I wish the church would ordain writers the way they ordain pastors and professors. Give some dignity to this work of the imagination. — Eugene Peterson, Author of The Message
How easily we complicate things, but simplicity is sometimes what we need most. When we focus on what God has called us to do rather than comparing ourselves to others, we find clarity and peace. People often struggle with feeling they aren’t good enough, continually seeking an easy path to success.
When I was young, I heard the saying: “The grass is greener on the other side of the fence.” Any farmer knows, only the foolish cow will waste time longing for what it cannot have. Likewise, we can spend our lives wishing for a calling different from our own, when God’s plan for us is right where we need to be.
Writing in Whatever Way God Chooses
All Christians are called to communicate the Gospel, but the form it takes will differ for each of us. Some will write books, yes. But the most effective messages will share wisdom through blogs, social media posts, or even handwritten letters. The method is as important as the message, and that’s where we need God’s guidance.
Writers often dream of being best-selling authors. I get that. It’s human nature. But what about God’s nature? What if that’s not God’s plan? What if we’re pressing against a wall that God never intended for us to break? Rather than forcing success on our own terms, we should surrender our ambitions to God and ask, “Lord, what would you have me do?”
When Money Is the Wrong Goal
It’s a hard truth: if money is our primary motivation, we have already set ourselves on the wrong path. The World sees financial stability as a blessing, but when it becomes the goal, we lose sight of God’s provision. The apostle Paul reminded Timothy of this very principle:
We are truly rich when we have learned contentment in using for good whatever God provides. — 1 Timothy 6:6 The Discussion Bible
Money comes and goes. There are seasons of plenty and seasons of scarcity. The real question is, do we trust God in both? If we truly believe he is our provider, we should look for his control in our lives.
Taking Care of God’s Business
Jesus said, if we put the Kingdom of God first of our lives, everything else will be taken care of. Yet sometimes, Christians live as though they don’t fully believe this. They work tirelessly to secure their own future instead of trusting the One who holds all things in his hands.
What if we simply did what God called us to do—without worrying about where our effort will take us? Maybe, just maybe, if we take care of his business, he will take care of ours. That’s radical thinking, I know, but it’s also biblical.
Sowing Seeds and Trusting the Harvest
Perhaps the best thing we can do is simply write—without worrying about who will read it, how far it will go, or what rewards it may bring. We scatter the seeds, but God brings the harvest.
If we can trust him with our words, we can trust him with the outcome.
God is the one who brings spiritual growth and produces the harvest. The one who plants and the one who waters are not people to be idolized, because God is the one who does the miracle. He makes the seeds grow. — 1 Corinthians 3:6 The Discussion Bible
For a practical guide to storytelling, check out Storytelling at Its Best
