Are You Disappointed with Your Writing Progress?

 

By Marilyn Nutter

Have you been disappointed? Have you gone to a writers’ conference and made appointments with editors, agents, or publishers only to hear (again) “No thank you” to your pitch for a book or an article? Maybe the professional scanned your one-sheet and handed it back to you with the same response. Or you submitted pieces for a contest, and your work didn’t make the finals.

I’ve been reading through the Bible in a year. There are many familiar names, some from Bible studies and childhood Sunday school, names like Ruth, David, and Zaccheus. They’ve been the subject of talks and devotions. But I’ve been intrigued by the chapters that offer lists and names of individuals that I don’t ever recall reading or hearing about.

What about those in the background? Let’s think for a minute. Can you name the men who had the skill of embroidery for the tabernacle or the engraver for the temple? What was the name of the boy who offered his lunch to Jesus? And who were the four guys who carried their paralyzed friend and let him down through the roof so he could see Jesus and be healed? Their activities are recorded in Scripture, so God knows them and knows about them. They had a God-given purpose to fulfill so it could be recorded on the pages of Scripture. Their names are unknown to us, but they are significant in God’s story.

That’s true in our writing. God knows the labor of our hands and the passion in our heart. He knows how our mind has thought, pondered, and prayed over articles, blogs, proposals, and manuscripts. Whether someone recognizes our work publicly from a platform or seeks to publish it or not, the bottom line is this: God knows us and His purposes for us.

Scripture reminds us to work not for men, but as unto the Lord (Colossians3:23). Perhaps at a conference, one of your purposes was to encourage a conferee in the hallway as she waited for her appointment. Maybe it was to get more experience so you could feel more at ease talking with editors, even though they declined your work. Perhaps during a conversation you saw a different perspective that encouraged revision. Instead of making the finals’ list, one person read your blog, and it was life-changing.

Our responsibility is to obey our calling, learn more about our craft, listen to God’s voice, and work with excellence.

God knows you even if you don’t hear your name called from a platform or an editor says, “no thank you” and moves on to the next appointment. God will reward your work in His perfect timing and in His way.

Photo by Dev Asangbam on Unsplash

Marilyn Nutter is the author of Hope for Widows: Reflections on Mourning, Living, and Change and co-author with April White of the award winning book, Destination Hope: A Travel Companion When Life Falls Apart, She is a frequent contributor to online sites and compilations. Visit her at http:/MarilynNutter.com.