Tuesday, December 20, 2011

When in Doubt by Linda Condolora


The dreaded blank page - some days it is our nemesis, some days, a symbol of endless possibilities. Too many times, instead of fueling my creative juices, the blank page has filled me with doubt. I have found myself staring at the page as questions invaded my mind, one after another. What do you have to say that anyone could possibly want to read? Who are you to call yourself a writer? Why not just give up writing – life would be easier. Did God really call you to write? I’m learning to ignore those thoughts and remind myself of the importance of what we do as writers. If you ever find yourself doubting and questioning why you write, let me share with you some facts that help me and hopefully, will help you as well.

First and foremost, words matter to God. For example, He commands the Jews, in Exodus 20:7, not to misuse His name. And in Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus warns that we will have to give an account for the words we speak and be acquitted or condemned by them. Obviously, God cares about the spoken word. But what I find more interesting is how important the written word is to Him. Back to Exodus 20:7. This verse is part of what we call the Ten Commandments and the Jews call the Law. God did not depend only on word of mouth or prophecy to communicate with His people. He also used the written word. Here, He even did the writing Himself. Exodus 31:18 tells us, “he gave him (Moses) the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.” God used the written word to communicate His law to His people, and it was written in His own hand.

Second, God calls some from among His people to write. The entire Bible, inspired by the Holy Spirit and penned by men of God, was written down and painstakingly copied – every jot and tittle – so we would have the very words of God in our hands today. God used His people then to write His word, and He is still using people to write down His message for everyone to read. At some point, you became aware of God’s call to write and you answered it. It is a difficult calling and can be lonely, but it is an important task to be undertaken.  Whether you write fiction, non-fiction, devotionals or Bible studies, God has chosen you to get His message out to the people.  

So, the next time you face the blank page and begin doubting the call, remind yourself of how highly God values the spoken and written word. Take some time to recall the moment you realized He had called you to write for Him. Remember, He chose you from among His people for this task, and God doesn’t make mistakes. Then write. Write with the passion of one who is called. Write for Him.
Linda Condolora is a writer of Christian non-fiction, a speaker and a teacher of Ladies’ Bible classes. She has had articles published in ChristianWoman Magazine, has been the keynote speaker at regional retreats and is currently working on her first book. She lives in central NY with her husband and enjoys studying the Word, scrapbooking and spending time with her family, including her new granddaughter.

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Twitter: @LindaCondolora