Writer, Don't Lose Heart

By Andrea Merrell

As we’ve talked about before, writing is a process, not an event. It’s a journey that can begin very slowly and seem uphill all the way.

Just like everything else in life, there are always obstacles to overcome. At times we have to “fight” in order to possess the territory—the dream God has placed in our heart.

But sometimes it’s hard to believe in our heart (as the Word says) when we don’t see our dream manifest as quickly as we’d like it to. That’s when we have to exercise our faith.

Pastor and author Bob Gass says:

Just because something’s not immediately evident doesn’t mean it won’t happen. For example, when we ask God for an oak tree, He gives us an acorn. At this point we may think God didn’t hear and answer our prayer. No, the oak tree is in the acorn; it’s just a matter of time before what’s inside bursts out. Whatever God has promised you, the seeds are already within you. Water them, nurture them, and don’t let anyone uproot them through unbelief. In other words, begin thanking God for what He’s going to do in your life.

The hardest part is in the waiting. That’s when the Enemy whispers defeat in our ears and tries to convince us to give up. But God is always at work in and around us, even when we don’t see the evidence. Read these words from Chris Tiegreen and take them to heart:

There can be a painfully long gap between a promise from God and its fulfillment. In that gap, we can become thoroughly frustrated at how long it’s taking to happen or how many detours we’ve had to take. The place between promise and payoff is hard one. And it can distort our perception of life, God, and ourselves.

This is normal for God. The hard place of waiting is also the fruitful place of faith. This is where faith gets stretched and strengthened, and we can’t get to any land of promise without it. We have to know that even when we don’t see God working, he is—behind the scenes, between the lines, beyond the horizon. He may give us glimpses to keep us going, but for the most part, we have to wait with nothing but trust.

Don’t give up the wait. God watches over his words to fulfill them. He hasn’t forgotten you, changed his mind, or stripped it from you. His words are like seeds planted in the ground. Eventually, they show. And the harvest is wonderful.

God is a man of His Word. What He promises, He will do. Jeremiah confirmed it in Jeremiah 1:12: The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled" (NIV).

The Message puts it this way: God’s message came to me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I said, “A walking stick—that’s all.” And God said, “Good eyes! I’m sticking with you. I’ll make every word I give you come true.

If you’re in the hard place of waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled, know that He hasn’t forgotten or forsaken you. He is working all things together for your good, and His timing is always perfect. So, don’t lose heart. He will come through just in time.

(Photos courtesy of Blogpiks.com and Stuart Miles.)

TWEETABLES

If you’re in the hard place of waiting for God’s promises to be fulfilled, He hasn’t forgotten or forsaken you. He's working all things together for your good, and His timing is always perfect.  via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

The hard place of waiting is also the fruitful place of faith.This is where faith gets stretched and strengthened, and we can’t get to any land of promise without it. @catiegreen via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)