Digging Deep & Writing During Isolation

by Emme Gannon @GannonEmme

As the glow from my computer screen illuminated the darkened room, I pondered my weekly writing goal. Disappointing. Instead of producing a flurry of words my mind had turned to mush.  Many of my writer friends had reported a creative surge in their word count during this coronavirus isolation. My words would come, but like a firefly whose light departs in the early morning hour, my story angle would disappear, ensnared by news reports of doom. 

Self-isolating by oneself can often cause our fears to shout at us, igniting a scenario of what ifs. Our former multi-tasking and coping mechanisms are crushed with the reality that we are not really in control of our lives. This world-wide coronavirus has rendered us all vulnerable, from royalty down. We are groping with an unseen enemy that started in a far off land and made its way to our shores. All of our money, all our intelligence, all our scientific advances could not stop it from colliding with our world. Only by admitting that there is only One who sits on the throne and controls the destiny of the world, can we cast down imaginations that threaten to steal our peace. 

It is during this dark time that I reached into my bowl of scripture rocks and lay one in the palm of my hand. Psalm 46:10. 

“Be still and know that I am God.” 

I’d read that the day before, so I put the smooth stone back in the bowl, stirred with my finger, then drew again. Psalm 46:10. I did this three more times. The same scripture appeared. It seemed God was trying to tell me something. What are you saying, Lord? I discovered that the Hebrew for “still” means, “stop striving, let go, surrender. Listen.” Letting go is action. Recognizing that God is in control. Within this verse is another gem. I AM is another name of God. This verse is actually saying, “Be still, let go, surrender so you can listen to me and know that God is God.”

The next morning, I put my scripture rock back in the bowl, mixed the pile, and drew from this well of truth. Again, Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” I put the rock back. Surely you have another truth to teach me today, Lord. I drew again. The same scripture. I put it back and mixed well, then drew again. Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” The Lord had more to show me about this word of His. 

He seemed to be encouraging me to read the rest of the verse. Opening my Bible, I read from the Amplified version, “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

Letting Go

In this scripture, the Holy Spirit is asking us to let go of our busyness and listen to Him. Let Him give us a sense of His majesty and holiness. Be still. Surrender to His message to our soul. Let Him reassure us that no matter what happens on the earth, He is still God. Even though it looks like darkness has overtaken, He will be exalted among the nations. He will be exalted in the earth.

I wish I could report that from that moment on my writing became easier and more prolific. I still struggle with the reality of the surreal circumstances we find ourselves in. I also know we serve a holy God. Because He is holy, it was time to put on the brakes. It was time to shed conformity,  group thinking, and societal declarations of what is right and what is wrong. What we believe about God and His opinion of us determines how we react to our world. Even how we write and what we write. He is trying to reach into each of our hearts and speak. Be still and listen. We were made for such a time as this. 

The fact that this pandemic is occurring during the penitent season of Lent gives us pause to reflect on what is really important in the brief life we are given on this earth. One thing for sure, the journey through Lent leads to the cross, where Jesus died so that we can live. He is risen so that we can face today and tomorrow, whether it be here on earth or the glory of eternity with our Savior in heaven. Be still and know that He is God. Selah. Pause and think on that. 

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Digging Deep & Writing During Isolation - insight from @GannonEmme on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Emme Gannon is a wife, mother, and grandmother who loves to write stories that stir the heart. Her award-winning writing has appeared in Focus on the Family magazine, several anthologies, and numerous newsletters. She just completed her first novel.