Thursday, August 16, 2012

God's Path


guest post by Edie Melson

“Take my life and let it be, consecrated all to Thee.” 

I heard the words to that old hymn today and found myself transported back in time. Twelve years ago I hit a crossroads with God. Even back then I knew He’d called me to writing—in my heart I knew—but all around me everything was rejection and heartache. I’d been so thrilled when God called me to write. It just felt . . . right. I already had my future mapped out. I’d write Bible studies and teach and speak—bringing His Word to His people. I didn’t see anything except the glory.

I railed at God that night, shaking a metaphorical fist toward Heaven. “I didn’t ask for this gift of writing—this insane compulsion. Why make me suffer for it.” Even before the echo of my cry died away I knew it for the lie it was. I remembered an earlier time, when I’d committed myself to God, asking Him to do what He willed with my life. And now I complained because He had? I’d known what that commitment meant and the suffering that would come. How could I have ever thought suffering would be easy or martyrdom pleasant.

But that night at the crossroad I saw a different future. I saw a future where I didn’t second-guess God’s plan, but kept my gaze locked tightly on Him. I chose to trust Him and believe that He knew what was best for me, no matter what.

That was the night I died—died to myself and my dream—and began to learn how to live for Him. It was when I learned that to be truly His in every way means giving up my every way.

I didn’t know if God would resurrect me as a writer. Only time held that answer and I had to come to a point where I refused to care. Did I care? Oh I cared, I desperately cared. My dreams, my hopes, my ambitions had been tied to my writing. Now my ambition became the emptying of myself so that I could be filled with God. I learned that didn’t mean “make me look good because I work for You.” Instead it meant, “Make me look any way You choose because I’m totally Yours.”

The Rest of the Story
Why am I sharing this now? Because with the passing of years has come perspective . . . and peace. So many of you are where I was—second guessing your calling because it doesn’t look like what you thought it would. I urge you to stay the course. Place your confidence in a Worthy God. My life hasn’t taken the path I thought—it’s taken a much better one. 


Edie Melson is a freelance writer and editor with years of experience in the publishing industry. She’s a prolific writer, and has a popular writing blog, The Write Conversation. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, as well as a popular faculty member at numerous others. She’s also a regular contributor to Novel Rocket, a Writer’s Digest pick for top writing websites.
She currently has two books available, the best selling eBook, Social Media Marketing for Writers, and her latest project, a devotional for those with family members in the military, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle. Married 30 plus years to her high school sweetheart, Kirk, they have raised three sons.

5 comments:

  1. I love this post, Edie, and I've felt the same way. I'm not sure what path my writing will take, but the walk with Him will be enough.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Friends of Jamie -- please pray for her computer situation! She's not sure when she'll get her laptop back, and she misses her online friends!!

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  2. We don't go through circumstances by chance. Your story now encourages and inspires those of us following in your footsteps. Thank you, Edie!

    (And thank you Jamie!)

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  3. Thanks ladies! It's hard to look back and see the pain that came on that path, but it's been SO worth it!

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  4. Edie, thanks for sharing your gut wrenching journey of truth. It all sounds so familiar!
    New life is always birthed when we die to our vision and open our heats to what He has planned! So glad you came through your crossroads crisis and shared it with others. Thanks for living to share what God gives!

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  5. Thanks, Edie. If I don't stay connected to God it would be so hard to continue writing. I never thought about my writing as being part of the suffering for Christ, but you're right. Anytime we try to get His message our, satan is going to come against us. Thanks!

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