Giving Thanks in All Circumstances by Leanne Davidson

 

We are pleased to welcome Leanne Davidson as she joins our writing community here on InScribe Writers Online. 

Believers are told to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Share a story of when you found it difficult to give thanks in your writing life. What did God teach you through that experience?

Giving thanks in all circumstances is certainly a timely topic for a month of Thanksgiving! This verse in 1 Thessalonians has been both a challenge and a moment of discovery for me:

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all

circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

         (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, NIV)

My writing life actually began in a way I would never have anticipated. In November of 2022, my youngest son, Mikael, died of an accidental overdose. The heartache and agony of losing your child requires a means of expression. It cannot be held inside our bodies with no channel to  release it. I turned to writing as a way to articulate my grief and put my biblical lament on paper. In response to God's prompting, I began sharing these journal entries in a blog and eventually published books. 

The benefits of this have been twofold. For one, the act of placing complicated feelings on paper is very therapeutic. It provides an external, concrete process to reflect on the convoluted thoughts and feelings of grief and God's response to them. In addition, fulfilling God's purpose by using writing as a means to offer help and comfort to others provides meaning and direction at a time most needed. 

Having said that, I certainly can't say I am thankful for the reason my writing life began! Nor do I think God expects me to be. This is where the verse in 1 Thessalonians has been a challenge and moment of discovery. There is a framed picture at the front of our church with this verse on it. Sunday after Sunday, it has stared me in the face, prompting me to contemplate its full meaning. 

At first glance it's easy to interpret this instruction as being thankful for every situation. In fact that was my first thought, creating furious conflict in my soul. Indignant would be an understatement. God gently led me to understand I was in error and was not reading this verse accurately. We are instructed to give thanks in all circumstances, not for them. Upon realizing this distinction, the door was opened to the partnership between gratitude and grief. 

Although I am not thankful for how my writing began, I am thankful for being provided with this gift of communication. It has been instrumental in my personal grief journey, opening doors of healing and opportunity for service. I have much for which to be thankful as God has provided for every need over the past four years: people to support me, concrete needs, solutions to problems, direction and comfort. 

The relationship between gratitude and grief may seem somewhat paradoxical, but the reality is that they exist simultaneously. Gratitude can walk hand in hand with grief, providing clarity and encouragement on an arduous road. The cultivation of gratitude for God's loving provision is a powerful healing practice. 

Leanne Davidson is an author and blogger based in Kenora, Ontario. She resides with her husband, Tim, and their dogs, Milo and Millie. A 25-year educator and recipient of the OECTA Pearse Shannon Memorial Award, she also holds a certificate in “Death, Dying and Bereavement” from Wilfrid Laurier University. Following the 2022 accidental overdose of her son, Mikael, she became engaged in grief ministry, supporting others navigating similar experiences. Her website, www.amothersgriefjourney.com, provides resources, personal narratives, and access to her publications. She may be contacted at kenoralake4@gmail.com

The Ten Principles by Brenda J Wood

Image by April Price from Pixabay

In 2010, the State of Wyoming adopted "The Code of the West" as their motto. They were made popular in James P. Owen’s book Cowboy Ethics. I list the shortened version along with the cowboy ethics from centuries ago. As writers, we would do well to adopt them for ourselves.

• Live each day with courage.

• Take pride in your work.

• Always finish what you start.

• Do what has to be done.

• Be tough, but fair.

• When you make a promise, keep it.

• Ride for the brand: Show deep loyalty to your group.

• Talk less and say more.

• Remember that some things aren't for sale.

• Know where to draw the line

• Horse thievery was a capital offense.

• Never alter another man's brand.

• Unconditional hospitality.

• Don't ask personal questions.

• Share water rights and grazing lands.

Brenda J Wood has authored more than fifty books. She is a seasoned motivational speaker, who declares the Word of God with wisdom, humour, and common sense.

The Friendless Winter 2026 by Shirley (Maher) Williams

Premier AI Image, woman walking alone in the forest winter loneliness

Today we are delighted to welcome long time InScribe member, Shirley Williams, as our Guest Blogger.

