obedience – Almost An Author

Why is it so hard to rest? To take a break? To “do nothing”?

Years ago, I remember the Lord telling me to rest, stay in His Word, and take it easy. But that didn’t work out with my schedule, so I didn’t make the time.

The next week something happened that knocked me flat on my back. I was not prepared because I didn’t listen to the Lord. I got through the tough time, but it was a whole lot more difficult than it needed to be.

God knew I needed to be strengthened to be able to handle what was coming. Since then I’ve learned to trust Him a bit more, although rest is always difficult.

This time God asked me to put down my writing for a season and focus on my husband, family, prayer, health, and work…in that order.

But wait! My publisher is closing their doors, so if I “do nothing” my books will not be available. If I don’t write on my blog (which I haven’t for over 3 months anyway), what will my readers think?

As I sit here 100% sure I’ve heard God correctly, I ponder why it’s difficult to obey.

Maybe it’s because I fear losing followers. No, I don’t think so; when I write and share, God brings the people who need to read what I’ve written.

Maybe it’s because I’m uncertain about my calling. No, I know He called me to write and I know the joy it brings me. I am a writer.

Maybe it’s because too much of my perceived value to God is in my writing. As Joyce Meyer says, it’s in my “do” instead of my “who”.

Yes, I can easily fall into measuring my worth by the visible response I get to my writing. That’s part of it, but not all.

So why is it so hard to rest? Like with most other things, I think the main reason this or any other season of rest is difficult is because I don’t understand it. I am called to write, now I need to stop? I don’t know why, I don’t know for how long, and I don’t know what this new season will bring.

My ministry name is Life Is Not A Formula. I think God gave me that name to remind me that it’s futile to try and figure things out, especially where God may be leading, or why He commands this or that. He wants me to trust Him completely with everything day by day, and that includes my writing.

So how is rest related to warfare? If I don’t obey, I will be out of God’s will for my life, and that’s not a safe place to be; I become enemy bait for him to steal, kill, and destroy what God wants to do. My writing can only be fruitful if I am writing under God’s inspiration.

Most importantly, I miss out on intimacy with my Daddy when I try to go where He is not leading.

I’ve learned it’s not worth the risk.

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2b a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3b a time to tear down and a time to build,

7b a time to be silent and a time to speak,

(Ecclesiastes 3, NIV)

So I choose to accept and receive God’s season of rest from writing. I’ve already seen His hand of blessing in many ways over the past several weeks. Now that I’ve accepted it, I look forward with anticipation to what He’ll do in me and through me during this season of rest. It won’t always be easy, but it will definitely be worth it.

And when He releases me to do so, I’ll write all about it!

Let Jesus Do His Thing

I traveled to India with Samaritan’s Feet earlier this year, which I’ve already shared a few experiences in this blog. Please, let me share one more. It was our commission to wash children’s feet, place new shoes on their feet and pray with them. The shoes were merely vehicles in which we could pour Jesus’ love, hope and joy on those children. However, when we were going to a government school in a Hindu village, we were instructed not to pray with the children nor hug or even touch them much as touch was not a part of their culture. Okay then. How in the world were we supposed to pour the love, hope, and joy of Jesus on these children without touching them nor praying with them? And so we were on our way.

Those of us in the feet washing stations gently washed the children’s feet, asked them questions through our school-aged interpreters and placed new shoes on their feet. For many children, this was the first pair of shoes they had ever worn besides flip-flops. So we jumped with the children or taught them to run in place to try out their shoes. Then we sent them out to the courtyard to Jeffrey and Laura. Laura showered them with toy bracelets, rings and airplanes we’d brought and she loved on them. Jeffery led the children around like the pied piper. He had them repeating every move he made and soon they were laughing and giggling like only children can. Then we heard Jeffery shout, “I AM LOVED!” and the children quickly echoed, “I AM LOVED!” He marched and danced around with the children following. “I AM BEAUTIFUL!” And the precious voices echoed his words. As we washed the children’s feet, they anxiously awaited the opportunity to join in the parade. We quickened the process so they could participate with Jeffery and Laura. Soon the whole school was marching around giggling and shouting, “I HAVE JOY! I HAVE HOPE!” These children spoke Telegu. They had no idea what they were saying, but they seemed to be having the time of their lives.

The next day, Caleb Sir, our Indian host, sat us all down before our next excursion and showed us a newspaper from the village that day that featured a picture and article of us! He translated it for us and it basically stated that a group of foreigners from far away America came to wash our children’s feet and give them new shoes. In the process, they brought the children so much joy, hope and love that we are forever thankful for them. Wow. The word “Jesus” was never spoken in that village that day, but Jesus did His thing. He loved on those children and poured His joy and hope on those children through the feeble, unworthy travelers with Samaritans Feet. We just needed to let Jesus do His thing.

And we need to let Jesus do His thing in our writing. We may not have to preach and shout Jesus in bold letters to get our points across. We may not have to end all our stories with scripture or a prayer. Perhaps the word “Jesus” won’t even be mentioned in our work. But Jesus can still shine through. If we cover our writing in prayer, write what He leads us to write, or step out into new territories, if that’s where He’s leading us, then Jesus may still be seen. While we can’t physically touch our readers or hug them nor pray with them, Jesus can still touch lives through our writing. It may be that our work brings love, hope, joy, laughter, distraction, encouragement, wisdom, or knowledge to a reader. We may never know, but let’s write with our hearts focused on Jesus so He can do His thing.

I must sadly add that last week Jeffrey was killed in an accident. He was on another mission trip. While our hearts are broken over the loss of this incredible God-loving young man, so many lives were touched through His life. Jeffrey brought love, hope, and joy to children in a way they had never experienced because he let Jesus do His thing through him – even more of a reminder for us to let Jesus do His thing through our writing and through us. Don’t put it off any longer. Others may need to read your message today.

I miss you Jeffrey. You brought love, hope and joy to us, too. Thanks for touching my life.