No Matter The Outcome

After making tons of headway on my work-in-progress in February, I hit a bit of a block. My creativity depleted, and the pressure of my deadline had me feeling a bit discouraged. Not only that, but I found myself starting to worry about if anyone would actually like this story or not.

Will my friends like it? Will the publisher like it? Will future readers like it?

I was suffering from a severe case of the fear of man. And fear of man can be paralyzing.

The thing is, as much as I want to write a gripping story that people will love, it's not only about that. It's about me being faithful to God's call for me to write. It's about writing a story that honors and glorifies Him.

Last year, I prayed about which story I should invest my time writing, and I felt God leading me to this one. I actually wanted to write a different story--one that was a little more fun and easy--but God called me to the difficult story.

I stepped out in obedience, and now I have a publisher interested in this book. Isn't God so amazing? That is all Him and His timing.

So, back to the fear of man thing. If God called me to write this story, why should I worry about what other people think? Why should I worry about a publisher rejecting it? It really doesn't matter if they choose to publish it or not. I'm simply doing the thing that God has called me to do, no matter the outcome.

I'm curious. Is there something you feel God is calling you to do that you are struggling to step forward in due to fear? Has He been pressing it on your heart to serve Him in some way? Don't let fear keep you from doing that thing. Not only could you be a blessing to others, but God wants to work something within you to grow you and shape you to be more like Him.

"The fear of man brings a snare,

But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."

Proverbs 29:25

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

Ephesians 2:10