Your Words Matter

by Andy Lee @WordsByAndyLee

 find one of the hardest parts of being a writer is the silence.

I’m not talking about the silent hours spent with only the tic-tock of the clock on my office wall and the pitter-patter of lap-top keys.  No, I’ve grown to love this silence, days with only my cat to keep me company.

It was not always this way. I’m an extrovert turned introvert by means of calling. When the Lord called me to write a book, I had no idea that it would become my ministry and career. Shifting from educator to full-time mom, to assistant pastor to all day writer, proved a challenge.

This wasn’t easy. I missed the activity with others. It’s been hard to say no to coffee dates and walking partners—though I don’t say no very well. I make time, perhaps too often. But when need be, God clears my schedule, and I spend days with only the tic-tock, pitter-patter, and Hank purring, curled behind me in my chair.

A writers conference or a weekend speaking event reminds me of the introvert, silence needed, person I’ve become.

But there’s another silence all writers face that’s not so gentle. Endearing. Healing.

It’s the silence experienced after your words have been published for all to read.

Your soul naked.

Your heart lent to others.

Your story no longer your own.

And silence.

There are reviews of your book or an occasional comment on your blog. Once in a while an e-mail will come, or you’ll meet someone who tells you how your book changed her life. But most days there is nothing.

And we must trust.

And we must continue to write.

And we pray our words matter.

And that’s why I’m writing you.

Because I want to cheer you on.

I want you to know that your words really are making an impact. Just as your prayers matter, so do your words typed out of obedience to the One who called you to this craft.

Whether we write fiction or non-fiction, we pen hope resurrected out of our pain, joys, sorrows, and healing. We either create a fictional character who our readers can relate to and experience redemption with or we write about restoring marriages, discovering a healthy self-image, developing a deeper prayer life or graceful parenting.

It is with the comfort we’ve been given of which we comfort others with our words.

Words that point them to a Savior.

I can’t imagine living a life without the promise of eternity. Can you? What if one reader reads your words and finds Jesus. Just one. Would that be enough?

Jesus spoke of the shepherd who left the ninety-nine to find the one.

Yes, your words matter.

What if your words stir the heart of the next Billy Graham or Beth Moore?

What if they simply comfort a soul buried in grief?

And what if you never know?

I think one day we will know.  When we’ve finally arrived home, we’ll meet many face to face who’ve been helped. But for now we write by faith not by sight or sound of accolades.

We write trusting that somewhere out there for all eternity, our words matter.

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Andy Lee is the author of A Mary Like Me: Flawed Yet Called and The Book of Ruth Key Word Study: A 31 Day Journey to Hope and Promise. She is a blogger, inspirational speaker, Bible teacher, and empty-nest survivor. Join hundreds of viewers on her Facebook Live broadcast Monday-Friday for the Bite of Bread, and visit her website at www.wordsbyandylee.com where Andy provides resources to help you dig deep to live fully.