A Writer’s Heart: Doubts
“And John calling unto him two of his disciples
sent them to Jesus, saying,
Art thou he that should come? Or look we for another”
Luke 7:19, KJV
Even John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, the one chosen to herald him as, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,” needed reassurance as he sat in prison.
We don’t know how John thought his life as the herald of the Messiah would turn out. We know he faithfully fulfilled his calling and received high acclaim from Christ. But he ended up in a prison cell and would soon be executed at the request of a woman. He wanted no lingering doubts. He wanted assurance his work had not been in vain.
In my premier biblical fiction novel, The Nazarene’s Price, the rich young ruler’s heart wrestles with doubts and questions concerning…
- the reality of the resurrection of the dead,
- the true identity of the Nazarene who comes preaching the kingdom of God,
- and the meaning behind John the Baptist’s statement the Nazarene is the Lamb of God.
- How could the Lamb of God be the Son of God, the Messiah of Israel? The Lamb would need to die, and a dead Messiah could not save Israel from Rome.*
Authors struggle from time to time with doubts.
The words hide from the page.
The reviews are slow to be posted.
The rejections pile up-no matter the nice words speaking no, the end is the same.
We wonder, is our work in vain? Am I making a difference to anyone? Have I really been called to this work? You can fill in the blank.
Authors aren’t the only ones who deal with doubt. If you are in service to the Lord Jesus Christ, you have faced or will face a time when all you want is a word of reassurance that your work has merit—meaning to your readers and to those you serve. That your faith and work are grounded in the truth and love of Jesus Christ.
Jesus gave encouragement to John. He said to John’s men…
“Go your way, and tell John
what things ye have seen … heard;
how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
to the poor the gospel is preached.
And blessed is he,
whosoever shall not be offended (doubtful) in me.”
Luke 7: 22-23, KJV
In The Nazarene’s Price, Matthias was told to look at Yeshua’s works and he would know the truth. We can do the same.
For authors and other workers of the Lord, we are told—
“For God is not unrighteous
to forget your work and labour of love,
which ye have shewed toward his name,
in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister …
Therefore, my beloved brethren,
be ye stedfast, unmoveable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know
that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
Hebrews 6: 10; 1 Corinthians 15: 58, KJV
Whatever the Lord has given us to do, he has equipped us with his Holy Spirit to accomplish. Ours is to stay the path. God sees, he remembers, and he rewards.
“Cast not away therefore your confidence,
which hath great recompence of reward …
And, behold, I come quickly;
and my reward is with me,
to give every man according as his work shall be.”
Hebrews 10: 35; Revelation 22: 12, KJV
Do you or have you faced any of the doubts mentioned? How did you overcome them? Or have you?
*At this time my novel, The Nazarene’s Price. is on sale at Amazon. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+nazarene%27s+price+donna+k.+stearns
I’ve included this info because the novel spans the ministry years of Christ, the crucifixion, and resurrection. It makes a good companion for the Easter/Resurrection season. Soon, I will be announcing the sequel’s title and revealing the cover. May the resurrection of our Lord be your constant, present hope.
Meeting Jesus With Donna Stearns 