Write a Story where it’s difficult to give thanks in your writing. What did God teach you through this experience?

Sometimes it’s hard to give thanks in our writing, when life is challenging. Here’s my story of this example.

It’s funny how life goes. I don’t know how we can ever expect anything to stay the same in life, because it really doesn’t. I guess we need to learn this lesson as time goes on. We know it with head knowledge, but sometimes until it hits our hearts, it doesn’t become reality.

Within the last two years I have lost four dear friends. One moved away (difficult to connect) and the others passed away in their early 60s. One was a lifelong farm friend (60 years), two were church friends (25 years), and the last one was a work friend (15 years).

The three friends that passed were very unexpected and emotional. My lifelong friend, Judy’s passing was especially tragic because her health came crashing down, while we were preparing for our daughter’s wedding. We could only do so much for her at the time, but thankfully after the wedding I was able to see her the day before she passed. Her health was not the only tragedy in her life, but so was her last 20+ years. Her husband left her destitute with two special needs children, stole her farm, committed adultery and barely/rarely supported them. Her sister and friends supported somewhat, but sadly she never recovered from her loss.

Judy and I were two years apart and grew up nearby, on our Alberta family farms. Our families were good friends. As we grew up, we played, worked, travelled, camped, and enjoyed many movies, events and especially good visits together. We ended up in the same town, and both had children on the autism spectrum. Thankfully, we were able to understand/support one another. We also shared the same family dynamics and similarities/interests. We were referred to as “twins”! We chatted, laughed, cried, and prayed together, and our visits were never long enough. Kindred Spirits, how precious our friendship was!

I wrote a yearly Christmas letter and last year expressed that some of my dear friends had passed away. I was hoping that some friends would have realized my need for extra companionship that year. Sadly, it didn’t really happen.

During that season, the odd friend reached out, and we connected a couple times and a couple others attempted too, but illness, overwhelming responsibilities, and conflicting schedules led to nothing. I was thankful for those who reached out, but sad that connections were so poor in my sad year of mourning.

This was shocking, as I feel that I’ve reached out to many friends over the years during good and hard times and I kind of felt a bit cheated. I also realized that I hadn’t reached out fully with authenticity about my extra need for friendship. (I thought my friends would have caught on, but they didn’t.) At the time, I wasn’t sure what was going on? Was this just part of our senior years, or maybe the sign of our complicated times of poor communication. I just waited to see if someone would contact me, so I waited (usually I’m the contact person). I waited and waited and prayed and waited. Nothing. Finally, after months of waiting and suffering, with God's help I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself, rethink things and choose thankfulness/forgiveness (others/myself) and moved on. I joined a Bible study and started reconnecting, and it was good. We continue God's ministries for us (ironically connecting others). Loving and serving (even if not returned) and receiving from others with authenticity (good attitudes/boundaries).

It was hard, until recently, to write about this painful experience with thankfulness during this time of mourning, disappointment, and transition. Thankfully God heals, fills all the voids and helps us process our losses, unmet expectations, and struggles. He guides us with His perspective/will as He “works everything out for good…” (Romans 8:28) and transforms us into His likeness, to do things His way and not ours.

Thank God for getting me through a very sad/trying year. With His help, I choose not to have any more friendless seasons and will always find something to be thankful for, in my experiences for spiritual growth and expressed through my writing. When we ask/obey/trust/wait on Him, He’s always faithful and our true best friend, who never fails. Praise the Lord, through whom ALL blessings flow!

Shirley Williams lives with her husband in Barrhead, Alberta. She loves writing for healing and to encourage others. Some of her projects include co-authoring with her son Joseph (ASD spectrum). You can reach her at: lifebuild12@hotmail.com

Too Burdened To Be Thankful by Mary Folkerts

 

It was Thanksgiving weekend, and my list of things to be thankful for should have been long, given the many ways God had blessed me. But honestly, I wasn't focused on my blessings, and my heart felt heavy. Thanksgiving wasn't my first response to the holiday.

