Your Journey Is Your Own

I’m a member of several different writing groups, both in person and online. One of the things I see cropping up with regularity is the idea that there’s a formula that, if one follows correctly, will guarantee success (in this case as an author.) Now, I’m not going to say there aren’t certain things that every author should be doing. Of course there are. Just like there are certain things most successful <fill in the profession> does. But — and here is where having a Christian worldview comes into play — life doesn’t come with a guarantee of success.

And that’s okay.

I’ll be honest, I struggle with comparisons in my own life. I’m not as thin/pretty/smart/able/whatever as that person over there. And if I’m not careful, I’ll run myself into the ground trying to figure out and then implement whatever formula they give for their success as I attempt to emulate them. The thing is, the chaos it wreaks in my life doesn’t start off bad. It starts off as I look for ways to improve something…and then it spirals out of control. Because inevitably, the “proven formulas” of the world aren’t as big a guarantee as you might think. In fact, there’s only one that comes with a 100% guarantee.

Acts 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.”

After that? Your journey is your own in all aspects of life. Don’t get bogged down trying to be someone else, trying to follow their plan. Be yourself. Find God’s plan for you.

“That’s all well and good,” you might be thinking, “But how?” It’s a reasonable question. For me, it circles back to another verse–one I try so hard to remind myself of when I’m getting down about what I perceive as lack of success: Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

On those days when you realize you haven’t sold a book in over a week, or the kids are squabbling and nothing seems to get them to stop, or your kitchen floor makes that slurping noise when you peel your foot off of it and take a step and you feel like you are the epitome of failure as a writer, a mom, a wife, ask yourself: are you doing what you do–however much or little you are doing–unto the Lord? Is it an act of worship (even if it’s grudging sometimes?)

Then you have succeeded at what matters most.

The rest may come. It may not. Hang in there. Be faithful to your calling.