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If Ever There Was A Time For Writers . . .

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“It is the miraculous language that drags me back into its delicious kingdom again and again . . . meticulously chosen words . . . I want to enter this kingdom, with such desperation, I am willing to die for it . . . And to enter a book, to let my life course out and stream past me, is to, in a  small way, die.”

On Reading, by Cynthia Cruz, via The Rumpus, 4/29/2013 

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If ever the world groaned for hope, it is now.

If ever the world needed writers, artists, poets, and musicians, it is now.

Even a glance through centuries past testifies to the power of artists, those sage interpreters of the soul, to draw hope from the detritus of despair and unveil rainbows from the bleak abyss of injustice.

And so, if God has called you to write, He has called you to deliver His people from this present darkness.

If that sounds like a big job, it is.

If that sounds like it’s too much for your feeble pen to handle, it is.

Because only a Savior can sand down the sharp edges of pain. Only a Savior can sweep darkness away with a great exhale which leaves in its wake a symphony. Only a Savior can deliver us.

So what’s a writer to do?

First, like the brown, peeling bulbs we tuck into the earth in the fall, don’t be afraid to plant the seemingly worthless and ugly. God is smitten with the beauty we allow Him to create with the broken, insignificant and useless parts of our selves. Keep writing, even if there’s no tangible payback or reward. Be faithful with little, and He will be faithful with making much of whatever meager loaves and fishes we lay at His feet. Spring comes, dear one. Spring comes.

Second, take time to celebrate Sabbath. Renew your mind and stretch your imagination by reading a book outside your usual genre, or a book in the Bible you haven’t considered in a while. And as you do, pray God gives you eyes to see and ears to hear what He wants for His lost ones. Look for ways to infuse His whispers into your stories.

Third, if you feel stuck, dig deeper. Press into the words you pen, and let them press into you, that they may make an unmistakable imprint of redemption and hope upon the reader by the time the last page is turned.

Make people want to enter not just any kingdom, but God’s Kingdom, breaking into the world by the surrender of your pen today.

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    “I spoke to the prophets,

gave them many visions
and told parables through them.”

Hosea 12:10 (NIV)

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How can you let God lead you more in your writing life? In what ways can you more fully surrender your pen for His glory? 

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Amy writes words of hope for a hurting world. Look for her debut novel, How Sweet The Sound, coming March 1, 2014 from David C. Cook.

26 Replies to “If Ever There Was A Time For Writers . . .”

  1. Amy, I punctuated your wise words with inaudible amens while I read your beautiful post. What a wonderful and humbling privilege we’ve been given to be God’s hope bearers. Thank you for this timely reminder. (And congrats on your debut novel–I love the title!)

  2. Encouraging words for today, Amy! Thank you! He has, indeed, called us to deliver His people from this present darkness.This IS the time for writers. It’s good to be reminded.

  3. This morning I read about how much Amy Carmichael accomplished in her life, and I prayed. I felt so discouraged about the amount of time I spend writing with no results. I feel like God called me to write, and so I asked for a sign to keep writing.
    Thank you so much for posting this today. This is my sign, and I am so in awe of God.
    Thanks seems inadequate for the encouragement you’ve given me today, but I do appreciate you! Thanks!

  4. Writing is like anything else, I guess. While we’re doing it, it doesn’t look like much. But once in a while, we get a glimpse…only a small one, because our ego can’t tolerate more…but a glimpse nevertheless. Just enough to keep us going.

  5. Thank you, Amy. Wonderful thoughts, and I needed them this morning!

  7. Oh yes, I wholeheartedly agree…….words, music, art…..these all contribute to a healthy and healing culture. When the world gets bleak, these infuse us with new life and remind us that there is still so much beauty and goodness, no matter what the news tells us. “Only a Savior can sweep darkness away with a great exhale which leaves in its wake a symphony” Those are some beautiful words right there!

  9. Love this: “…don’t be afraid to plant the seemingly worthless and ugly. God is smitten with the beauty we allow Him to create with the broken, insignificant and useless parts of our selves.”

    Did anyone ever tell you that you have a way with words? 🙂 🙂 🙂 From God’s mouth > to your ear > to your blog post > to my heart. Thanks for being a conduit of hope and encouragement for us. I’m filing this on my desktop to read and read again when I’m feeling discouraged. Thank you Amy!

  11. “Make people want to enter not just any kingdom, but God’s Kingdom, breaking into the world by the surrender of your pen today.” Amy, I so enjoyed your words today, especially the quote I’ve copied here. Thank you for the encouragement to yield our words to His work. Great job!

  12. Pingback: If ever there was a time for writers . . . a devotional. |

  13. Miss Amy,

    Feeling way-stuck, I’m so blessed to read this piece today. And this bit of your wisdom is a line I’d like to add to my writer’s prayer: “they may make an unmistakable imprint of redemption and hope upon the reader by the time the last page is turned.”

    Thank you for this piece. God’s timing is terrifical beyond compare.

    Blessings.

  14. What an encouraging post for those who are attempting to portray God’s light with the written word. Sometimes I too despair of ever getting somewhere with my writing, but I believe God planted my writing dreams deep into my heart. When the time is right, it will happen.

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