God's Promises to Writers Series: To Keep Us

He Will Keep Us
God's Promises to Writers Series

Net's Notations Tuesdays

Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you
in the way and to bring you
into the place which I have prepared. (Ex. 23:20)

Isn't that beautiful? The "Angel" in this verse is actually referring to Christ before His incarnation. He goes before us. He goes with us.

As writers, some of us are just getting started. Some of us are newly signed and some are veterans—with variations everywhere in between. But this promise of God lends us security as we venture forth: He will keep us. Because even if you’re multi-published, there is still new ground to cover, there are new venues to explore.

“Venturing forth” can be frightening. It’s the unknown and the known that can rattle us. For example, a lot of times authors end up becoming speakers, even fiction authors. Makes sense. They have a way with words. They have a message. You have a message. God has planned for you to touch people’s lives. But what if you’re timid before crowds? What if the mere thought of speaking in front of a thousand or more people makes you break out into a cold sweat?! See that? Fear of the known.

And then there are the what-ifs—the unknowns. The inherent risk of visibility, or the fear of not earning out your advance, or not measuring up. The fear there will never another contract. Or what if I can't write another novel as good as the last?

And then, there are risks spiritually. Nope, not talking spiritual warfare (though it’s very real). I’m talking about our own tendency to trip merrily down the path toward selfish desires (rather than selfless serving), pride (versus humility), self-sufficiency (rather than dependence upon God), entitlement (rather than gratitude).

There’s a promise in the midst of our concerns about that as well:

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
before the presence of His glory
with exceeding joy (Jude 24)

That encourages me as I’m so far from where I want to be. Raise your hand if you can relate with this: serving God (in whatever capacity) both involves and requires a maturing process. And writing for Him is about so much more than writing for Him. Amen?

Praise God He promises to keep us.