Writing every day, for a solid month, is definitely challenging. As a blogger who desires to connect with readers, while not losing any, I find my audience is widening in some respects and narrowing in others.
I’m not alone.
The initial ping of rejection hits because no one likes seeing people ‘unsubscribe’. I think it’s fairly safe to say that every one has a desire to see others approve of & enjoy their work, whether it’s writing or anything else.
On the Facebook group for this 31 Days of Writing challenge, several bloggers feel overwhelmed with the daily task &/or the technical side of blogging. Many are also underwhelmed in the lack of positive feedback.
Some are dropping it altogether because they are disillusioned with the process and the intent.
I don’t want to see this happening. If something is heavily impressed upon us to do, it is important to explore why.
- Maybe God has a one time purpose for it?
- Maybe there is something in you that needs to be developed?
- Maybe it has a short-term purpose even if it seems like something long-term?
- Maybe the purpose behind the passion will never be understood, it will only be explored, what then?
Whatever the reason is for our passions, it is known by God and only He can reveal the purpose & the plan in His time, His way. Will we trust that? Will we listen?
Help us, Lord.
My desire to write has been with me for as long as I can remember. But I’ve had long seasons of waiting, long seasons of excuses and I’ve wrestled with God because His timing is different than mine. I’m learning now…to take each day as He leads, even if that means not writing.
I remember wishing I’d been home schooled so that I could have the opportunity to write away, unlimited by the impression of peers on a daily basis. My children have the luxury of exploring their gifts in this way and it sparks the largest smiles on my face to see them do so.
I believe it delights our Lord as well, to see His children learn and grow as they explore their God-given talents & passions.
Do you know why God has given you your passion, whatever it is? I’ve asked so many times. “Why, Lord? Why give me a desire to write with a brain that has such trouble staying on task and thinking clearly? Why this desire when I have so many other things on my plate? Should I wait? Should I stop? Should I push through?”
The thing is…He often reveals His plan only one step at a time. This is where faith steps in.
Will we believe God to the point that we act on it, even if we don’t like His answers?
Do we believe that God is good & trustworthy in ALL things, even when it comes to our pursuits?
Are we looking to Him for guidance, for nurturing, for approval, even if it seems that He is quiet?
When our eyes are taken off the Father, disappointment speaks loudly. Discouragement creeps in and despair looms.
At this point, the enemy whispers, “Throw it away.” “Forget about it.” “Why bother trying?” “You’re no good.” and a myriad of other ridiculously common lies.
It’s time to reclaim the gifts that God has given us. It’s time to allow God’s work in us for His purposes, even if that means laying our passions aside while He works in our hearts.
Whatever our pursuits are, may our endeavors in them be more about personal growth & His glory and less about personal prowess.
If there is a passion in your heart to write, to blog, to create, to start a business, to enter into dedicated ministry, to serve in some new way…whatever it is, please don’t throw it away.
Put your desires & passions in His capable hands & see what He does with it.
Would you pray with me?
Lord ~
All of our gifts & talents are from you and for you. Guide our hearts and minds to seek you in them. Help us to lay them before you. If you wish for us to pick it up today, tomorrow, and every day for a month, give us courage and wisdom to do so and to do it well. If you desire for us to lay it down for today, for a month, a year or a lifetime, may we know your goodness to such a degree that we will trust you with this.
Encourage our hearts to sacrifice where we need to in ways that bring honor & glory to you. Grant us wisdom to push through the challenges & pursue our goals with the best of our abilities & your strengthening as we ought.
Whatever it is that is on our hearts today, may we not throw it away in the face of discouragement. May we lay it into your capable hands instead.
Amen
praying with you today… and loving your post, just what I needed today!
keep up the great work, Jolene
xoxo Anna
Thank you for praying alongside Anna. 🙂
Lovely post. There are so many times in life when “throw it away” is the temptation because the struggle in some area is too real, too taxing, too painful. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I’m sure many will be blessed by it. I have been. 🙂
So true Michelle. May we always throw it to Him if has to go somewhere! 🙂
Someone once told me, “Don’t give up before the breakthrough”. God has a purpose, for everything. I find the more I write for His glory, the less I care about who really is reading. I know my story is touching at least one. And that’s good enough for me.
I think I’ve heard that too. So true. Amen, friend!
I am learning that you are one who is always listening for God’s voice, Jolene. That is such a beautiful thing. Thanks for encouraging others to do that here.
Thank you so much Laura. I appreciate you.
Thank you, Jolene. You really spoke to my heart. I HAD turned my eyes from the Lord — just for a second, really, but that’s more than long enough to let the enemy in to do his stuff.
I turn my eyes so often. Thankfully we can turn them back to Him and gaze again!
This is so inspiring, Jolene, so encouraging. Thank you.
Thank you so much June. Have a blessed weekend.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful and inspiring words, and your beautiful prayer. This is my first try at even doing a blog, much less committing to do a post EVERY DAY for 31 DAYS…and on a subject that is opening myself up to others!! I haven’t really felt discouraged – but I do check my blog OFTEN and feel a little down when there are NO comments, or only 1 or 2…BUT, I feel encouraged by YOU and others who are out there with encouraging words; I am encouraged by those who DO comment, and share how it spoke to them, or the words could have been their own…that is WHY I am writing; and it is helping ME to be able to share and know there ARE others out there who may be going through a similar experience.
Barbara – I wish you many blessings in your blogging journey. May you see and embrace every one that the Lord reveals to you. Often they look different than we anticipate as God shows up to show us something we didn’t even know we needed to see. Keep pressing in and write on as He leads Barbara! Standing with you and cheering you on.
You nailed it Jolene! When speaking of passion and following through with what God is asking of us in order to honor Him, you remind all of us of our purpose. This post goes along perfectly with what I have been writing about in my “Oprah’s Courage or God’s?” series. It also speaks to me right where I am in life too! Keep at it-God knows what He is doing! 🙂 Love and hugs!
Thank you Mary! Love that concept,Oprah’s Courage or God’s. So many possibilities for discussion there. The topic of this post is something you’re likely to see more of from me in the future. God has been revealing some new direction for my writing and I’m excited to follow. Blessings my grace-filled friend!
Hi – I started writing because I needed to. I have committed to 31 days because I was convicted that I should – it’s kind of like my public affirmation of my belief in God’s goodness. I prayed that if anyone would be encouraged by my posts God would share them. I’ve had a crazy increase in readers and feedback, and I am so thrilled that God is sharing my story, but I know it would also have been right to do it even if I was the only person who was reminded of the goodness of the Lord through the writing. I keep finding that placing things in God’s hands is the best way to go 🙂 Thanks for writing this.
How wonderful Caiobhe! I have read a few of your posts and appreciate your honest reflections and seeing God working through the pieces of your painful journey. I can relate to the process and the pain. Maybe in different ways, but perhaps some very similar. Glad to connect with you online. Wishing you many blessings as you continue to write!
I love this – When our eyes are taken off the Father, disappointment speaks loudly. Discouragement creeps in and despair looms. It’s so true! I started writing seven years ago during a very difficult time. It began as a mission to hold myself accountable to “counting my blessings” each day. Just praying to remain faithful, and tell my story of hope. Thanks for this Jolene! Beautiful!
Amen Deb! Praying to remain faithful and sharing hope with you!
One sentence here…” put your desires in His capable hands” was the manna I needed today. Thank you, Jolene. I was wrestling with a desire, I was holding it close and trying to find a way to make it work and it wasn’t as if He was saying, NO. It was more like putting it all IN MY OWN hands. I took it out of His. This made a hard decision much easier today. 🙂 Many thanks!
Love,
Dawn