None of us has escaped those passages of life during which we are troubled, confused, drained of all vitality and direction, or plagued by self-doubt and ineffectiveness.
Recently I have been suffering from writer’s block as I try to work on both a novel and this blog. Among the doubts that seem to be blocking my efforts to write are: Am I good enough? Do I have anything significant to say? Will people read what I write? Will my writing inspire people to journey with Jesus Christ? Will my life or my work for Christ matter?
I was therefore encouraged when I came across I Corinthians 15:58:
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” (New Living Translation, NLT)
This verse comes at the end of the 15th chapter in which the Apostle Paul responds to critics who claim that the resurrection of Christ is a lie and that the Christian faith is empty and useless.
Paul reminds the Christians at Corinth that:
• The resurrection was factual—that Jesus was crucified and died for our sins, that he was buried in a tomb, that God raised him to life on the third day, that he was seen by Peter and the disciples as well as over 500 people, including James, the brother of Jesus, and Paul himself. (I Cor. 15:1-10)
• Because Jesus was raised from the dead, all who are related to Jesus by faith will also be raised from the dead. (verse 22)
• Because Jesus overcame death and ascended into heaven with a new heavenly body, all who are in Jesus Christ will also be resurrected with new bodies fit for his heavenly kingdom. (verses 42-53)
• Because of Jesus’ resurrection, death is no longer a source of dread or fear for those who follow him, for he has defeated death and gives us hope and assurance for life beyond the grave. (verses 54-56)
For all these reasons, Paul insists that nothing we do is useless in light of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we have each been called to share the good news of his life and resurrection in all areas of our lives, and we should not be discouraged during those passages of life when we are troubled, confused, drained of all vitality and direction, or plagued by self-doubt.
Instead, Paul encourages us to be strong, steadfast, and enthusiastic in all that we do—for it is by remembering and celebrating Christ’s resurrection that we find meaning , strength, and reason to face the challenges of our lives.
We should not worry about the results of what we do for Christ, for that’s up to our Lord. Our responsibility is to be obedient to the Lord and to the tasks or call that he has given each one of us.
It is enough for us to be assured that nothing that we do for him is useless or in vain.
i used to sit down at my laptop, throw a quick prayer toward heaven, and begin writing. I’d be heading down the road for an hour or so until I realized I was missing something: the Holy Spirit. I had left Him back at my prayer. Then, I erased everything and waited on Him.
I’ve gone days, weeks, and months without writing in times past. These were dry seasons when the Holy Spirit was working on me. Even though I had three novels almost finished, there was nothing I could do but wait. If I sat down to write, I felt nothing and was totally empty inside. Nothing worked.
When I finally finished the long dry season, I started writing again. Plus, I was a much, much better writer than before. It had nothing to do with writer’s block, talent, or whatever, but it had everything to do with Him working on me.
You are absolutely called to write. Screen plays. Novels. Whatever. Settle that in your mind. Look at yourself in the mirror and see yourself as a writer. It does not matter if your are writing or not because the Lord placed that calling upon you. It does not matter if you have an agent or not, He has the best public relations staff in the universe: an army of angels ready to be dispatched on your behalf.
Walk by faith. Hold onto your calling with all of your might and one day, you will walk into a creativity that can not be denied or overlooked. God will raise you up on a stage few have ever dreamed about.
All trials are battles of faith. Hold onto your calling and make up your mind to just put one foot in front of the other until His anointing drops on you. And it will.
Larry, thank you for all your encouragement over this past year, especially today and on my last visit to you in your living room. Blessings to you and Carol.
Hi Derrick,
I’m enjoying your blog. I especially appreciate that your encouragement to the reader is from God’s word, and your experience that the Truth is a potent weapon. I’ve been in those places of discouragement and fear. I’ve had people give me God’s word as an answer. And I have found that I have a choice to make at that point: to trust it or not. Sometimes fear seems more familiar and so comfortable, or more realistic. But faith can appropriate the promises of God in a way that might seem like foolishness to “the world”. Thank you for helping fight the good fight of faith.
Thank you, Jan, for your comments. Yes, we do have a choice as to how we react to life’s challenges, including whether to trust God’s word or not. Blessings to you and Dave.
Thanks Derrick for your post today. It was right on time for me. I have had to transition my mom to a board and care home. It has been one of the most challenging things I’ve had to do. I was struggling with the decision and had doubts about the decision to do this. I kept asking God for a sign or scripture just to reassure me that I had made the right decision. He answered. I read your blog! Thanks again and God bless you. Keep writing!
Ricky, your decision about your mother is one that many of us have struggled with, or are struggling with, concerning our parents. I am thankful that you are at peace with your decision. Thank you for your comments and your encouragement. Blessings to you–and keep singing.
Dear Derrick (my brother in Christ)
It has been said, “God is my co-pilot”, NOT TRUE!
GOD is piloting the ship and when He decides that
it is time to stay grounded, enjoy waiting and looking
with great expectation for the wonderful things He’s
planning to do in your life. Do not get impatient and
start revving YOUR WRITING ENGINES, you are a
good writer (by His grace), destined to be great, so
let things happen in God’s time. You will never suffer
writer’s block. God’s spoken word (s) have power, and
as a child of the Most High God, you also have that
power. SO, NEVER SPEAK THE WORDS “WRITER’S BLOCK!”
OVER YOURSELF! THEY ARE FALSE WORDS OF UNBELIEF!
And, you are destined to be a strong voice in the literary world.
Speak only words of praise and thanksgiving to to God for
your gift of writing; the way you speak to the hearts of people.
Love & blessings,
Deacon Charles Johnson (your brother in Christ)
Thank you, Charles, for your words of encouragement.
Derrick,
Keep writing, your words are spirit filled and offer much wisdom, inspiration and guidance in these challenging times.
Deacon Charles Johnson
Thanks again, Charles. As our friend Laura de Assis pointed us to the words of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin:
“Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
To reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
That it is made by passing through
Some stages of instability-
And that it may take a very long time.
And so I think it is with you;
Your ideas mature gradually – let them grow,
Let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on,
As though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances
Acting on your own good will)
Will make of you tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit
Gradually forming within you will be.
Give our the Lord the benefit of believing
That his hand is leading you,
And accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
In suspense and incomplete.”
-Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Derrick,
May the Holy Spirit continue to guide and strengthen your Christian walk, as well as the insightful words which you write that speak to the hearts of people.