Write His Answer

“I don’t pray for patience!”

I’ve said it. You probably have too. It’s the testing we know accompanies an answer to that prayer that we long to avoid. I mean, be honest. Do you enjoy being tested?

The past week I’ve certainly been tested as I’ve worked on the 16-page brochure for the May 17-20 Colorado Christian Writers Conference. Quark, my desktop publishing program, chose to be especially quarky. Text boxes refused to accept text, deciding instead that they were  image boxes. The program crashed more times than I can count. That’s really not surprising considering that the auto backup that was supposed to save just the two latest copies ended up saving 169 (yes, one hundred and sixty-nine) versions of the brochure.

Then, after the copy was written and entered, the real “fun” began with formatting and spacing issues. Especially challenging was the workshop grid that had to be split into two pages (through 8 boxes of text) even though it will be printed on a fold.

Yes, computers and the not user-friendly programs I need to use (that often make me feel stupid) could have been the cause for a great amount of hair loss this past week especially since I was on deadline.

And yet, I heard myself praying for patience – and for peace.

Father answered! Yes, my patience continued to be tested, but His peace got me to the finish line.

The brochure is at the printer and is online (click here). And amazingly I have enough work done on the website to open secure online registration at 12:01 am (EST) February 1. Thank You, Father!

Whether it’s planning a conference and designing a brochure, beginning (and finishing) a book, or facing the often intense challenges and heartaches of day-to-day living, our patience (and faith) will be tested. But let’s choose to rejoice for He is able to use our struggles to make us strong in Him.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. – Romans 5:3-4 TLB

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

I’ve not forgotten that I also direct the July 26-29 Greater Philly Christian Writers Conference. All the keynotes and continuing sessions are in place along with about 33 faculty. Soon, I trust, I’ll be able to start the 16-page brochure process all over again for Philly. Yes, I’m gonna need lots and lots of patience and peace and prayer!