Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.
Psalm 31:24 NIV
A sweet friend of mine—who now resides on the other side of Heaven’s gate—often laughed at me. Whenever she asked me how I was doing, I told her. She said she loved my honesty.
Honesty is a good quality if it’s handed out with tenderness. Bluntness isn’t best for most interactions.
I do have people in my life who are blunt with me. And I am with them. It works for us. But we also share a lot of kindness too. We’ve earned each other’s honest-to-goodness trust and freedom to shoot from a relaxed upper lip.
We can speak deeply because we love each other deeply.
Readers love thoughtful honesty too. They appreciate from-the-heart poignancy. However, gratuitous writing isn’t wise for inspirational writers. Honest writing is wise when done well.
One of my favorite writing quotes says to “Be brave or go home.” (I can’t remember who said it.) Honest writing takes bravery. In my June monthly newsletter to subscribers, I was more honest than usual. Hints kept showing up in my world that I needed a prayer team behind me. The closer we get to potentially publishing an honest book that will bless readers, the more attacks the enemy of honesty will make against us.
My honesty paid off. I now have a small team praying for me. Peace and enthusiasm have returned to my heart and pen. I’m not 100% out of the toss-in-the-towel woods yet, but so much good emotional and spiritual growth has happened since I asked for prayer.
I hope my example encourages you to be honest with your readers. It’s always a gift when we read from-the-heart writing. There have been times I’ve been awed and blessed by someone’s honesty.
Have you ever wanted to hug an author for making you feel less alone? I sure have.
Each book Michele Cushatt writes makes me want to send her a bouquet of hugs. She cares about her readers. Her honesty helps us see and understand how honest we can be with God too. He’s not afraid of our bluntness when it’s expressed with faith that He sees us in our wilderness experiences. Like King David in the Psalms, we can bleed our hearts bare before our loving Lord. He sees. He hears. He cares.
Who is your favorite from-the-heart author? How does this writer’s work make you feel?
Blessings as you boldly write for God’s glory,
Wendy Mac
Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.”
