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A Call To Write

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The email came late one afternoon, the one that began, “I’m sure you’re incredibly busy but…” and continued to offer a plea for help. I want to learn to write. 

She talked about life with three little ones and the need to have a written history of the moments. God teaches me stuff through my kids all the time and I want to write it down or I’ll forget. 

It struck me, again, how powerful the written word is. Just sketches of moments, the reminder that God was real and present.

Like the year that I wandered in depression, fighting infertility, and feeling lost and abandoned by God. I kept a journal. This bright pink notebook that said SMILE on the front, a mockery of my inner turmoil. I scribbled words in huge letters, screamed prayers into the pages, and left tear stains that smudged the ink.

I thought God was silent. I really, really did.

Until I pulled the notebook out years later.

My husband came home that afternoon, several days into my book writing process, and found me on my knees, rocking back and forth, hugging a bright pink journal. His eyes widened in that, “Oh, no” look, and I started laughing and blubbering and wiping snot and tears as I tried to explain.

He was there.

God was there.

Even when I was blind and deaf, He faithfully stood in the middle and spoke. And He enabled me to write the words, even when I couldn’t hear or see them. The pages are filled with me crying out to God and God answering. I literally have no memory of His answers but they are all right there, written in my handwriting.

It astounds me what God does through the written word.

Write, dear ones. Write your struggles and your victories. Write about the moments that you feel God speaking, and write through the moments when you don’t. 

Maybe in five years it won’t mean anything at all. But maybe it will. 

Natasha

 

Comments

  1. Love this post Natasha! In many ways journals & blogging are our new “ebenezer stones” – the records of prayers and answered prayers and reminders that our God is for us, legacies to leave for future generations 🙂

  2. Yes! Journaling has revealed more to me about God’s love for me than almost any other thing. And having that tangible record of how He’s Got This over and over and over is reassuring in those moments when I question. I loved this post.

  3. Love this post Natasha. It says it like it is and He knew your eyes were closed to His answers right then but He kept giving them to you because He would see that joy in your life when your seeing eyes would see and you listening ears would here. Thanks so much for sharing this truth of His faithfulness.

  4. Such a beautiful reminder Natasha! This makes me want to write even more about the trials and the victories in life. Thank you for that!

  5. Oh I love this! And I love how you describe a waiting and present God despite any of the ugly that we seem to be going through… Re-reading the words that leaked out my soul through my pen are proof to me that I serve a good God!

  6. Oh, goodness! Thank you for sharing this. I too have had moments like this and it is THE inspiration I need to keep on writing. Such a powerful reminder. Thankful for your words today!

  10. This really resonated with me. Thank you. I’ve journalled my whole life and this is such a reminder that God is there even when I can’t see him now. Makes me want to go read all my old journals!

  11. I often return to my journals and like you, always find Him there. Those little ” love to remember walks” are precious indeed, reminding me that He is Immanuel – God with us. Love your posts Natahsa and following your blog. Be blessed.

  12. Never been one to be consistent with journals, but now see blogging as my record of God’s work in our lives.

  15. Absolutely. I read the devotional book, “The Prayer of Jabez” years ago when I went through the scariest time of my life. The book urged that I keep a prayer journal. I didn’t want to. I was so broken and scared but I did it anyway. That journal is one of the most precious items as a testament of God’s love and provision. I cried out to Him and He answered.
    If I didn’t have the written word, I couldn’t read it over and over and over and see how much God loved me enough to answer my prayers…..His way.
    Blessings,
    Shan
    http://www.The-How-to-Guru.com

  16. Thanks for this post. While all may not seem like it makes sense now, it actually does. Sometimes, we can only appreciate these moments from a different perspective.

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