Sunday morning, the pastor said words that gripped my attention: words about thanksgiving and comparison, and how they are incompatible. It got me thinking that when I get stuck in a comparison trap, discontentment brews and festers, overflowing into my life like a stew of rotten tomatoes, but when I have a thankful spirit, peace floods me like an engulfing hug.That afternoon, before we enjoyed a bountiful Thanksgiving meal with friends and family, my husband opened the Bible to a fitting passage to read, but Reegan, our daughter with Down Syndrome, had already beat him to it. She had her folded paper beside her plate, written with the words she wanted to share. She had chosen these words from Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (NIV).

Honestly, there are times I feel she has a special connection to the heart of God, bringing blessing and holy conviction to those around her.

Some might not consider this an appropriate Thanksgiving passage, but the words spoke deeply to my heart. It seemed like a prelude and a benediction for a thankful spirit! You see, it's hard to be grateful when the heart is weary and burdened with all the worries of the world stacked high to the point of toppling. If we refuse to open our clenched fists, grasping instead to our heavy load as though it were mined treasure, comparison, anxiety and discontentment cloud our vision of the blessings right in front of us.

We are anxious because we try to control circumstances that are not ours to control. We quickly compare another's seemingly easy life with our own difficulties, unaware of the other's hardships. If these anxieties and comparisons are the filters through which we view life, we will end up discontented instead of thankful.

But as we come to Jesus daily, speaking our burdens to him and laying them at his feet as they roll from our heavy hearts onto his capable shoulders, we find rest and room for a thankful spirit to bloom where worry once took up too much space. And when thankfulness grows and flourishes, it chokes out anxiety, comparison, and discontentment.

As I write these words, I am reminded that this posture of open hands fits well with our writing journey. We can feel anxiety rise within us when timelines and rejection letters leave us feeling defeated. Comparison makes us feel behind, and thankfulness is hard to see, but as my editor reminds me, "It's all in God's perfect timing!"

Do burdens cloud your vision of God's goodness? Speak them to Jesus, and keep bringing them to him, knowing that he can bring rest and, ultimately, thankfulness to your anxious soul.

Mary Folkerts is mom to four kids and wife to a farmer, living on the southern prairies of Alberta, where the skies are large and the sunsets stunning. She is a member of Proverbs 31 Ministries' COMPEL Writers Training, involved in church ministries and music. Mary’s blog aims to encourage and inspire women and advocate for those with Down Syndrome, as their youngest child introduced them to this extraordinary new world. For more inspiration, check out Joy in the Small Things https://maryfolkerts.com/ or connect on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maryfolkerts/

Lessons from Kylee by Sharon Heagy

Kylee was born September 13, 2004. A precocious little girl with a vivacious personality. She was full of life, had an easy smile and contagious laughter. As the only kids in our small congregation, she and her older brother brought a breath of fresh air through the church whenever they came through the door. They were adored by one and all.

In February of 2007 Kylee complained of severe pain in her leg so her Grandpa and Mom whisked her away to the hospital in the city. X-rays showed green stick fractures. Her whole leg was adorned with a bright pink cast which she loved to show off. But the pain didn’t get better. She was admitted to hospital on April 5. Upon further investigation the doctors gave the family some dire news for which they were unprepared. Is anyone ever prepared? This beautiful little girl was diagnosed on Sunday, April 8 – Easter Sunday - with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and the poking, prodding and treatments began. Though some of the things she went through added to her pain, whatever the medical staff did to her, she always looked at them and said, “Sanks”, knowing they were trying to help. She was brave and courageous.

The family, the church and the community began to pray in earnest for healing and Kylee herself always said she would be “growing up for Jesus.” She was responding well to the treatment and everyone was full of hope. The community banded together and held a fundraiser to help with travel and other expenses. There was almost a celebratory atmosphere as it looked like Kylee was going to beat this horrific disease.

On the fifth of May, less than a month after her diagnosis, as her mom held her in her arms, Kylee suddenly stopped breathing. The ambulance was dispatched and, with Kylee and her mom on board, they raced for Regina as the paramedics desperately tried to revive this precious girl. Dad sped along behind in his pickup. In the middle of nowhere they stopped along the highway. Kylee had passed away. Mom and Dad tearfully held their baby close one last time, clutching her and each other.

