A Cure for Writer’s Block—Straight from Heaven

by Lori Hatcher @LoriHatcher2

When a writer asks me, “Are you a panster or a plotter?” I don’t think. I just laugh.

I’ve had a plan for every book I’ve written. A schedule, too. I’ve known the genre, premise, and theme of each book, how many chapters they’d contain, and what the topics would be. In my third book, Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible, I even knew which Scripture references I’d use for each devotion. Every time I sat down at my computer, I knew what I was going to write about. 

It was heavenly. I never lacked for ideas or material. The words flowed, and writing was fun. The same thing happened with my fourth book, Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Restore Power and Praise.

Then came book number five. The geyser of ideas slowed to a trickle, and inspiration flowed as smoothly as a tennis ball through a garden hose. After a few days of staring at a blank computer screen, I did what every seasoned writer does when she hits a speed bump.

I panicked. 

What am I going to do? How will I meet my deadline? What if I never have another creative idea? My publisher will never offer me another contract if I don’t meet my deadline. Think. Think. Think. 

One morning during my quiet time I read the model prayer in Matthew 6. One line stood out: “Give us this day our daily bread.” As God taught the Old Testament believers to trust Him to provide manna each day in the wilderness, Jesus encouraged his disciples to ask God for their food every day. 

Instead of providing sustenance for a week, a month, or a year at a time, God chose to send just enough for a day. He forced the Israelites to trust Him, not the contents of their storehouses, barns, or pantries. 

Perhaps God wanted to teach me a similar lesson.

Had I been trusting in the storehouse of my ideas rather than in the Lord of the harvest? Did I expect God to fill my barns with enough ideas for an entire book instead of trusting Him to supply the words I needed that day? Had I behaved like the faint-hearted Israelites who didn’t believe God would supply what they needed? Had I taken matters into my own hands and wound up with a wormy, stinky mess? 

Father, forgive me for not trusting you to supply what I need. Give me this day my daily words. Not tomorrow’s words, or next week’s words. Just the words I need today.

In His generous, kind-hearted way, God answered my prayer. He filled my mind with enough words to meet my writing goal for that day—one devotion. One chapter in my book.

The next day, I prayed again. Thank you, Father, for yesterday’s words. Help me never take them for granted. Please give me this day my daily words. 

I’m writing a book on hope, but I’m learning a lesson in trust. 

Will I trust God to supply the words I need for this book, each day, as He sees fit? Not on my schedule, but on His? Will I believe He’ll help me meet my deadline in His way, not mine? 

I will.

At the time of this post, I’ve written 47 of the 60 devotions I need to complete Refresh Your Hope, 60 Unshakeable Reasons Not to Lose Heart. Am I confident He’ll supply the remaining 13?

I am. 

Check back with me in about six weeks. I’m sure I’ll have a story to tell.

What about you? Are you’re struggling to write? Are you panicked your ideas will dry up and you won’t make your deadline? I encourage you to set aside your plans, humble yourself before God your Provider, and ask in faith.

“Father, give me this day my daily words.”

TWEETABLE

A Cure for Writer’s Block—Straight from Heaven, thoughts from @LoriHatcher2 on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

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).