“God never deserts the soul, but abides there in bliss forever.”
Julian of Norwich
Writing is one of the hardest things God has ever asked me to do. It was an uphill battle for twenty years. Pressing against shame in my lack of ability to write and a hoard of doubts and unbelief tempted me to give up on writing numerous times. Becoming focused and having clarity of thought to write contrasted with my normal distracted life. I procrastinated writing because of fear and difficulty, choosing to do anything but write to fill my day. All I wanted to do was avoid writing. Yet, I kept at it because God called me to write.
I’m amazed that what had once caused such angst in my life has now become my place of comfort, peace, security, and rest. In fact, writing is where I sense God’s presence. No wonder there was so much warfare over writing! The enemy relentlessly waged war against my soul and threw in the voice of shame to try to prevent me from fulfilling God’s destiny.
Little did I know that the passion deep down inside of me was writing. Today, writing gives life to me and causes me to flourish. If my schedule has been too busy with mentoring or other activities, or I’ve been out of town and out of my normal writing routine, then I become out of sorts, not myself, and I long to be still and write. My heavenly Father designed me while in my mother’s womb to have writing be my passion. My soul needs to write.
3 John 2 says, “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” My soul thrives and is at its best when it has time to write. I am most like the little girl God created when I write.
According to a hospice nurse, the number one regret of her dying patients is this: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” The enemy is out to get our souls, to crush our spirits, and not allow our true selves to be released. As our souls go, so goes the rest of our lives. If we’re not living our passions, then others won’t reap the benefits, and God will receive less glory from our lives.
It still baffles me that what I struggled with the most, what my flesh fought against, became the very thing that I MUST do because it’s my passion. I have not only become comfortable with what once was uncomfortable, writing is what sustains my soul.
"Despise the flesh, for it passes away; be solicitous for your soul which will never die.”
St. Basil the Great
Relevant Reflections:
What passion breathes life into you?
How can you fight for your soul?
Image by andreas160578 from Pixabay