Freedom to Write: Lighting the Fuse of Our God-Given Words

by Kennita (Kay) Williams 

I love July. The whole month feels alive with promise—the smell of barbecue smoke drifting on warm breezes, the crackle of fireworks painting the night sky, the flags fluttering proudly in front yards.

But maybe it hits different for me because I’m a military spouse.

Freedom isn’t just an abstract ideal in my world. It’s the reason we moved every few years, the reason my husband put on the uniform and salutes the flag. It’s something we sacrificed for—something we prayed for when he deployed, something we felt deep in our bones when he was home safe.

Maybe that’s why this time of year makes me reflect on a different kind of freedom, too: the freedom to write what God has called me to say.

The Night the Fireworks Mocked Me

I’ll never forget one particular July 4th. My husband was away on training orders, and I was in a new town where I hardly knew anyone. Our boxes were still half-unpacked in the living room.

That night, I sat alone at my desk watching fireworks out the window. I was supposed to be writing a devotional piece on freedom in Christ—and I felt anything but free.

Instead, I felt trapped by:

• Fear of what people might think.

• Doubt that my voice was “good enough.”

• Anxiety that no one would care.

I kept glancing at the blinking cursor, hearing the dull booms outside, thinking:

Those fireworks are so sure of themselves. They just explode in beauty. No second-guessing. No apologies.

I whispered a prayer into the quiet:

Lord, I want to be that free. Free to say what You’ve put in me to say. Free to burn bright, even if it’s brief. Free to write.

I’d love to tell you the words poured out easily after that prayer.

They didn’t.

I still wrestled for every sentence.

But something in me shifted.

I realized that freedom as a writer wasn’t about having no fear. It was about being willing. Willing to light the fuse—and trust God with the explosion.

Freedom Is a Spiritual Battle

Paul says in Galatians 5:1:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

In my writing life, that “yoke” is often the slavery of perfectionism. Or comparison. Or fear of rejection.

As a military spouse, I’ve learned to live with uncertainty—where we’ll be stationed next, when he’ll be home, what the future holds.

But I realized I wasn’t giving myself that same grace in writing.

Instead of trusting God with the outcomes, I was trying to control everything. Make it safe. Make it perfect.

Those are chains.

And Jesus died to break them.

The Journal Entry I Didn’t Want to Share

I remember a season when I felt burned out, stretched thin by work, family, and supporting my husband’s career.I wrote a raw, unfiltered journal entry full of frustration and prayers that didn’t sound pretty.

Months later, I felt the Spirit nudge me to share it—not publicly, but with a small group of other military spouses. Women who were tired, worried, lonely.

I resisted.

God, I can’t share that. It’s too honest. It’s too messy.

But He kept nudging.

Finally, with a shaking voice, I read it aloud.

They cried. They nodded. One said: Thank you for saying what I couldn’t.

That’s freedom.

Not the freedom to say anything without care. But the freedom to be vulnerable. To be obedient.

Lighting the Fuse for His Glory

I think about those fireworks every July.

They don’t apologize for the noise. They don’t hide their brilliance. They don’t worry they’re too much.

They exist for one purpose: to light up the sky.

What if we wrote like that?

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts… (2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV)

We’re called to reflect that light. Not our own perfect polish—but His transforming grace.

Practical Sparks for Anyone Who Writes

If you’re feeling stuck, here are a few “sparks” I return to again and again:

• Name the Chains – Write down the fears or lies holding you back. Expose them to God’s light. Pray over them.

• Write Anyway – Even if it’s messy. Even if no one sees it but you and Jesus. Give yourself permission to be imperfect.

• Share Strategically – Don’t throw your pearls carelessly, but do share when God nudges you. Your story might be someone else’s lifeline.

• Remember Your Why – It’s not about platform or applause. It’s about obedience. Worship. Witness.

A Prayer for Freedom

Lord, thank You for the freedom You won for us—not so we can serve ourselves, but so we can serve You boldly and truthfully. Break the chains that hold us back. Help us write bravely, light the fuse, and let our words burst with Your glory, drawing hearts toward Your love. Amen.

This month, while the fireworks burst overhead and flags wave, let’s celebrate the freedom we have in Christ—the freedom to write, to share, to testify.

Light your spark.

The world needs your light.

TWEETABLE

Freedom to Write: Lighting the Fuse of Our God-Given Words from Kennita (Kay) Williams on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Dr. Kennita “Kay” Williams is a Visionary Leadership Coach, Author, Resilience Expert, and Wellness Advocate. Through her Business/Ministry, Clear Vision, she empowers leaders to navigate challenges, gain clarity, and lead with purpose. Dr. Kay’s mission is to inspire wholeness and healing. She can be contacted at www.clearvisionleader.com