Whatever you do, work at it with all
your heart, as working for the Lord,
not for human masters,
(Colossians 3:23)
The other day was a pity party type of day, as I wondered yet again why I bother writing or offering to share my testimony, and why every time something looks promising and I get all excited about it, it falls flat.
For as long as I can remember, my heart's desire has been to make a difference and to feel significant, but other than for the brief period of time when I was a published numerologist deeply steeped in New Age and occult practices, back in the days before the Lord rescued me from the dark path I was on, no one seems interested in anything I have to offer.
A memory that showed up on my Facebook wall recently convicted me to ask the question, "who am I doing it for?" It was a post written by Nightbirde, a beautiful soul who was an incredible inspiration and encouragement, and yet who never knew just how many lives she had impacted and made a difference to.
Not that I compare myself to her in any way, but her words hit home. Especially the part about what she learned from one of her journalism professors about the difference between a story worth writing and a public relations stunt. A real story still has meaning even if no one ever hears it; a PR stunt only matters if people are watching.
Each life is a unique story, and even if we are not all that we wish we were, and no one else ever knows about it, it is still a story worth hearing. Those thoughts, and my devotional this morning entitled "An Audience of One," reminded me that we are all Divine originals, created on purpose by an intentional God to fulfill a special purpose no one else can fulfill (Psalm 139:13-16). Whatever we do should be for His glory.
It's not about us; it's not about me. Each one of us has a unique story with special meaning even if no one else ever knows about it. Even if we are not all that we wish we were, it is still a story worth hearing.
And so, back to the question I started out with, about why bother writing something so few people read, it's because using the gift the Lord created me to use is my gift back to Him. I am promising myself that going forward, I will write for an audience of One, trusting that He will put whatever He inspires me to write in the hands of whoever the message is intended for, in His perfect time and way.
Posts
2 comments:
Omigoodness. I could have written this. There is so much here to unpack.
For starters, the Evil One uses many tools to keep us close to him. Pride and a sense of being pursued by others for more is one of them. The result is we write for human approval, not God's approval.
God's gifts to us aren't small, but we are. If we misuse His gifts to us, we are the ones to diminish the size of the gift.
Using the gift for His glory places it in His hands and he knows best how to use it. When we offer it back to Him in all humility, the value of the gift can only be enhanced.
I have discovered that my love of writing needs to take a small form. My mind explores so many corners. Writing small is the avenue I choose to get more out there for whoever needs to find it.
God bless you and your small writing.
I remember hearing a man's story of visiting Heaven. He said there were libraries.
Post a Comment