I Can Only Imagine How God Wants to Use Your Writing

by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

I hope by now you’ve watched the movie I Can Only Imagine, which tells the story of Bart Millard, MercyMe’s lead singer’s relationship with his father. A hauntingly beautiful tale about pain and forgiveness, the film’s central message displays God’s ability to redeem the most broken situation and soften the hardest hearts. 

Screenwriters used the history of the now wildly-successful Christian band as a backdrop for the primary theme. Since its inception, MercyMe has produced six gold albums and 13 consecutive top 5 singles on the Billboard Christian Songs chart, with seven of them reaching No. 1. The band has won 8 Dove Awards and many Grammy Award nominations.  

But MercyMe hasn’t always been successful. And while success finally did come, it didn’t come overnight. Or easily.

These truths combine to produce the secondary ribbon woven through the story—perseverance. 

When Bart Millard felt God call him to use his musical gifts and talents for the Lord, he accepted. He and his band played for whoever would take them – churches, youth groups, camps, retreats. They zig zagged across the country in an old bus, handled their own promotion, and even badgered an agent so much he finally agreed to represent them.

Time after time they heard words that could have crushed their dreams.

“You’re not ready.” 

“You’re copying someone else. Find your own voice.”

“Uncover the message that captures your heart.”

Although they came close to quitting, they persevered. 

God had called them to play music for his glory, and they remained true to that call. Even if it meant playing for free. Or in small venues. Or as backups to big bands. Night after night. City after city. Year after year.

Eight years passed before they released their first major debut album. And although the single “I Can Only Imagine,” earned a Dove award in 2002, the song took three years to gain mainstream success. MercyMe persevered for over a decade before they began to reap the fruit of their labor.

I can’t help but draw a parallel between the music world and the writing world. 

Many (I dare say most) writers write for years in relative obscurity. A newspaper column here. A short story there. A local website prints a profile piece, or a print magazine accepts a submission. But the sidewalk that leads to every open door is littered with rejection letters. And once and a while an editor will add a comment to the form letter:

“You’re not ready.” 

“You’re copying someone else. Find your own voice.”

“Uncover the message that captures your heart.”

So we persevere. We hone our craft, spend hard-earned money on classes and writers conferences, and invest hundreds of hours in writing, editing, and networking.

We refuse to quit because we feel God’s call on our writing. To give up would be to falter. To fail. To die.

“If you can do anything else and be happy, do it,” writing gurus say.

But we can’t.

And so we press on. By faith. 

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised,” Hebrews 10:26 reminds us.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” James 1:12 calls from the stands, cheering us on.

One year ago last month my dear friend Lynn and her husband, Rick, wept brokenheartedly over the breakup of one of their children’s marriages. Then they heard MercyMe’s song, “Even If.” Its message of courage and faith in the midst of heartbreaking circumstances touched the deepest part of their souls. It became their battle cry and their commitment to trust God even if He didn’t mend their adult child’s marriage. 

Two days after their declaration, Rick died in a tragic accident. The commitment he and Lynn had made together to trust God, “even if,” took on an even deeper meaning as Lynn continued on without him. MercyMe’s song became her comfort in the night and her declaration of the day. Even now, its refrain continues to carry her through every grief-tinged moment and reminds her of the promise she made to God.

I’m so glad Bart Millard and MercyMe persevered. My friend Lynn needed their song.

But this isn’t about Bart Millard and Lynn. It’s about you and me. 

Like Lynn, there’s someone out there who needs our words of comfort, challenge, or insight. We don’t know who they are yet, but God does.

And the time will come when, because we didn’t quit, God will use our words in their life.

We may never meet them this side of heaven. Bart Millard has no idea how God has used his song in Lynn’s life. But rest assured, one day the veil will be lifted and we will know. 

And it will be worth it all.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal. 6:9).

Now it’s your turn. What keeps you going when you’re tempted to quit? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

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I can only image how God wants to use your writing - encouragement from @LoriHatcher2 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

What keeps a writer going when tempted to quit? Thoughts from @LoriHatcher2 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)