by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
I’ve been attending writing conference events for over a quarter of a century. And I’m going to let you in on a secret—for the vast majority of those years—my reasons for going were wrong. I struggled with that declaration—wrong. I wanted to soften it and say my reasons were off base or not exactly the best. But the truth is, they were wrong, and no amount of softening will change that.
Let me see if any of these statements sound familiar and I think you’ll understand why I kept that word. These were things I’d share with my husband and some close friends before attending:
- “This year I’m going to land an agent.”
- “This year I’m not going to come home without a contract.”
- “This year I’m going to meet with so-and-so and make the connection that will lead to the next level.”
Do you hear what all these statements had in common—ME—or more specifically I. I went to writing conferences for years with the agenda of accomplishing the goals I’d set for my writing career.
But let’s back up a minute and take a look at where my urge to write came from. Was this career my idea? Far from it!
However, I’ve always been a writer. If you don’t believe me, you can ask my mother. She’ll tell you I’ve been writing ever since I could crawl to a white wall with a red crayon. And I pretty much stayed a writer growing up—writing my first novel in 8th grade in a purple ink pen. But I never considered writing with God until 1994. I was sitting in church one evening and felt a strong call from God. I felt like He clearly called me to stop writing only for fun, by myself, and write with Him.
I remember actually looking up from the baby I held in my arms and glaring at the ceiling. In my mind, I answered Him, “Are You serious???? I have a new baby, a toddler, and a preschooler. I have no degree and no clue how to make this happen!!!”
God didn’t answer my objections, He only repeated His call in my heart. He had chosen me to write with Him. I let out a sigh big enough for my husband to give me a questioning look, but I answered God in my mind. “If You’re crazy enough to ask, and able to make it happen, count me in. I will write for You.”
Notice how even in that initial conversation, I misquoted God to myself. He called me to write WITH Him, and I took that to mean I was to write FOR Him. That’s a small distinction, but one that ultimately led me off God’s path for years.
It’s also a distinction that leads to striving, unmet expectations, exhaustion, and finally, frustration. I found myself in this dark place and I asked God how I could fix it. He sent me to Matthew 11:28 - 30.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
I don’t know about you, but I love verse 28—where Jesus promises rest—but the remainder of the passage always made me want to groan out loud. The last thing I wanted was to exchange one yoke for another. But even though my attitude wasn’t the best, I trusted that God sent me here for a good reason, so I dug in deeper to figure out how a yoke could actually be easy. And what I found has made this one of my favorite verses.
3 Things I Learned about My Writing From Matthew 11:28 - 30
- 1. I discovered that the yoke that Jesus is referring to in that passage is personal. In biblical times the yokes that oxen wore were carved from wood to fit a specific animal. They weren’t interchangeable. That’s the way it is with the work God has for each of us to do—it’s specifically designed for me and for you.
- 2. The second thing I learned was that oxen almost always worked in pairs. The owner would put a young untrained ox with an older and wiser one to help them learn how to manage the load. God does that for us—only the wiser one we’re paired with is Jesus. He doesn’t just design the yoke specifically for us, He also joins us in the work He’s called us to do. We don’t have to take on the burdens we’re carrying alone.
- 3. The last thing I learned was about the root of the word yoke. It’s the same word used as the root for the word for the balance on a scale. This tells us that the yoke God has designed for us is fair and just.
I know that a lot of you are caught on this path. You’ve told me in messages and comments as I’ve posted the prayers I’ve shared in our Facebook group. Many of you have asked how I know exactly what You’re dealing with and the answer to that is simple. I’ve been where You are.
What has helped me get off that path and onto a different one? The same thing that can help you—God’s word. As believers who write, it’s God’s word that will fuel our journey and our inspiration. Seeking God through His word should be a regular, priority, discipline each of us practice. We don’t go to God’s word just after we’ve exhausted our own strength. We go regularly and deeply to drink from the well of His inspiration—His word.
Now it's your turn to share. How do you stay deeply rooted in God's strength when you write? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Don't forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie
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