God's Promises to Writers Series: Help!

Help!
God's Promises to Writers Series
Net's Notations Tuesdays

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father.
He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be
condescended to when you ask for it.
Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought.
People who "worry their prayers" are like
wind-whipped waves.
Don't think you're going to get anything
from the Master that way,
adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. (James 1:5, MSG)

This same verse, in another translations, speaks of wisdom, which was last week’s promise. “If any lacks wisdom . . .” But I love how it warmly refers to God as our Father, ready and willing to help.

When was the last time you needed help in your writing? My answer: today. I spent the early part of the day editing a chapter of my WIP (work in progress) for critique group Dawn and I attend. I wanted to bring them something they wouldn’t expect and I needed God to inspire me. He did! I was surprised as I rewrote the scene. That’s key. Surprises in the writer lead to surprises for the reader. Yay!

How about you, when was the last time you needed help? Maybe you had writer’s block, or needed answers to some research questions. Maybe you were praying for a mentor and God brought one just in time to help guide you. Maybe you received a rejection on a dear project and needed help carrying on. Or perhaps got back some contest scores you hadn’t anticipated and the responses stung.

Aren’t you glad the same God who called you will help you when you need it? I’m convinced, though, that He wants us to humbly come ask Him for that help. It’s good for helping us keep 1 Corinthians 4:17 in mind.

For who makes you differ from another?
And what do you have that you did not receive?
Now if you did indeed receive it,
why do you boast as if you had not received it? (1 Cor. 4:7)

Here’s an invitation from our Affectionate Father:

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and find grace
to help in time of need.”
(Heb 4:16, NKJV)

I want to avail myself to that offer of help. God’s called us to write, and He won’t leave us without assistance. Rely on Him. He’s got this—exactly what you need. It’s one more of His promises to writers.

More Than What We Ask or Imagine

Thursdays - Devotions for Writers

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Eph 3:20 NIV)

I arrived home one night from work, in tears, brain fried. That’s the only way I can describe it.

Although I appreciate having a job—and I do it well—the work is so mentally draining, I have almost nothing left in me by the time I finish my day.

I thrive on being creative, but what I do at the day job insists on utilizing the side of my brain that kicks in to solve problems. That’s what I do for hours a day. I research missing payments in people’s cellular accounts. It’s like solving math problems for eight hours. I’d rather be dreaming up stories about Neverland.

So in tears, I told my husband that maybe I was fooling myself. Maybe I couldn’t maintain my goals for a writing career while still working full time.

But . . . I agonized . . . other people do it all the time. Most writers either have young children at home, or an outside job. Why do I struggle with trying to do it all – while also attempting to keep some kind of balance in my life? I still need to have time with family and friends—not to mention time with God—and still have a little “me” time.

I believe I’m called to write.

I believe I’m also called to launch a freelance editing business soon.

But do you know what my problem is?

I fall into the trap of believing I need to do it all by myself.

I forget that God is on my side, desiring to extend His helping hand. That in Him I can do all things.

God is in this with me! I'm not alone! He’s working on my behalf, even when I can’t see or feel it.

Of course I have a responsibility to continue working hard and doing everything I can to reach my goals.

At the same time, God doesn’t want me to burn out trying!

I need to trust that God will help me do whatever it is that I’m called to do. Then rest in that fact.

Are you hard on yourself?

Let go . . . and relax in the promise that God is also working on your behalf.

We don’t need to accomplish our dreams on our own.

God is able to do more than what we ask or imagine!

Dawn