Frequently, I am asked these questions: When will your bible studies be up for sale? When is your book going to be published? Where can I buy it? Who’s in control?

One thing I’ve learned about this life journey is that everything takes way more time than you ever dreamed!  From my experience, it seems most things in life are designed by God to shape and craft longsuffering into our souls. We must learn patience. Unfortunately, to learn this necessary trait everything must fall apart and move off schedule. As with all things, this is true of seeking publication, whether through self-publishing or traditional means.

writing

Writers write because we were created to do this. It is our calling, our passion, and our crucible.

Leslie Leyland Fields wrote about this eloquently on her recent blog. If you’re a writer, this link will be an encouragement.

If you’re on the publishing road and feel beat up and discouraged by this process right now, take a look at Rachelle Gardner’s advice.

Because I am a writer, these are words I need to hear on this journey. However, these principles are true of any gift God has given:

  • Will we use our gifts for the good of others, no matter the obstacles?
  • Will we embrace service and pursue it relentlessly, aware that we will grow as we do?
  • Will we face all the setbacks and ceaselessly move forward to serve the Lord?

Even with all that determination and decision making, we still must leave the timetable in God’s hands. There are too many outside factors, too many other people involved, too many glitches, too many human frailties. We simply are not in control. We’d like to be, but it’s impossible.

waiting, freedigitalphotos

When God is our trust, we can let go of our expectations and enjoy the ride. God has a plan, and he moves everything together to accomplish it.

One of my favorite passages is Acts 17:26-27: “And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.”

God is in control of human history. He has determined the allotted times and locations. He has a timetable. He has a plan for our lives. He wants us to find him. He is not far away. While we’re waiting, we must remember this. This is all designed to turn us toward him.

The waiting most often mentioned in the New Testament is the waiting for the Lord’s return. We get bogged down in our earthly waiting and take our eyes off this blessed event, yet it shapes our lives, our passions, our motivations, and our eternity. This is the most important waiting.

That all said, please continue to wait. Imagine me smiling at you as you read this.

  • My current target for bible studies sales is summertime. If it happens sooner, God be praised!
  • I will announce here the release date of any and all of my writing.
  • On Mondays and Thursdays (yes, two days a week now), I will continue to blog about all the lessons we learn as we’re on this faith journey.

God loves to take broken people like us, orchestrate our wounded past and our failures, and use those very things for his glory and our good! God has called us. He is in control. He loves us, and he uses all of this to shape our character. We each have a gift, a calling, a passion, a unique way God has crafted us to be used in his kingdom.

What have you learned on your journey? Is patience one of the learning modules?

 

Bottom Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net