Retired healthcare executive and author Rick Wilton has announced the release of his new devotional, Every Breath, a book designed to help readers navigate life’s most difficult and unwanted journeys with a focus on God’s faithfulness. Published by Clay Bridges Press, the devotional addresses themes such as unexpected diagnoses, broken dreams, grief, and seasons of waiting.
“Every one of us will eventually face a journey we never would have chosen,” Wilton said in a press release. “My prayer is that readers will discover they are not walking those roads alone. God is present, He is faithful, and He can use even our hardest seasons to deepen our trust in Him and bring glory to His name.”
The devotional takes a candid approach to suffering, avoiding superficial encouragement. Instead, it invites readers to see how God transforms pain into purpose and uncertainty into deeper dependence on Him. Wilton emphasizes, “Life will present journeys that you don’t sign up for. But God can use those very journeys to build your faith, strengthen your character, and teach you to trust Him in ways you never imagined.”
Wilton’s authenticity sets Every Breath apart. “There is no candy coating in this book,” he explained. “I wanted to tell the truth about what it looks like to walk through an unwanted season while holding tightly to God.”
Drawing from decades of personal experience as a healthcare executive and his own spiritual journey, Wilton writes with honesty and transparency. His calling to write began more than fifty years ago when a tenth-grade English teacher told him he had a gift. Although he briefly considered journalism, life took him in another direction, but the desire to write never disappeared. “Looking back, I can see God was planting seeds all along,” he said. “Now I simply want to use whatever gift He’s given me to encourage others to trust Him more deeply.”
For Wilton, writing is an act of obedience. He describes his writing journey as “inspired by God.” When facing creative stalls, he relies on what he calls “mental health and prayer walks.” “Every time I step away and spend time with the Lord, He faithfully meets me there,” he said.
Beyond the book, Wilton hopes readers leave with a deeper belief that God has not abandoned them. “He is using every step to shape them into who He created them to be,” he said.
A native West Virginian and graduate of Marshall University, Wilton spent his professional career as a healthcare executive before retiring to focus on writing, family, and ministry. He has been married to his wife, Sandy, for more than forty years and is a father to two sons and two daughters-in-love, and a grandfather to six. When not writing, he enjoys walking, hiking, beach or mountain retreats, and trout fishing.
For aspiring writers, Wilton advises, “Do the work. Follow the prompting of your heart and the Holy Spirit. Write every day. You never know how God may use your words to encourage someone else.”
Every Breath is available through Clay Bridges Press. For more information, visit claybridgespress.com.
