Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Do you receive encouragement?

Sometimes I want to throw in the towel. Yeah, honestly. I am talking about writing books, blogs and articles. I am talking about the calling that is on my life. Do you ever feel that way?

At times I find it very difficult to concentrate, to find (or better: make) time to write, to ponder, to reflect. At times I am disappointed because a book I expected to be a success, did not sell so well. At times I wonder if anyone is encouraged and built up at all by my writings.

Oh well, I know all writers and bloggers deal with this from time to time. I've read it on your blogs, I've seen it in other authors and artists. I call it 'being overrun by waves of doubt and discouragement'.

But somehow, each time I feel like throwing in the towel, I receive encouragement from unexpected sources. Like the other day... I received an email from a gentleman all the way in the north of Sweden, who picked up my latest book Spirit of Truth,

"Gull-Brith, my wife, loves your book Spirit of Truth very much and so do I. We belong to a generation that did not learn English at school... She has gone through the book a couple of times and now she is working on the vocabulary."

Such emails make my day and I see them as encouragement from the Lord... go on, don't stop, I have your back. And at such moments I know it: I am blessed!

I am wondering, what kind of encouragement do you receive from time to time? Want to share your thoughts?

8 comments:

  1. What if you wrote every day, all day, and reached just one person in your whole lifetime? Would that be enough? And then, what if God said He gave you all your skill, effort, strength, and stories just to reach that one person, not two or a thousand or a million, just that one, and you did it and He was happy?

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    1. If He was happy, it is okay. that is really all that counts indeed. Find out what pleases the lord... the Bible says. I have heard of an evangelist in Nepal who walked every day, all day, all the time for years to reach... one child with God's love. It counts. Thanks Sandi for your thoughts.

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  2. I understand you. Keep up the good work. God will use it to draw people to Himself.
    (Aritha)

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    1. ... to draw people to Himself... I like that Aritha. Thanks.
      (Had no idea you translated Gail's blog, which I read often!)

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  3. Yes, I have those stretches where I want to just quit blogging, writing, and well, everything. I'll wallow around in it a while, and then the Lord brings a scripture or thought to my mind, or I receive outside encouragement like you did. I'll also prayerfully consider reworking my plan or schedule, because sometimes my wanting to quit comes from being over-committed or stressed unnecessarily. It's an interesting journey, isn't it? Thankful His grace is there every step of the way. Keep moving forward Marja! The Lord is using you in wonderful ways. :)

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    1. Thanks for posting your thoughts and kind words Karen. It is an interesting journey indeed and I am thankful for His grace and love to accompany me. You are right, it often has to do with taking on too many things and not being able to prioritize.

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  4. Oh, yes, been there and done that dance--not a happy one--many times! Usually it's when I've done more than the Lord has called me to do, all on my own. I have to back up and ask for HIS plan, and he always helps. Usually in the form of someone telling me how they love one of my books, or a friend saying they're praying for me. That gives me the impetus to move on.

    Marja, God has you in the palm of his hand. He knows your way is often strewn with rocks and thorns--after all, the devil is not going to roll out the red carpet for you to write about God's Word!--but he's got angels and songs of deliverance at every bend in the road, just for you! And when you get to heaven you'll SEE how many lives your writing touched.

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    1. Thank you Jeanette for your kind words of encouragement, this is exactly what I meant with that post... encouraging one another with words of affirmation and blessing. You are a delight, and I receive your words, they are balm to my soul.

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Thanks for your visit, it is my hope and prayer that this post was an encouragement to you! Feel free to leave a comment.