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.
