So you want to be a writer. More than want to, you feel compelled to. As if every cell in your heart and brain is urging you in that direction. So you throw a party, invite all your friends, and don all the authorly-attire, convinced it’s only a matter of time before Mr. Publisher becomes aware of your genius.
But then a year rolls around. Then two. Then ten. And another ten, and you’ve received enough rejection letters to single-handedly throw a bonfire, sans wood. Which you’ve done on more than one occasion, but now even a perfectly burned marshmallow can’t soothe your wounded muse.
Should you give up? Change genres? Stomp your computer into tiny bits and find another way to occupy your time?
Or is it time to step back and recommit?
The journey to publication could easily be the longest, loneliest, and at times, most discouraging trek an individual can undertake. But it can also be the most rewarding, for those who persevere. And yet, isn’t that true of many careers? Why do we admire the doctors, lawyers, and college athletes? Because we know it took a great deal of grit for them to get where they are.
Consider Proverbs 24:10 “If you give up when trouble comes, it shows you are weak” (NCV).
Yes, I know, we’re all weak, and weary, and insecure. I’m pretty sure self-doubt is inherent to the writer’s mind, but if we belong to Christ, it’s not about our strength any way, but rather, His strength at work within us. Therefore, when we begin to feel weary and discouraged, we need to take time to tap in to our power source.
“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always” (Psalm 105:4 NIV).
I’d venture a guess, whenever we begin to grow weary or discouraged, we’ll find our gaze has shifted—off of our Savior and His command and onto ourselves.
It’s a strange dichotomy. We want to do our best, to use the gifts God’s given us to fullest and to see them bear fruit. And yet, if we’re not careful, our desire can shift from that of wanting to please God to that of wanting to elevate ourselves. And that is when discouragement occurs. But if we’re doing everything to honor Christ, leaving the results, whatever they may be, to Him, then we’ll feel invigorated, at peace, and incredibly inspired.
Where are you in your writing journey? Have you begun to feel discouraged? If so, when was the last time you tapped in to your powerhouse? Have you surrendered your whole self, including your dreams, to Christ? What can you do today to rest fully, without expectation or hesitation, in His will today?
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Jennifer Slattery writes soul-stirring fiction for New Hope Publishers, a publishing house passionate about bringing God’s healing grace and truth to the hopeless. She also writes for Crosswalk.com, Internet Café Devotions, and the group blog, Faith-filled Friends. When not writing, Jennifer loves going on mall dates with her teenage daughter and coffee dates with her handsome railroader husband. Visit with Jennifer online at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.
When Dawn Breaks:
As the hurricane forces Jacqueline to evacuate, her need for purpose and restitution propel her north to her estranged and embittered daughter and into the arms of a handsome new friend. However, he’s dealing with a potential conspiracy at work, one that could cost him everything, and Jacqueline isn’t sure if he will be the one she can lean on during the difficult days ahead. Then there are the three orphans to consider, especially Gavin. Must she relinquish her chance at having love again in order to be restored? Read a free, 36-page excerpt here: http://issuu.com/newhopedigital/docs/slattery_sampler/1