The autopsy showed no cancer anywhere in her little body. Was it the treatment? Was it something else? The report was inconclusive.

The family, the church, and the community were in shock. Grief lay heavy like a dense fog. The church went through a crisis of faith and a shaking that was deep. We were all perplexed and numb, left with only whys that would never be answered. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has …taken away?” (Job 1:21 NIV Question marks mine – then and now) “may the name of the Lord be praised?” We all struggled between anger, doubt and trust. Yet to whom could we turn if not the Lord. “Our strong tower.” “The lifter of our head.” (Proverbs 18-10, Psalm 3:3) The One who loves us beyond our imagining and who sacrificed his own Son for us. Yet the battle was real.

A request came for me to write and deliver the eulogy. Where would I find the words? Where would they come from? What could I say about such a short life? Two and a half years. But come they did. Through the dryness, through the numbness. They came through tears, they came as a result of Kylee’s strength and bravery, which I know now was given to her by God. An answer to prayers. And I got to the place where, like Kylee, I could say to the Lord, “Sanks.”

But I still had to get up on the platform and deliver it. The morning of the funeral came and I experienced something that left my mind stunned but my heart full. During prayer I had a vision. It was clear and vivid and alive. Kylee holding the hand of Jesus, walking away from me. They stopped. She turned her head and looked at me and asked me, “Are you going to talk about me today?” All I could do was nod. Then she replied in her own sweet voice, “Sanks.”

God was always there through it all. Carrying us when we were too weak to walk, too weak to write. The service was full of praise, of hope and of love. Were people still struggling? Yes. But what a witness as we all leaned into Him, especially to those in attendance who had never met Jesus.

We have no more answers than we did then but rather than destroying our faith through the storm, we were strengthened and learned many lessons, especially about God and His sovereignty, love, grace and mercy. Soli Deo gloria.

Thanks for visiting today and God bless.

 

Sharon Heagy writes from the wonderful town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, where she lives with her husband, a big dog and furry cats. She writes to bring hope and humour to a world that needs both. She can be reached at sharonheagy@gmail.com

The Sting of Rejection by Dana-Lyn Phillips

 

Image created in Canva using AI

People often tell me my writing seems effortless but that definitely is not the case. Behind every post or magazine article that seems to flow effortlessly for the reader, lie many hours, days, and sometimes weeks of painstakingly reassembling words in the hopes of making my thoughts coherent for others.

I remain confident that writing is where God wants me at the moment but can still occasionally question the ‘why’. Somedays I think to myself  “There are so many people already doing this – why am I needed?” When the answer fails to come I commit the day to the Lord and trust Him to lead me in whatever project He wants me working on. Not surprisingly, He has never failed me.

I am grateful that in one short year God has graciously provided opportunities for me to write for a wide variety of publications. Some have been accepted and printed, such as my first ever published article in Faith & Friends magazine (July/August 2026) and another in FellowScript’s August 2026 magazine.

Others remain in a holding pattern like those submitted to The Upper Room, Guideposts, and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Then, there are the others. You know, the ones nobody likes to talk about because they have returned with the word “REJECTED” stamped across them in big red letters. Well…not actually, but they may as well have been, as that’s what it feels like.

So, to answer the question “When has it been difficult to give thanks in my writing life?” It's when my work is rejected.

I relate it to the adult version of being the last one selected by the team captain for sports teams in grade school gym classes. It’s as if someone is shining a spotlight declaring “You are not worthy!”.

Ok, perhaps that’s a little dramatic but there is also a lot of truth behind it.

I remember when I first started out, I had a goal of writing a devotional piece that would be accepted by DaySpring’s (in)courage submission team. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to submit a devotion for consideration, two or three times, prior to them moving to Hallmark and no longer accepting guest posts. Each time, I worked for weeks and was eventually happy with my submission. Each one returned with a beautifully crafted rejection letter.

I’m pretty confident that every writer has felt the sting of rejection over the course of their career so perhaps you can relate.

