than another because of that.

“My son has Down Syndrome,” she shared, “and sometimes children may have questions about why he is different – for instance, why he doesn’t talk or learn the same way as everyone else. I wanted to help all children acknowledge that every individual is created in God’s perfect image and should be treated with love, not disapproval.”

Azeem explained that when she searched for a devotional that focused on such issues, she came up empty.

“I couldn’t find a devotional that addressed diversity from a biblical perspective which would be simple enough for children to understand,” she said, noting the goal of her book. “Each of the chapters in the book is rooted in biblical truths that our children need to know as they understand our Creator and His love for us. [This] book highlights the message of the cross and introduces Jesus to the young ones.”

Now at home in Jefferson City, Azeem says she and husband have fallen in love with East Tennessee. The couple has seen their children flourish, making friends and forming bonds with those who often end up sharing more similarities than differences.

“As children read this book, I hope they will understand that God made a diverse world and that our differences are a part of His plan,” she explained. “The old and the young, the rich and the poor, locals and foreigners, men and women are all created in God’s image, and He makes no mistakes.”

“Creator of All” can be purchased online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Books and e-books are also available at Dove Christian Publishers.