“Nooooo,” she wailed. “It would hurt too much.”
My eight-year-old granddaughter could not be convinced to soak her foot. I felt sure Epsom salts would ease the swelling from the bee sting. She was sure it was the worst possible torture.
“Do you trust me?” I asked.
“Yes, Gra’ma, but I don’t want to put my foot in the tub.”
“Have I ever done anything to intentionally hurt you?”
“No, Gra’ma, but it would hurt too much!”
Silently I pleaded with the Lord for help. Instead, I sensed Him respond, “I never force My will on anyone.”
Sorrowfully, I dumped the water in the sink and the sobs subsided. I couldn’t force my will either.
I had a nagging feeling this was about more than a stinger. I, too, had been running from God’s best for me—a book languished in my files and ideas lay unattended. I neglected my call to write.
Exercise:
Jonah was a runner. His book tells us he was even willing to pay money to get away from what God called him to do. (Jonah 1:1-3)
What have you been avoiding at great cost to your call?
Elimelech was a runner. He was willing to leave God’s best at the expense of his family. (Ruth 1:1-5)
How have you sacrificed your best for the convenient?
Have you been hiding from God’s call on your life? Maybe what He’s asked seems inconsequential? Isn’t a small obedience still obedience? In a parable about a servant, Jesus said being faithful in little things results in greater responsibility. (Matthew 25:14-29)
In what way will you accept responsibility for your writing?
What if our writing is a treasure entrusted for only a season? We have no guarantees as to how long our eyesight, health or memory will last. Just like I wanted to help my granddaughter, my Father wants to help me. I retreat into His embrace, and He renews, restores, and reaffirms His love.
God is for us. He has given us gifts that will grow our craft.
Instead of running away from what the Lord asks, let’s run toward His call—because the Father knows best.
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (TLB)
Are you running from the words God has called you to write?
Over 140 of Sally Ferguson’s devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). She’s also written for Light From The Word, Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum, Thriving Family, Upgrade with Dawn and ezinearticles.com. Prose Contest Winner at 2017 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference.
Sally loves organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom in time away from the daily routine. Her ebook, How to Plan a Women’s Retreat is available on Amazon.
Sally Ferguson lives in the beautiful countryside of Jamestown, NY with her husband and her dad.
Visit Sally’s blog at sallyferguson.net
