Blog
My Wants vs His Plan
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
Pablo Picasso
I'm not gonna sugarcoat or lie... I want to be a big time, überfamous author.
I want to see my books on the shelf at the airport bookstores. I want Netflix to call about turning Green Hills into a television series. I want to support my amazing husband after he's been such an incredible provider our entire marriage. I want, I want, I want.
But what if what I need is to simply let God's plan reveal itself?
I began writing because I'm an obsessive reader and a sweet love story haunted my thoughts, begging to be shared with the world. That is Maree and Rhys's romance in Book 1: Grocery Girl.
While creating that first novel, the next three love stories organically developed, and I just couldn't NOT share those, too.
By the end of those first 4 books — The Davenports miniseries — I was hooked and wanted nothing more than to be a "real" author.
I believed that meant I'd be writing full time, selling lots of books, and making decent money. Easy-peasy, right? I felt called to do this, to bring joy and delight to the world through feel-good fiction, an adorable town, and characters we cry with, cheer for along the way, and celebrate in the end. Seriously, how hard could it be?
(This is where all the authors out there are rolling on the floor, laughing out loud, and slapping their knees with uncontrollable fits of hilarity 🫤)
Turns out, it's rather tough. Like really hard.
And I doubt myself every step of the way, constantly fighting with the world's measuring stick for success. If I'm not "being a real writer" and accomplishing those tasks at a high level — garnering publishing deals, earning film interest, and bringing home some bacon — then perhaps I'm not supposed to be a writer at all.
But I love writing. I love the stories and the setting, the characters and the romance. I love love stories!
So maybe I am supposed to be a writer.
UGHH! See how my mind pings and pongs and volleys from one extreme to the other?
Why Can't This Be Enough?
When I share my endless struggle with Coach, he always asks, "Why can't doing what you love and seeing where it goes be enough?"
It's a valid question and a wise outlook. It goes hand in hand with Isaiah 55:11:
...so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (NIV)
I've asked God to lead my pen, to use me and my sweet love stories as a conduit to his light. This verse promises he's doing just that, ensures that my writing, and my books, and my cozy romance novels are accomplishing exactly what they are supposed to be doing.
That might not look like my expectation of fame and fortune. It might not meet the world's measure of success. But it is his plan, which is far more important — more right — than my wants!
Dear Lord, I love the path of you've sent me down as a writer. Thank you for bringing this passion into my heart. Please let my work bring others joy and delight, and please let them see you on every page. When we doubt and wonder and second guess our value and worth, help us remember that your plan is far greater than any label or level of success the world can define. In Jesus' name, amen.
With love and hugs,
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