Think big thoughts, but relish small pleasures. — H. Jackson Brown Jr
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Never be discouraged, because I am God, who will help you. With my righteous right hand, I will strengthen you, hold you up, and keep you from falling. — Isaiah 41:10 The Discussion Bible
Every writer has been there—facing a blank page, dreading the rewrite, or questioning whether the work is even worth it. Losing heart is easy when writing feels more like a burden than a blessing. But what if the key to unlocking your potential as a writer lies not in changing your task, but in changing your mindset?
Pleasure Is Chosen
Many believe pleasure is something that happens to us—the rush of inspiration, the thrill of publication, the praise of a reader. We can’t always choose the work that must be done, but we can choose joy instead of sadness—even when the process feels hard, slow, or thankless.
A teenage boy learned an important lesson when Mom said, “Son, you can like doing dishes or you can hate doing dishes. You choose whether you want to be happy or upset, but you are going to do the dishes.” When he decided to like it and make a game of the process, the dishes magically became fun. That simple choice taught a life-changing principle: You can find joy in anything, if you want to. That’s right. We can be thankful in all circumstances, and this is what God wants for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Don’t wait to feel inspired. Learn to love the discipline—the editing, the brainstorming, the rewriting. Choose joy in the process, not just the outcome. If you choose to love it, you’ll get better at it. And if you get better at it, you’ll have reason to love it even more.
The Wrong Pleasures
There are many pleasures that nourish, but some will destroy. Aspiring writers often fall into the trap of chasing the wrong kind of pleasure—social media approval, instant success, shortcuts to fame. These may feel good for a moment, but they rarely lead to excellence, growth, and fulfillment.
Instead, seek the pleasure that comes from serving others with your words, from growing in your craft, and from obeying the call to write—even when no one is watching. Ask yourself, What am I really writing for? Let your pleasure be found in purpose, not popularity.
Joy from Obedience, Not Ease
Writing isn’t always fun. It’s rarely easy. But when it aligns with what God has called you to do, it’s worth every ounce of sweat. Obedience may require sacrifice, but it brings a joy that ease never can. This is especially true when your writing is rooted in serving others, sharing truth, and glorifying God.
The most powerful stories are often born from discomfort—and the most faithful writers are the ones who press through pain with purpose. On a day when writing is a strain, ask God for the grace to love it. With his help, you can learn to find joy even in the struggle.
With Joy, You Get Better
We tend to excel at what we enjoy the most. But enjoyment doesn’t always come first. It often follows discipline, effort, and breakthrough. If you want to get better at writing, then find a way to enjoy it more. Choose joy in the challenge. Celebrate small victories. Take delight in learning, not just finishing.
Make a habit of finding something to enjoy in every writing session—whether it’s a well-crafted sentence or a fresh idea. That habit will carry you farther than talent alone.
Pleasure Seekers
Everyone seeks pleasure. The question is: Are you moving toward God or away from him in that pursuit? Writers who seek God’s kind of pleasure—through faithfulness, truth, and service—will find joy that satisfies. Those who chase only personal gain may find a momentary thrill, but they will miss the eternal value.
Write to please God first. Let your pleasure be in hearing him whisper, Well done. When your writing is worship, your words will matter.
Your writing journey will include both delight and difficulty. But when you choose to find pleasure in the work God has given, you’ll tap into a deeper joy—one that fuels creativity, strengthens resilience, and transforms your message.
So write with joy. Write with purpose. Let the pleasure of the Lord be your strength—and your story will shine.
Writing Companion
I once knew a writer who frowned at the page,
Who grumbled, groaned, and let loose all her rage.
She sighed at the keyboard and moaned at the screen,
Wishing her stories could be better with each scene.
She wanted the glory, the praise, and the cheer,
But she didn’t find joy when deadlines drew near.
She wanted the pleasure, but not all that pain—
All the thinking and typing and editing strain.
One day a whisper came softly to her ear:
“If you want joy, you can have it right here.”
She blinked and she paused, then let out a huff.
“Can choosing to like writing really be enough?”
She gave it a try with a paragraph or two,
And smiled when she saw the message was true.
She chuckled at rhymes and the puns that she made,
And found there was joy in the mess she had laid.
She danced with her drafts and played with her plot.
She laughed when her clever ideas went for naught.
Each edit, each tweak, each fix to the line,
Was suddenly fun—like a puzzle design.
The secret, she learned, was not in the task,
But in how you approach it, the questions you ask.
“Will I groan through my gift, or rejoice in my role?
Will I write with my heart or just meet a goal?”
Now she writes with delight, with purpose and grace,
Because every word will have a time and a place.
She still works hard—but now with a grin,
For joy in the journey is a choice from within.
So writer, take note when your passion feels dry,
Don’t give up your calling. Rejoice as you cry.
For when you delight in the work God has shown,
You’ll never again feel like you’re writing alone.
For a practical guide to storytelling, check out Storytelling at Its Best
