The Making of a Book, Part 1
Are you a writer? Follow “The Making of a Book” posts to see how it’s done. Well, how I do it. Hey, my latest book could be a best-seller! Or not. Come join me on a wild ride.
My oft-spoken word: “Clueless!” I haven’t always thought this way about myself. In fact, I used to believe I had life figured out, puffed up and ready for anything. I trusted in my abilities. Then life happened.
For nearly a decade, God sidelined me from my writing career. During my hiatus, God taught me three lessons (at least!) that changed my life:
1. Believe God. He is good. He is in control. He loves you because he is love.
2. Believe what he says about you. He says you are valuable and beautiful and significant. You belong to him.
3. Believe that you have an enemy who steals, kills and destroys. By God’s power, you can fight Satan’s lies and have victory now. Satan is vanquished. Present tense!
God also revealed a purpose for my life: to help Christian women know that they are beautiful and strong in Jesus, so they could proclaim him to others. I sensed in my heart that God planned to use my writing, speaking and biblical counseling ministry. Still, I felt afraid and told God so.
Our conversation went like this.
“Lord, I don’t know how to begin.”
“Do not worry, Lucy. I’ll show you.”
“How will I know it’s you?”
“You will. The Holy Spirit who’s in you will confirm my words. You’ll know.”
“I don’t think I’m ready for this, Lord,” I said. “What if I mess up?”
“Trust me.”
That’s where we left things. God said trust. I sat there, speechless. Then a few hours later, I began doing things my way – again. I opened the newspaper to the want-ads, looking for a “bread-and-butter” job — in other words, a part-time position to augment my husband’s salary while I write my new book.
I sent a resume and writing samples to the local paper. Not interested. The bank advertised openings for tellers and I walked over my stuff. No call. I tried a few other things; nothing panned out. When I heard the grade school was hiring lunch ladies, I thought, “Piece of cake.” Wrong, again.
So I had another little chat with God.
“I thought you wanted me to have a job so I could write, but I can’t even get hired as a lunch lady!” (My apologies to lunch ladies everywhere. You have an important job.)
“Trust me, Lucy.”
“But what should I be doing?”
He repeated, “Trust me.”
“Okay, trust. I will trust you, God.”
I restarted my writing career according to God’s plan, not mine. Boy, did that take a lot of faith to trust him with my writing! It felt right and scary and good, and I thought, “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” I’m living Carrie Underwood’s song “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”
Trusting God is weird and wondrous. I love it. I hate it. I’m clueless, but – get this – I don’t care!
Since this is a 180-degree spin from how I used to live, when all my ducks had to be in a row, quacking in perfect harmony, I know God changed my heart. I’m clueless without a care because I know the truth: God is good, he’s in control, I’m his child, he says I have value and beauty, and I am forgiven. What joy! Real joy!
You Are Beautiful, Lucy
Do you have a burden for single women? How about troubled teens? Are you energized to open your home to others and make them feel welcome? Do you like comforting folks by bringing them meals or sending them cards?