As my skin has thickened over the past year I have started looking at my writing, and the rejections, a little more objectively. Truth be told, either the writing wasn’t good enough or it wasn’t written in the same voice of the publication I was submitting for.

It’s interesting how time can bring clarity, and a teachable spirit can help us to be more accepting of constructive criticism.

As I continue to learn and grow, I gain a healthier perspective on rejection. When I feel the heat of the spotlight…you know, the one that seems to declare “You are not worthy!” I remind myself that my worth comes not from what I do, or how well I do it, but from being a child of God, created in His image and loved unconditionally. The beauty of this sense of worth is that no one can take it away.

As we are reminded by the Apostle Paul, “...If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31 NIV)

So, I choose to persevere and I hope that when you experience your own rejections, you choose to do the same.

Dana-Lyn is a wife, and mother to teenage boys as well as a 14-year-old cava-poo named Hockley. She is passionate about encouraging Christian women in their faith and is stepping into her mid-life "calling" as a writer. Her happy place consists of a comfy chair, a great book, a hot cup of coffee and a chocolate…or three! You can read more of her work at https://plansfargreater.substack.com

Thank you, God, for the Tunnel! By Alan Anderson

Writing prompt: Share a story of when you found it difficult to give thanks in your writing life. What did God teach you through that experience?

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and

saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18 NIV)

Our prompt for October caused a phantom memory from the last decade of the 1990s to revisit my mind. This post strays a bit from our prompt. The following words are about when I believed God was distant and the church I was part of didn’t care. This was a painful time of searching, of questioning and evaluating the meaning of my life. It was a time of feeling lost and not knowing where God was. My life, my world, my soul was falling apart. This time in my life also set a direction for my writing!

Entrance into the Tunnel

In this period of my life, I was working full-time to support my family. I was a co-pastor of a church that held to a firm stand on doctrine and theology. I was also studying for a Master’s degree by taking a course or two each year at seminary. There had to be more to life than all this busyness and church performance. God was not very clear in this picture. Life was imbalanced, and something had to give.

I found myself in a depression, or what I call the Tunnel! I discovered that depression was not what many Christians wanted to hear about. In my experience, they would do all they could to avoid hearing of me being in a Tunnel. Depression meant you were weak, or had wandered from God, or were out of His will! Life appeared to be populated with more judges than healers. This was a tough experience for a pastor who had to face a congregation every Sunday. My conclusion? You are on your own, dear brother!

Escape from the Tunnel

My wife, Terry, thank God, was my confidante throughout my Tunnel experience. She let me know I still had someone in my life who cared. She listened without trying to fix or ignore me. Her support was the motivation for me to ease myself out of the Tunnel and for me to write about my experience. My wife’s support and writing saved me from depression’s iron grip!

Writing was also where God spoke to me, and I could then speak of God. Sometimes, I sensed He was in the shadows of the Tunnel. He was near and had never left me, and I learned He understood depression. God was not afraid to embrace me in the Tunnel! He heard the prayers of my stammering soul.

In much of my writing, God may not be apparent to readers. God may not be apparent in depression either, but He is there! After being in darkness, light shines even brighter! This helps me to focus on what other people might experience in their lives and give them hope.

Thank God for the Tunnel! There in the dark and fog, survival in the Tunnel became possible for me when I evaluated the meaning of my life. Thanks be to God for my life, as simple as it is! I am grateful for my wife and family, for there I know those who truly love me. I am grateful for faith in God despite the human imperfections of His Church.

For readers who may relate to the Tunnel, I trust you can also relate to God because the Tunnel need not win. Even in the threat of soul-crushing depression that assaulted me, I knew God had not left me. This is the reality of my deep thanks to Him!

Here are a few humble lessons I gleaned from my time in the Tunnel to share with you.

1. Practice stillness. There is no need to rush through every day.

2. Listen to stories people may speak from their darkness. The darkness can be crippling. They may need help to find God’s light.

3. Be gentle with those in the darkness. Listen to their words even if they stumble. This may open them to hearing your quiet words.

