I write because I cannot be silent.
And frankly, my voice doesn’t carry far enough.
We mustn’t forget that words have the power to lift our eyes heavenward. To lead our hearts Godward. To move our beautiful feet toward the masses. To trust in One Who will fight for us.
But we’ve all been wounded by thoughtless, heartless, self-serving words before. Words have the ability to knock the wind out of our sails. To burden our backs. To bruise our spirits. To make us want to fight.
I want the words I pen–speak–sing–whisper–shout to be used for good. For God’s glory.
At the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers’ Conference, I was asked why I write. Again and again.
“What is your why?”
“Why has God called you to write?”
“Why are you telling this story?”
My Why is simple. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. I write to comfort others with the comfort I myself have received. I have been bewitched by lies. I have been wounded. I have had my heart wrenched in two. I have felt gut-kicking betrayal. I have wasted time on bitterness. I have been abandoned.
But I have been blessed.
Because I believe in the Mystery. I have placed my faith and hope solidly in the hands of the One Who Will Not Let Go. I am redeemed. Because of Christ.
When I stand before giants–Physical. Emotional. Immoral–God fights for me.
When I gaze into a terrifying future, I know that He has sifted every moment of it. And when the force of it rushes at me, He enables me to stand.
When I am falsely accused, I can remain silent. Christ sometimes offers vindication. Other times, He speaks to my heart and reminds me that He understands how it hurts to bear the backhanded sting of false witness. And I am reminded that knowing Him better is enough.
When I face fears, the Peace-Giver presses me close enough to hear His heart for me.
When I am reminded of my past, I remember that I have been forgiven.
When I write, my words can connect to the hearts of thousands, millions who can relate. My experiences uniquely tie me to others the world over–broken souls needing healing. Needing to hear that the pain they feel can lead them to peace in Christ.
God has equipped me–by allowing these wounds and trials and abuses into my life–to speak to the hearts of those who are intimately familiar with this pain.
He made me for this ministry. Built it into me. Every word I write that causes someone else to hope makes everything I’ve suffered and everything I will suffer worthwhile.
I write to tell others that healing is possible. The reason I exist is to point others to the hope of my Savior. Everything I do, I do for this reason.
This is WHY I write.
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We can travel together.
