The Writer’s Heart: Encouragement
“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth:
and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!”
Proverbs 15:23, KJV
Joshua found himself in a difficult situation when the Lord chose him to follow Moses in leading the children of Israel into the promised land. Think about it. God had done many wonderful works through Moses. He had given him wisdom, power, and strength to endure forty years with a multitude of people prone to whine instead of worship. Joshua needed a word spoken in due season, and the Lord through Moses supplied the word.
“Be strong and of a good courage:
for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.
And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee;
he will be with thee,
he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee:
fear not, neither be dismayed.”
Deuteronomy 31: 7-8, KJV
Joshua received encouragement through the LORD’s charge, his presence, his word, his promises, and Moses’s example of God’s faithfulness.
As an author, I could get sidelined by the success and fame of the many great authors I respect. But the Lord has wrapped me in the same encouragement he gave Joshua—the same he gives authors who consistently gift us with best sellers, the same he gives authors who faithfully write wondering if or when.
He has given us another charge through Paul’s words to Timothy:
“Neglect not the gift that is in thee …
give thyself wholly to them:
that thy profiting may appear to all.”
1 Timothy 4:14a,15b, KJV
We have the charge, the promises of God, and his presence as we seek to tell his story. He goes before us. And as the Lord gives each of us encouragement, we are to pass that encouragement to others.
“And let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works:”
Hebrews 10:24, KJV
Encouragement for a writer comes—
- In the inner voice of the Lord saying, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant …”
- In the bloody red marks of the editors pushing us to make our writing its best,
- In the words we hear from our readers,
- from fellow authors,
- the awards we receive,
- through those who have persevered,
- and yes, through book sales and those coveted reviews.
Writer’s encourage one another by helping with the launch, reading the book, and leaving an honest review.
This process isn’t about selling books but putting the message into the hands of the readers. Yes, the process does translate into book sales, but the end goal is giving the gift of encouragement to another.
One last important tool of encouragement comes wrapped in prayer for our books to reach the one they were written for.
If you have received encouragement from a recently read book, won’t you leave a review on Amazon, GoodReads, or Bookbub?
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Books to Check Out:
Below are some titles from my recently read books, including several genres and my own,
- The Nazarene’s Price, by Donna K. Stearns, Historical Biblical Fiction.
- The Rancher’s Legacy, by Susan Page Davis, historical fiction;
- Love In Any Season, four novellas by Regina Rudd Merrick, Amy R. Anguish, Sarah Anne Crouch, and Heather Greer, Contemporary Christian Romance;
- Anna’s Song, by Brenda Gates, Time Travel Saga;
- The Ghosts of Trumball Mansion, Linda Wood Rondeau, Mystery, Suspense, Romance;
- The Exploits of Edna and Gertie, by Jan Pierce, Humorous Friendship Fiction;
- The Domino Effect, Origins, by Cassiday Stearns, Teen, YA Superhero Fiction;
- Who Am I? by Deryn van der Tang, Christian Inspiration,
- and last but not least, Who Made This Mess, by Dayna Ault, Children’s Fiction;
For more information see Amazon or Goodreads—and be an encourager to not only the author but those looking for a book to fit their needs. Thank you, and happy reading!
What’s your latest read?
Meeting Jesus With Donna Stearns 