4. We listen to show we care. Our words don’t have to be loud to make a difference.

5. My depression had a purpose. God did not leave me.

In Deroche, a small farming village area of British Columbia, Alan shares his home with his wife, Terry, and their poodle, Charlie. Alan and Terry are grandparents of six grandchildren plus five grandbabies in heaven. Alan enjoys walking on the dike near his home, with trees all around and where he finds inspiration to write. In summer, however, he loves to hide in the shade from the warm summer sun. Alan is more of a friend of fall. He has occasionally written articles for FellowScript Magazine and is a regular contributor to the InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship blog. Alan’s website and blog are https://scarredjoy.ca. He also writes on Substack.

Giving Thanks Each Step of the Way by Steph Beth Nickel

 

RESEARCHING

My hubby is the one who loves to do research. I have always thought we would make a good writing duo. While there’s more to the whole “write what you know” adage than appears on the surface, I enjoy writing from my base of knowledge or about the fictional worlds I create. Typically, I find it challenging to research what I need to know, retain that knowledge, and then compile it into something that will benefit readers. I am currently coauthoring Paralympian Deb Willows’s second memoir, tentatively titled Keep Looking Up. I am incredibly thankful for our ongoing back and forth through each stage from our initial chat about the project onward. (We are currently working on revisions.)

OUTLINING

When it comes to nonfiction, I recognize the need for a more detailed outline. However, when it comes to writing fiction, I much prefer the discovery writing process… And then I get to the messy middle. I find it can drag when the blush of getting to know new characters and where they want to take me wears off. At that point, I have a tendency to skip ahead and write the ending. That way, although I know I’ll never be a detailed outliner / plotter, I know where I am and where I’m headed. Even so, there’s still room for some surprises along the way. I am incredibly thankful that there are a plethora of ways to get from the figurative “once upon a time” to “the end.”

DRAFTING

The middle of the novel I’ve been working on for-ev-er is dragging and in need of serious revamping. The main thing that’s keeping me from going back to Square One is the fact that I have been releasing chapters to Substack. I only have a handful of followers, but those who are reading Rule and Reign chapter by chapter keep me pressing on. I’m thankful for them, for every Like, and for every comment.

REVISING

Some people love working their way through the first draft of a new manuscript. Others prefer the revision process. Because I have what has been referred to as an abundance of “starting energy,” I find going back over my work, tweaking, and polishing it doesn’t stir up the same enthusiasm as diving into a new project does. Funny, as an editor, I am more than happy to go through a client’s manuscript time and time again. I am thankful for that and may need to bring the same perspective to my own writing.

PUBLISHING

Which option to choose: The Big Five? Or is that the Big Four? A small royalty press? A hybrid press? Indie publishing? While Deb and I are working with a small royalty press, I intend to independently publish my own work. However, there are challenges no matter which route a writer chooses and much to learn. And for me… See above how I feel about researching. I am thankful for my many connections to both independent and traditionally published authors as well as books, blogs, and courses.

MARKETING

While there is much “conventional wisdom” floating around out there about how to market one’s book, there are also methods that are more approachable for different personality types. Authors are not all the same nor does their approach to marketing have to be one size fits all. I am incredibly thankful for this.

The number one thing I’m thankful for, as a Christian writer, is that I can ask the Lord for wisdom each step of the way and keep moving forward one step at a time.

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the outgoing InScribe Contest Coordinator. Steph is an editor and author and plans to relocate to Saskatchewan from Ontario to be close to family in 2027, Lord willing. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)

Treasures from Life’s Darkness by Sandi Somers

“Even in darkness light dawns for the upright.”

(Psalm 112:4a NIV)

“Fall is a time when old leaves are shed and trees are left bare for a while. In another season the trees will sprout new leaves again. In much the same way, we sometimes need to shed old ways in order to prepare us for new beginnings. These seasons leave us feeling bare and vulnerable, yet these times are necessary in order for the new ways to sprout.” 

I remember these words that came from a former InScribe member, Melanie Fischer. She touched on a topic we can all relate to: the unproductive times, the sometimes agonizing, soul-searching times in our lives. 

