By Andrea Merrell
The writing and publishing
industry is a wonderful, exciting, terrifying place. Can I get an amen?
When attending my first writers’
conference, I was overwhelmed … the proverbial fish out of water. What in the world am I doing here? I
asked myself for days. I was completely outside my comfort zone, not to mention
my element. Observing and speaking with others who had achieved varying levels
of success almost convinced me I would never make it. But I hung in there and persevered.
Fast forward ten years. Since
that first encounter with the industry, I now have three nonfiction books published (LPC
Books), have contributed to numerous anthologies, and even won a few awards. I
have written hundreds of devotions, articles, short stories, and blog posts,
and am currently working on three novels. For the past few years, it has been my privilege to teach at a variety of writers’ conferences—something I never
dreamed possible. But will all these "accomplishments," the greatest blessing of all would have to be the countless number of amazing
people that have crossed my path over the years, many of whom have become close
friends.
Why do I say all this? Those of
you who know me well understand that I’m definitely not one to toot my own horn
(that’s why marketing is my Achilles heel). The reason for sharing these
achievements is to show you what God can do in your life when you obediently
step into your calling and trust Him to lead the way.

Moving toward my God-given
destiny began with someone handing me a business card. My connection with that
writer and speaker led to a small writer’s retreat, my first conference, and several
life-long friendships. As I continued to move forward—one tentative baby step
at a time—God opened doors of opportunity I never even knew existed. Jeremiah
29:11 tells us that God has a plan and purpose for our lives. That’s a promise
you can take to the bank.
When something small happens to
you, especially in your writing career, you may tend to overlook it or think it
unimportant. But look at the life and ministry of Jesus. He could have chosen
hundreds of disciples, but He carefully selected twelve. He could have called
down manna from heaven, but He fed thousands of hungry people on a hillside
with a small boy’s lunch. Jesus shows us how a mustard seed—the tiniest of
seeds—can grow into a massive tree and how a pinch of yeast raises a lump of
dough to be made into bread. These are all kingdom principles that teach us
valuable lessons.
What drives you as a writer? Do
you have a heart to write for God or simply desire to see your name on the
cover of a book? Are you willing to do what it takes to learn the craft and
perfect your gift, or are you trying to advance by skipping important—and
necessary—steps? Do you want to be bigger or better?
Pastor and author Bob Gass says,
“All the prayers in the world won’t pressure Him (God) into giving you what you
are not ready to handle.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said,
“Most people would succeed in small things if they weren’t troubled with blind
ambition.”
Jesus said, “Whoever can be
trusted with very little can also be trusted with much (Luke 16:10 NIV).
Nobody wants to be a flash in the
pan—well-known and successful today and gone tomorrow. Bigger may be easier to
measure, but gradual success is a solid foundation that is valuable, lasting,
and fulfilling.
Writer, if God has called you and
given you the gift of words, commit that gift to Him, take one baby step at a time,
and watch what He’ll do. Don’t allow yourself to get discouraged, and never
compare yourself with others. God has great blessings in store for you, and His
timing is always perfect. Don’t ever despise small beginnings. Be thankful for
each step forward and believe that God will open amazing doors of opportunity
made just for you. With Him, all things are possible.
Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net/markuso, nenetus, and Andrea Merrell.)
TWEETABLE