Do you allow yourself to dream? To consider the desires of your heart and bring them before God? Do you let yourself feel those desires, let the ache of unquenched passion push you forward? Or do you find it easier to ignore desire? Suppress it? Pretend it doesn’t exist?
These questions have swirled in my mind since the beginning of the year, when a conversation with a coaching client reminded me how much focusing on desire, a dream, can cost a writer. Desire often leads to disappointment. Even to rejection.
When dreams you believe God has planted in your soul lead to disappointment, what do you do?
Lord, I wondered this morning, what do we do with disappointment? With rejection?
The small still voice within gave me a response that I sensed came from Jesus: Keep walking toward me.
The picture that floated to my mind was of Peter, eyes focused on Jesus, stepping out of a boat to walk toward Him.
On water.
I realized that Peter left that boat because of desire—a burning desire for Jesus. The desire to believe the power of Jesus was so great that Peter pushed aside not only fear but common sense as well, to follow Him.
To believe you won’t sink when you step out of a boat in the middle of a storm-tossed sea makes no sense.
Ah . . .
Even to us dreamers, the dream to write and publish books sometimes feels as if it defies common sense. The competition is mind-blowing. How is it possible to be visible—let alone successful—in a market clamoring with writers, including those who publish at will while unconcerned with honing their craft, with refining their art?
For the writer who is also a Christian, the creative desire is often about so much more than writing and publishing books. The longing is to believe so fully in the power of Jesus that faith supersedes common sense.
If publishing your book and impacting readers with its message are dreams God has placed in your heart, move forward in faith, dear writer.
Storms may rage, and waves may swell. But with eyes focused on Jesus, you can walk on water.
If your gaze shifts from Jesus to circumstances causing you to feel like you might drown, look back to Him. He will be there, hand held out to save you. “O you of little faith,” He’ll whisper, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31 ESV).
Will you keep walking toward Jesus even though doing so seems to make no sense?
Or will you succumb to the waves and, gasping for air, swim back to the boat?
If your desire is truly for Jesus, keep your eyes focused on Him, and keep walking . . .
Words For Writers
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Your message is exactly what I need this morning. I have been fighting doubts about my current project..one I believe God wants me to do. Thank you for sharing your faith and encouragement. Bless you!
Donna, I’m grateful God used this message to encourage you!
The message really inspired me. I’m a writer and I just started. I write Christian fictions and sometimes, you feel like giving up. Especially when you don’t have the support you need.
But recently, just as you said, I kept my focus on Jesus and He provide the support I needed.
Thanks for your message.
Francisca, keep walking toward Jesus!
Yes! This is what I needed to hear. I’m struggling with disappointment over sales numbers. God keeps showing me that He gave me a gift and that all I need to do is use it; let Him take care of the rest. Thanks for sharing this, Ginny. I know you’ve been through the waves and have continued to walk toward HIM.
Jane, disappointment seems an inevitable experience for writers, doesn’t it? Maybe it’s a feeling that can remind us we’re faithfully doing the work. The results are in God’s hands.
Oh my gosh! Just what I needed to hear.
This message arrived in my email soon after a rejection. Too often I’ve taken my eyes off of Jesus, wallowed, and sank. Thank you for guiding me to reassess where I’m standing, what I’m striving for, and the “why” behind it all.
Like the others above, this came at just the right time. Face with the storms of platform building, lack of numbers to prove I’m worth a publishing gamble, and wondering if I should just hang up on this dream, I heard Jesus whisper, “Why do you doubt, oh daughter of little faith?” I doubt when I look to myself and take my eyes off Him.
Thank you Ginny.
I recently encountered a quote that has had a stong impact on my outlook. The quote was “Expectations are Premeditated Resentments”. I found that this comes from a book for AA, but I believe it applies to all of us, all the time.
I thought about my dreams for my book. What if I relinquish my expectations (again) and just work the best I can and leave the rest to God? Ahh….that feels so much better! What if He is just working on me by working on the book He inspired? Then I thought, what about the writing group I lead…cool! I like that! I can let the results go and just let You lead!! And how about my husband? My children? My friends? My childhood family? What an amazing release. No more striving, just following His lead one day at a time and being amazed by what He does with all of it. Such peace. (Big happy, peaceful smile.) May this quote also bring you peace!
I’m catching up on loads of emails today, and am so glad that I stopped and took the time to read your email from May! These were exactly the words that I needed to hear. Thank you so much for the godly encouragement Ginny.
Jana, God’s timing is always just right, isn’t it?
I’m just now reading this in late July. It’s just what I needed. My journey as an only child of an ailing elderly father came to a close in late May. I’m just beginning to find a rhythm and this article was just what I needed. Thank you.
Kate, I am so sorry for your loss. I’m also grateful God led you to these words in His perfect time.