A Prayer of Gratitude for Writers Facing Difficult Seasons

From Edie: Beth K. Vogt shares a prayer of gratitude for writers facing difficult seasons, offering encouragement to trust God's faithfulness through writing struggles.

A Prayer of Gratitude for Writers Facing Difficult Seasons

by Beth K. Vogt from @BethVogt

Over time, November has become the month of gratitude for me. Why limit being thankful to just one day of the month while we’re with family and friends, enjoying turkey and stuffing and whatever assortment of side dishes cover the table? 

At times, the ongoing circumstances of this past year have challenged my goal to be grateful. I’m not the only writer who faced disappointments and heartaches, both personal and professional ones. To be honest, last Thanksgiving wasn’t one of my happiest for various reasons I won’t go into on this blog. Just because a day is deemed a “holiday” doesn’t mean it’s exempt from hardship or sadness or disappointment. 

As I considered today’s blog post, I remembered a prayer of gratefulness I wrote a few years ago and thought I’d reshare it: 

Thank You for the hard days, God.

Although it seems the difficult outweighs the good this year,

Nothing overshadows your abundant grace –

And perhaps that was the lesson I was meant to grasp.

Thank You for the days when writing was a slog, God.

When the page was quicksand,

Sucking away any attempts at originality or the slightest bit of progress,

And my feeble efforts left me totally dependent on You.

Thank You for the days when comparison backed me into a corner, God.

When I realized, once again, that I wasn’t as good as so many other writers,

Deciding my ability was less-than,

And I was reminded to look only to You for affirmation. 

Thank You for the days when Imposter Syndrome caused me to cower, God.

When I wondered who I was to step up and accept applause or acclaim,

Certain someone would call me out as a pretender.

And You told Me to stand firm in Your calling on my life.

Thank You for the days when interruptions trumped word count, God.

When I didn’t meet my daily goal while my deadline loomed.

Struggling with fear, wondering why I said yes to this dream,

And You assured me that Your strength is always sufficient for me.

Thank You for the days when loneliness weighed me down, God.

When I wished the writing life wasn’t so solitary,

That it wasn’t just me and the still-blank page.

And You promised me that You are with me every single moment of my days.

As the days of 2026 wind down, I pray you also find reasons to be grateful, my friends. May you see all the ways God was with you every step of your writing journey.

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A Prayer of Gratitude for Writers Facing Difficult Seasons from @BethVogt on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” She’s authored 15 novels and novellas, both contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Beth is a Christy Award winner, an ACFW Carol Award winner, and a  RITA® finalist. Her newest contemporary romance novel, Dedicated to the One I Love, released June 20, 2023. Her novel Things I Never Told You, book one in her Thatcher Sisters Series by Tyndale House Publishers, won the 2019 AWSA Golden Scroll Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people. Connect with Beth at BETHVOGT.COM.