Do you feel called to “write His answer” and yet struggle with self-doubts? Truthfully, through working with hundreds of writers through the years, I find that those who really have a gift with words and a message that needs to be published are the ones most likely to be crippled by self-doubts.
I shudder when I think of how many times I almost gave up because my self-doubts were so loud and insistent. Why would anyone want to read what I wrote? I What made me think that I could write for the Lord? I wasn’t qualified! How could He possibly use someone who was only a high school graduate? I felt ashamed and woefully inadequate.
How it must have grieved the Lord when I failed to see that the Cross turns my minus into a plus – when I believed the lies of the evil one instead of His promises. And how much time I wasted in my self-centered and selfish focus on my doubts instead of on the needs Father was calling me to address through the words He would give me if I would just trust Him.
Recently I read Joel Rosenberg’s latest novel, Damascus Count Down. I was reminded of the ASSIST News interview, Author of End Times Political Thriller Hits New York Times Best Seller List with His Latest Middle Eastern Novel, from November 2010. Talking about the decision to write his first novel, Joel said:
“Failure has a way of focusing the mind and I’d come off of ten years of political failure in Washington DC and I thought, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m a Rosenberg, yet I am not a lawyer, a dentist, a doctor, an acupuncturist, a chiropractor, an accountant or even a stockbroker.
“I’ve got no financial genes and I can’t do anything practical. I write ‘Op-Eds’ that people don’t read. I write speeches people don’t listen to; the only thing I know how to do is write and clearly badly. But these are my loaves and fishes and I don’t want to be a failure; I want to be a blessing.
“So, I told the Lord, ‘I want to be a servant of yours, Lord Jesus, so could you take these loaves and fishes, limited though they be, and would you break them, and bless them, and somehow feed people with them.”
Click here to read the rest of the interview. You’ll be encouraged. And you’ll be encouraged at the July 31 – August 3 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference through the testimonies of the conferees during our Author’s Panel during our Thursday evening session, “Write His Answer – And Give God the Glory.”
Father, thank You for calling us to do what seems impossible and for Your faithfulness to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond as we choose to listen to You and not to our doubts.
Write His Answer 
Your post hit my personal “bull’s-eye”! Thank you.
Marlene, thanks again so much for always being timely, and being there for us. Blessings on the Philadelphia conference. Susan Kerr
Doubts paralyze the process of pen to paper. How we need that fresh reminder that God blesses the loaves & fish dedicated to Him!
Thank you for the encouraging words. Glad I found you. I hope to come to the conference next year!
Hi Bea – Sorry to be so slow responding. I’ve been focused on getting our home ready for our son and daughter-in-law to move in with us. Are you interested in the Philly or Colorado conference? Please let me know so I can add you to the email list. And if you’d like to receive our 16-page brochure when it comes off press, email me your email address. You can email me at mbagnull@aol.com. His blessings – Marlene
Wow, those words are encouraging. I am going to try to come to the 2017 Colorado conference. I have so much to learn, but I do feel called to write. Thank you for this site.
Hi Michele –
Can’t believe it’s taken me almost two months to see your much appreciated comment. Please email your USPS address to me at mbagnull@aol.com so I’ll be sure to get a brochure to you when they are off press in February. God bless you as you pursue your call to “write His answer.”
[…] in my book, Write His Answer – A Bible Study for Christian Writers and on this blog. See my June 2013 post and the link you’ll find in it to an interview with best-selling author Joel Rosenberg and […]
Thank you for this article! I was so encouraged by the conference, yet still wrestled with doubt upon coming home. You are a blessing! I’ll be reviewing the conference for my Friday blog.