Several years ago I faced a major winter season (both literally and symbolically). I was exhausted from an overly-busy summer, then my sister Karen passed away. We knew her time to meet the Lord was coming but didn’t expect it so soon. I didn’t have time to grieve before going on a mission trip to Bolivia. It was a complex trip—a delayed flight in Dallas-Fort Worth caused us to miss our connecting flight in Chile. Baggage left behind caused an extra delay. And so our time helping Quechua villagers high in the oxygen-depleted Andes Mountains was abbreviated. 

Shortly after returning home while driving at dusk, I hit a deer. Although I received no injuries, my car was a write-off—and the unfortunate deer lost its life. 

All this left me physically and emotionally depleted. Writing was difficult and I couldn’t complete most of the items I had planned to submit. I faced the questions that had been niggling in my mind for some time: Did this mean THE END for my writing? And more importantly, did God actually want me to write? 

God brought across my path the exact meditation to answer my questions. In her book, An Artist’s Book of Inspiration, author Astrid Fitzgerald wrote, “There are times when artists have to go backstage…This withdrawal is no small thing and takes great courage and integrity. The fear of ‘losing the edge,’ of never working again can be very frightening. There is a sense of doubt and loss…” Yet these unproductive times are times to rest, reflect, and gather spiritual and emotional strength.[i] 

Looking back now, I see that God graciously provided the gift of time to grieve, to rest and heal. To meditate on His Word. To trust Him for all I didn’t understand. To give me a deeper understanding of His sovereignty and care in all the events that happened. “(God) renews my strength” the Psalmist said (Psalm 23:3, NLT). He spoke encouragement, peace and promise, new treasures in the darkness of that winter. 

God also infused me with confidence that He was renewing my writing and preparing me for something new. This time did not mean THE END. He gave me a promise, “Is there yet any seed left in the barn?...From this day on I will bless you” (Haggai 2:19 NIV). The Spirit also softly whispered to me, “I will show you the way.” 

And God did show me the way. He rekindled my desire to write. The next summer I felt as though my writing took a great leap as new ideas began to flow—words that brought a deeper message of peace and a more beautiful reflection of Christ’s work in me that would touch the lives of my readers. 

PS. And on this Thanksgiving Day, let us be grateful for God’s presence with us, for sending Jesus to die so that we may live, His many blessings, and more.

[i]Astrid Fitzgerald, Compiler and Editor, (An Artist’s Book of Inspiration, New York: Lindisfarne Books, 1996), xiv.

Sandi Somers’ writing passion is to help readers grow their faith in Jesus, including their vision of what God wants them to be and do. She writes of her love of nature, gardening, travel, and family in several genres—devotionals, personal essays, and Biblical fiction. She has recently published her first book, Divine Encounters: 21 Stories of God’s Miraculous Ways.

Sandi lives in Calgary, Alberta, the delightful city between the Rocky Mountains and the Prairies. 

(Top) Photo by Sandi Somers

Blooming in the Dark ~ Valerie Ronald

image by Leuchtturm81 from Pixabay

A tiny yellow flower wobbled atop a skinny stem pushing stubbornly through a crack in the unyielding pavement. I stopped to look at it, admiring its tenacity to sprout in such a hostile environment. I glimpsed hope in its brave stretch toward the sun. Could my dream of writing ever grow amid the relentless emotional abuse and humiliation I lived with every day? Could the seed of my creativity find a way to bloom in the dark?

During the years when I was raising children and trying to survive in a dysfunctional marriage, my writing ambitions were buried under constant struggles. As I limped from one crisis to another, my dreams faded from neglect. Whatever efforts I made to write were quickly crushed and ridiculed by my husband. He felt threatened by any personal pursuits I might have. In his version of marriage there was room for only one person to shine, and that was him. 

He did not succeed in completely stamping out the writer in me. I wrote often in my journal as a way to process my emotions. I wrote letters to friends and family. I even invented a game with my children where we wrote stories together. When I accepted Jesus into my life, I realized it was He who gave me the gift of writing. That is why the dream of being a writer never left me. As the giver of the gift, He would not let it die. 

