So, I’m living out this dream of writing. Characters, alive and breathing in my thoughts, have a tale that pushes from within to be written on the screen before me. Day by day adding their words, happenings, joys, heartbreaks to the pages.
It’s been a trust walk—this story—because I don’t often know what will happen from scene to scene, chapter to chapter. As I’ve shared before, I am a planner by nature, so walking without knowing the next ten moves makes me tremble.
Walking out this dream is a step by step process of depending on God. The Giver of story has shared with me what He knows needs to come next. Last week, I hit silence. I’m stuck on chapter twelve.
No writing for days.
Praying, yes.
Researching ideas, yes.
But no clear vision of what comes next.
As I read from Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young, one line struck me. She talked about how problems I’m not expecting can distract me from knowing Jesus’ presence in the midst of them.
It reminded me to talk with Him about everything and watch confidently to see what He would do.
That word stopped me hard—“confidently.”
I’ve been praying, asking, seeking. But have I done so with confidence, that God will answer me?
Um, I’m hanging my head. No. I pray because I know God answers prayer. I pray because it’s what I know to do. But, can I be real honest?
I don’t always pray with the confident expectation that He will answer above and beyond what I’m asking.
That He will give of His endless grace and abundant joy to one of His girls.
Confidence is always placed in someone, something. I’ve placed confidence in myself far more often than a clay pot should. I’ve placed it in others and been disappointed, sooner or later.
When I place my confidence in my Maker, something happens. Life doesn’t always get easier. No, sometimes it becomes harder to walk. My answers rarely come right away.
But, when my confidence is in God, my Savior, they do come. And they are the perfect answers.
Even for a story snag. So, I’ll wait, I’ll pray, I’ll ask. In confidence.
What about you? Are you living out a dream, one step at a time? When have you seen God work after you put your confidence in Him?
Jeanne Takenaka 
This hits close to home, Jeanne. Having confidence in God to answer my prayers and take care of my concerns–not something I’ve been good at. I went through a season where I believed I could take care of things. But then God revealed a scripture to me that has changed everything. Psalms 34:4-7: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” This has taught me to look to Him with confidence. He will deliver me and save me out of all my troubles. This is such an important promise to hold on to. Keep pressing through. He will deliver you from being stuck.
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Thanks so much for your words, Gabrielle. I love that passage too. 🙂 Learning to depend on God is a process I seem to do well at, and then not. I’m thankful I’m not the only one who struggles with that.
And He has shown me what I need to do in my story. Finding the time to make the changes is the next step. 🙂
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For people who have been acquainted with my life over the last few years, the word ‘dream’ would probably not come to mind. Thermopylae might be a better word, being Greek and therefore cool, having a lot of syllables, and forever linked to a last stand.
However.
I’d been on something of a nodding acquaintanceship with the Almighty. He did His thing, and I approved. I did my thing, as He seemed to approve.
I don’t believe that my life got sideways because God wanted to take me down a few notches. But He did take the opportunity to muscle in and let me know that He has never been far away.
He’s nothing if not an opportunist. Sneaky, too.
When I prayed for strength, he gave me heavier weights to carry.
When I prayed for money, He taught me what I could live without.
When I prayed for relief from physical pain, He showed me that I could endure more.
When I was lonely, He came to sit awhile with me.
When I was ready to deep-six my dreams, He told me I didn’t have the right, because they were His dreams for me, and I didn’t have the right to trash His property.
Sounds like living the dream to me, Jeanne…what do you think?
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Wow, Andrew. Yes, it does sound like living the dream. You put it so beautifully.
I’m a firm believer that God gives us a dream, and He equips us to live it out. It’s never as easy as we might think when we embark on the journey of living it out.
I loved this: “But He did take the opportunity to muscle in and let me know that He has never been far away.” Such a good reminder in the dark times of life. Thank you for sharing this.
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Great sharing Jeanne! Thank you! Our God is so good! Romans 8:32 (AMP)
32 He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?
Seeing what God has already done for us, He will give us ALL other things /or what will He not give? Pray with confidence. Love it; It so applies to me too.
So happy for you ~ this faith test will make you stronger and you can use it in your story. hey, what a concept! :))
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What a great verse, Mom. Thanks for sharing it. And yes, I believe there is something to learn in every situation in life. And, when possible, it does make it into a story. 🙂
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I am so glad you were real honest, Jeanne.
My word for 2013 is “confidence.”
And this is a reminder — a stop me in my tracks question, really: Where am I putting my confidence? In me? In someone else?
No.
It has to be in God — and God alone.
Everyone else — everything else — will fail me.
And even when God says “no” or “wait” to my dreams — He hasn’t failed me.
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So true, Beth. It’s only when our confidence is in God that we can be at peace. Even when life doesn’t go the way we want/expect it to. He’s faithful, even in the no’s. Love your thoughts.
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In the past week God has spoken to me about praying with confidence and with the expectation that answers will come — not once, not twice, but three times. (This post was the third — a book I read on George Mueller was the first, the sermon on Sunday was the second). I think I’m supposed to be getting something here.
And you know — you are just supposed to write right through writers block. He will tell you. Have confidence that He will!
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Don’t you love it when God repeats Himself? I’m sure you are getting what He wants to tell you. 🙂 He’s done that for me too. Many times.
Thanks for the encouragements about writing through the block. I’ve finally got a little more time now that the kids are back to school. And I’m excited to get back into my story. 🙂
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