Friday, September 24, 2021

1,061 Reasons Not to Quit Writing


by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

One thousand and sixty-one posts. This is how many blog posts I’d written. Ten years of blogging. On a really good day, I get two or three comments on each post. A few loyal readers email me from time to time to share how the Lord used a particular post to speak to their heart.

I have a page on my website called How to Know God. Analytics tell me that someone will occasionally visit the page, linger for a minute or two, then click off. Has anyone placed their faith in Christ because of this simple gospel presentation? I have no idea. 

This week, after I posted blog post 1,061, I received an email from a reader. I’ve changed the details to respect her privacy, but it went something like this:

Dear Lori,
I’m a nurses’ aid in a retirement center. I’ve stood at patients’ bedside and held their hands as they died. Last year, my father passed away in my arms after a long battle with cancer. I think a lot about death and what happens after we die. How can I know heaven is real? I try to talk to God, but I don’t know if He hears me. I feel more peaceful after reading your blog posts. I want the kind of faith you have. I ordered your Refresh book and the MacArthur Study Bible you recommended. Will you please pray for me?

I took a deep breath, prayed for God to lead me, and send a reply. I shared my faith journey and how a friend had shared the gospel with me at age 16. I included six verses from the book of Romans with a one- or two-sentence explanation of each. I used the words sin, death, and hell. I also used the words forgiveness, eternal life, and heaven.

I closed with the lines, “If you feel God stirring your heart, and you’d like to surrender your life to Christ and ask Him to forgive you of your sins, tell Him in a simple prayer. 

I included the prayer I prayed so many years ago as an example but encouraged her to speak to God from her heart. “If you mean it,” I wrote, “God will hear and answer your prayer.”

I clicked Send and prayed again. “Lord, use my simple words and your great Word to save this dear soul.”

Two days later I received a reply:

Dear Lori,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story and the Bible verses. It comforts me to know that you struggled, too. I prayed the prayer you suggested. I don’t know for sure that God heard me, but I already feel a peace I didn’t have before. 

You may be discouraged by the number (or lack thereof) of blog subscribers, YouTube viewers, or book sales. 

You may be thinking of quitting writing. Of closing the lid of your laptop and never looking back. 

At my first writers conference, Cindy Sproles shared this Alton Gansky quote: 

“When you write for God, and you really mean it . . . your work may never show up on the shelves at Lifeway. It may never find its way into bound print at all. But when you write for God, when you write with the heart of a servant . . . you may find that your words are only meant for the guy sitting next to you. If you can accept this . . . live with it . . . then you can truly write for God.”

I wrote 1,061 posts before someone responded and gave her life to Christ. 

What if I’d quit at 1,060?

“Don’t be weary in doing good,” the apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 6:9, “for you will reap a harvest if you don’t give up.”

TWEETABLE

Lori Hatcher loves God even more than she loves chocolate—and that’s a lot. Since He saved her at age 18, she’s been on a relentless journey to know and love Him more. Her deepest desire is for others to join her on the journey. As an author, blogger, writing instructor, women’s ministry speaker, and career dental hygienist, she writes for Our Daily Bread, Guideposts, Revive Our Hearts, and Crosswalk.com. She’s written three devotional books, including Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible, and Hungry for God…Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women. Her latest book, Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise releases March 1, 2022. Connect with her at www.LoriHatcher.com or on Facebook, Twitter (@lorihatcher2) or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

36 comments:

  1. Excellent and stirring nudge to keep on keeping on! Thank you.

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  2. Love this, Lori. Praise God you didn't stop at 1,060!

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  3. I wonder how many more 1,061 readers are out there? God’s blessings on your writing, friend!

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  4. wow I needed to read this and refocus today. Thank you!

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    1. Remember Galatians 6:9, Jean, "Don't be weary in doing good, for you will reap a harvest if you don't give up." Press on, my friend!

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  5. Thank you, Lori. This reminder is such a blessing.

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    1. You are most welcome, Anne. I know I needed God's gracious nudge to press on. May He richly bless your writing today!

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  6. Lori, this was soooo encouraging! I came to tears as I read the nurses' aid's letters to you, rejoicing over her coming to a genuine relationship with God. Makes it all worth it, huh?

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    1. There's nothing sweeter, David. I can't wait to meet her, either in this life or in the next! Press on, friend, for your work will be rewarded!

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  7. Outstanding encouragement this morning, Lori! Guess I’ll keep trying.

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    1. You'd better! Only God knows who needs your words. But He knows . . . !

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    1. Thank you, Jay. God's blessings on your writing life!

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  9. 1,061 and counting. I praise God for your faithful writing and outreach.

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    1. I'm often comforted to know that our job is to faithfully sow the seeds. His job is to send the increase. Let's pray to the Lord of the harvest to bless our work in His name.

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  10. Wonderful read this morning and great encouragement. Thank you Lori, for this blog! Keep writing.

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    1. May God be glorified! Thanks for reading (and writing) today :)

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  12. Lori, what an amazing testimony and what a great reminder of why we Christian writers write. Your bold witness has convicted me to be more bold in my own writing. Thank you for sharing this. I'm so glad God affirmed your work this way. Who knows how many others have found God by reading your writing?

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    1. I must admit to being a bit hesitant to be so bold. But I knew exactly what she needed, and to give her less would have dishonored her and the Lord. May God make us all bold and winsome writers for His glory!

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  13. Thank you, Lori, for this beautiful reminder to keep trying. Praise God.

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    1. Don't stop, Kay. Who knows the reader who's right around the corner and needs your words. Blessings to you!

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  14. Thank you for your encouragement to keep writing! And praise God for your interaction with the woman who sought you out. What a blessing.

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    1. A divine appointment, Penny, for sure. What an honor and a privilege. May we be faithful with the opportunities God brings our way, for others' good and His glory!

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  15. Revealing article, now I must decide if I’m writing for myself, or for God.

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    1. Pam,
      The writing life is a snarled, complex world. I've found that when I invite God to search my heart, He kindly and gently examines me, reveals what doesn't honor Him, and leads me to adjust (and sometimes repent) accordingly. I'm so glad He convicts me, but never condemns me. What a mighty God we serve! I'm praying for God to meet you where you are today, friend.

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  16. What a beautiful story and reminder to all of us that we never know where our words might land or who they might touch. Thank you for sharing it and encouraging so many of us!

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    1. You're absolutely right, Leigh. Only God knows. Our calling is to be faithful. Blessings to you!

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  17. Wow! You got a lot more than 2-3 comments on this one, Lori! God uses your words to bless others much more than you know.

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    1. Maybe all the wonderful TWC readers should hop on over to my blog (www.LoriHatcher.com) and subscribe! Then we'd really have a conversation :) THanks so much for stopping by today, Sherry, and for speaking blessings over me. May God richly inspire your writing today and every day.

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  18. I’ve been struggling with giving my writing to the LORD and letting go of my expectations. Just before seeing your post, I asked God to let me know whether or not I should continue writing. I believe this was my answer, so thank you! ♥️

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  19. I’ve been struggling with giving my writing to the Lord and letting go of my expectations for it. Just before seeing your post I asked God whether or not I should continue writing. I believe this was my answer, so thank you, Lori! ♥️

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  20. Very inspiring, Lori! What a wonderful response to your writing!

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  21. What a powerful testimony, Lori. Thank you.

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