Eventually, my children and I were left more on our own as my husband chased his selfish pursuits. Although his neglect created new stress, his absence gave me time and freedom to begin writing for publication. The few of my articles accepted, and writing contests I won bolstered my depleted confidence, yet I felt guilty for keeping these small successes from my husband. When I finally told him, he insisted the only writing I should do was for his business, developing brochures and newsletters. According to him, personal creative writing stole from his income. 

I quit writing for publication and contests, but I still wrote in private. It was impossible for me not to write at all. The deep joy and fulfillment I experienced as I wrote could only come from God, who created me to write for Him. Time I spent reading His Word gave me limitless inspiration and material to write about. 

When my marriage reached its breaking point after numerous betrayals and emotional abuse, writing was a lifeline for me. I poured out my heart in my journal where I could honestly express my deepest struggles and emotions without being judged. 

Through this traumatic time God taught me deep truths about Himself that I would not trade for any number of easier days. Often my journal entries began with angry rants or great sadness, but in the process of writing down my feelings, the hurt and anger gradually transformed into prayers of gratitude and devotion. When I surrendered my circumstances to Almighty God, I knew I could trust Him to work them out for His good purposes. 

Those days are now a distant memory. Eventually I married a godly man who wholeheartedly supports my call to write. He encouraged me to publish a recently released book in which lessons I learned in the hard times show up in many of the devotional pieces. 

Whenever I see a flower growing out of a crack in the pavement I think about the tenacity of God-given hope. His purposes for the gift He has given us will not be set aside. Even if buried for a time, He keeps alive our desire to exercise and enjoy the gift, like a small seed buried under the pavement. Reaching for His light, it will bloom again.

Valerie Ronald writes from an old roll top desk in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, with her tortoiseshell cat for a muse. A graduate of Langara College School of Journalism, she writes devotionals, fiction, and inspirational prose. Her purpose in writing is to encourage others to grow in their spiritual walk. She has recently published a devotional book, "Each Shining Moment - Lingering in God's Light."

Give Thanks Anyway by Carol Harrison

 

         photo by Carol Harrison

It’s the season when our thoughts are directed towards giving thanks. Yet it should be something we do continually. But the question becomes, “How do we accomplish that in the midst of the difficult times of life?”

One of the worst times in my writing journey happened decades ago. Yet it remains a vivid memory. A single comment from a teacher negated the good mark on my short story and I believed I couldn’t write well. A second comment a few months later along with a failing grade from an English professor convinced me of my inability to write. Thankfulness never entered my mind. Discouragement did. I stuffed my enjoyment of writing deep inside, telling myself I’d focus on passing my classes. I’d forget the idea I could write anything remotely reader friendly.

Looking back, I dwelt in that belief for a few decades before giving in to pressure from my husband to try and write. I argued I wasn’t a writer. I didn’t know how. He encouraged. I grumbled and then tried. Thankfulness didn’t enter my mind.

Then God sent others into my life to encourage and give direction in how to become unstuck. I began to learn what I’d hidden away for years. I learned lessons in giving thanks in between but in that one area involving writing, I remained unthankful; fearful of letting others reading what I wrote.

Over the years, God in his patience and mercy kept nudging me towards lessons in giving thanks in all situations including writing. I still struggle with being obedient to His command when life is hard and words won’t come. Yet God reminds me He’ll use my pain for His glory and my good when I give him the broken pieces of my life. I don’t have to like the dry times, the lack of ideas, and words to fill a blank space won’t appear but I still need to give thanks.

Then I remember to reread Psalm 103 and am reminded of all there is to give thanks to God for.

Psalm 103:2-5 (NIV)

² Praise the Lord, my soul and forget not all his benefits—

³ Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

⁴ Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

⁵ Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Psalm continues with so many reasons to praise the Lord and give thanks for all God is and does for me. For that I can give thanks in all situations of my life, even when facing a blank page that waits for ideas and words.

Carol Harrison writes from her home in Saskatoon, SK. She enjoys reading, family times and history too.