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.
To find out more about Linda, book her for your event or connect
with her, please visit:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.condolora
Twitter: @LindaCondolora
