The Gift of Refining for Writers

 

By Diana Leagh Matthews

 

The blank page can be overwhelming. I’ve wondered and struggled with what to share this week. Several attempts have turned out badly. Nothing seemed to come to me.

And honestly? This isn’t new. These feelings have lingered for a while. The reasons are varied:

·       Changes at work.

·       Disappointments (both personal and in my writing life).

·       Burnout.

·       Deep soul work.

·       A re-sifting of dreams.

Maybe this sounds discouraging, but I’ve been told my feelings are very normal.

·       Yes, I want to write.

·       Yes, I want to move forward.

·       Yes, I want to share my message.

Before I can do that, I must go through the emotional process. And that process doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. Grace. Surrender.

So, how do we deal with these transitions?

1.      Seek God. Spend time in Scripture, worship, and prayer. Sometimes what I need most is to get away and simply be with the Lord. It’s not always easy, but those sacred moments are worth the sacrifice.  

2.      Seek Nature. There’s something healing about being in God’s creation. The beauty, the stillness, the melodies of the earth reset my soul and remind me of God’s presence.

3.      Seek Truth. Be honest. What’s really behind the disappointment? What dreams feel deferred? What barriers are holding you back? It’s hard work,but the truth sets us free.

4.      Seek Rest. As a Type A personality, rest doesn’t come easily. I’ve been chasing dreams while working full time and caregiving. Eventually, the body and soul say “enough.” Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith’s book Sacred Rest has been a powerful resource in learning to find rest, restorative rest.

5.      Seek Creativity. Explore new creative outlets. Let your mind breathe. Whether it’s painting, acting, photography, digital art, singing, or dancing, creative play can open new doors and bring unexpected joy.

6.      Seek Answers. What is your soul truly craving? What is God whispering in this season? What calling is on your life now? Pay attention to how the circumstances around you are shifting—and how you are shifting with them.

7.      Seek God Again. Yes, Again. Don’t stop seeking Him. Fill yourself with the Holy Spirit. Let Him pour into you. Then empty it out in service. Then fill it again. 

My pastor recently said that before Billy Graham preached, he filled Himself with the Holy Spirit, emptied himself through writing, and filled himself again. Only then did he preach. That’s what made his ministry so powerful.  

As writers—and believers—we must do the same.

It’s okay not to be okay. Sometimes, stepping back is exactly what we need in order to move forward. This refining season can be holy. Painful, yes, but purposeful.  

1 Peter 1:6–7 says, Though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith... may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed" (NIV).

God prepares both the work and the worker as he refines our lives, our faith, and our talents—not to break us but to point it all back to Him.

Maybe this season is the refining that’s needed—for our life and our writing—to give God the glory He’s waiting for.

Have setbacks ever become a sacred turning point for you? 

Have you ever felt broken and spilled out, only to find grace waiting on the other side?

We would love to hear from you.

 Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and Ben White.

 

Diana Leagh Matthews has a heart for the hurting and longs to redeem the pain through the written and spoken word.  Her debut novel, Carol of the Rooms, was a Realm Award finalist and her second novel, Forever Changed, recently released. Leagh (pronounced L-e-e), loves the view of the mountains from her home in upstate South Carolina. Her favorite pastime is spending time with her spunky Maltese, who is often by her side as she writes and sings. For more information, visit her at DianaLeaghMatthews.com.