Into the Fire

In the big scheme of things, amidst all the nonsense and disappointment, the tragedies and troubles, pessimism and faithlessness, do you ever want to scream, “What’s the use?” Do you ever get to the place where you feel worthless and unable to change even one thing to improve life for anyone? How about hopelessness? Ever enter into that quagmire? Helplessness? Been there recently?

And, how about when you’re thinking about writing, how you feel about it, what it means to you and others? Does it ever occur to you how small it all seems? Compared to life and death, suffering and sorrow? I know I do.

I long to touch people with words—words I’ve written because the Lord of all creation allowed me to string them together and hopefully minister something that will have an impact on a life or many lives. Because I can’t help but think if I do what He desires of me, what I write will touch others and prayerfully bless them. That, my friends, is my heart. To take what God has given me and pass it on. When I do it right, it will accomplish its purpose and God’s glory will shine in some marvelous way. And because of His mysterious, unpredictable, and surpassing imaginable ways, He will use a simple novel to do something beautiful.

And when He does, life doesn’t seem quite so harsh, so unbearable, or so alone for those who needed to read the story in a novel to find release, repentance, regeneration, or rejoicing. They discover they are not the only one who feels the way they do when life goes astray. They regain hope because Jesus makes Himself available through the pages of a book, and the Holy Spirit somehow transmits His comfort.

While writing is an exercise, a tool of creation, an extension of a dreamer’s soul, when the Lord’s anointing rests upon it, it becomes a message with supernatural potential. And that’s when it becomes important . . . in the big scheme of things.

Father, only you can make things worthy of time spent with them and on them. You are the Creator. You are the Savior. The Redeemer. The Comforter. The Counselor. The Almighty. We are desperate for your saving grace. Always. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

*Thank you for what you are doing in the life of Kristy Dykes and for encouraging the saints to pray for her and her family.*