Let’s get real for a little bit here. Sometimes trying to follow God’s calling…is hard!
Back during the Covid years, I felt like God called me to do something really audacious. Despite never having published anything professionally, or not having written fiction stories since elementary school, I felt like God was calling me to write a series of fictional Christian novels.
Truth be told, it was kind of a miraculous experience to be a part of. When it comes to big, bold ideas, I’m actually pretty organized. I started spreadsheets to lay out this monstrous storyline, and the ideas just kept coming. Ideas would kind of fester for a bit, then evolve into something a little smoother. More details would come to mind, and they’d work really well. I took all kinds of notes for each of the stories that would eventually be part of the series. Things have changed a bit since the original nascent ideas, but overall the plots started coming together. It’s one of those times where it was perfectly evident only God could allow all the ideas to fall into place.
Eventually I figured I needed to have seven distinct stories, though some of the stories were multi-volume, so it came out to be 10 different books. I tried starting at the beginning of the series, and I worked on that for awhile. Then I tried dabbling in the second story for a bit, but the one I really wanted to get to work on was the fifth story. I’d be focused on the first or second story, but I kept getting more and more ideas about the fifth one. They’ve all got to get written, so I got started on the one I was excited about. That’s still the one I’m most pumped about, and it’s the one where I’ve made the most progress.
But fast forward a few years, and how are things going? Well, to be honest, things have kind of stalled. I’m still excited about the idea of getting these stories written out, but I don’t seem to have the time or energy to focus on them. Covid faded into the background, and normal life, along with all its distractions and energy sucks, returned. As the kids started becoming teenagers, my time and mental energy started getting siphoned off into other things.
I can’t dismiss the importance of this effort, though. Of all the things I feel like God’s called me to do in my life, I feel like this is the biggest, grandest, boldest thing yet He’s challenged me with. Years from now, after I’m gone, whatever legacy I leave behind, I feel like this project is supposed to be a part of it. I am still highly enthusiastic about working on this series, but it’s as though God said “look, I want you to stay pumped about this, but I’m going to put it on ice for now. The timing’s just not right. Maintain your motivation, because I’m coming back to this later.”
So what do I do? Generally the longer things sit, the tougher they are to get going again. This whole thing could die on the vine, if I let it. The choice is really up to me. Fortunately I’ve been blessed with much faith. I don’t know what God’s eventual plan for this project is, but it’s helpful for me to think about how things have changed since Christ rose again. In the Old Testament, it was only a select few that the Holy Spirit rested on; now it’s every single Christ-follower. We all have access to the same off-the-charts empowerment that Moses, Gideon, Samson, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, David, and other famous Biblical characters had. How can I doubt that if the Lord chooses, He’ll equip me to figuratively move mountains for the sake of achieving what He wants me to achieve? The task for now? Prevent my attitude from becoming the weak link in getting this done (which may not be for a period of many years from now).
In the meantime, here are some Bible verses to help me stay focused and motivated, even when progress is painfully slow.
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. -2 Chronicles 15:7
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. –Galatians 6:9
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 21:11
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” –Matthew 19:26
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28
Are you in the same boat I am? Motivation can be hard to maintain. Don’t give up; the world is waiting for you to become the person you were born to be.