This morning, I spent some time outside working on landscaping and taking advantage of some early spring weather. I’m battling honeysuckle, wild grapevine, briars, and wild hedge as I try to liberate a beautiful dogwood tree at the corner of our front yard. It’s an exercise in perseverance because I know that I will constantly be fighting those weeds trying to come back and overtake the dogwood tree. I’ve been waging this landscaping battle for several years, and each year, it starts over again. It’s a reminder of my writing.
Recently, WordPress sent me an email informing me that I had entered my ninth year of blogging with the platform, and honestly, I was shocked to realize I had been writing with them that long. In truth, I have only developed consistency in the last year, but nine years is how long I’ve been feeling the call to write. When I read the email, I looked over my shoulder at a poster hanging in the room. On it is a photo of Cal Ripken, Jr. known as the Iron Man of Major League Baseball because he holds the record for consecutive games played at 2,632 (Wikipedia, 2024). Underneath his name on the poster is one word: perseverance. At the bottom of the poster, it defines perseverance as “to continue a course of action, in spite of difficulty, opposition, or discouragement” and “remain steadfast.”
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12, NIV)
Writing isn’t a trial for me, but the trial is that I often worry how others perceive my writing. I’ve been writing longer than nine years, but blogging means I put a piece of myself out there to see what might happen. It means that my writing is subject to the praise and criticism of others. Off and on over the years, I would take a break from writing, and then I would be irresistibly drawn back to it. Even when I didn’t feel like my writing was very good, I kept going. Even when I felt invisible, I kept writing because it felt like what I should be doing. Even when I wasn’t certain what the purpose of my writing was, I kept writing because I knew God would eventually direct me to the right path. Perseverance and faithfulness became essential to my writing, but I don’t think I truly realized it until recently.
As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. (James 5:11, NIV)
In James 5, we are reminded what the early prophets experienced when they served God and did as they were commanded. When I struggle figuring out what to write, I’m reminded that doing what God wants won’t always be easy. Sometimes, I seem to fight for every word on the page, but when it turns out the way it should, the effort is worth it. Persevering in the writing God would have me do is what matters, and it’s my job to be faithful in it.
When we are doing the work God means for us to do, we are being faithful and persevering. Sometimes it is easy, and other times it is hard. The thing for us to do is keep going. Rely on God and those around us who support us. Our work for God means more than anything else because in it we are obeying Him and demonstrating faith and perseverance to others. In another nine years, I plan to still be working for the Lord, and I pray that you will be, too.
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:3-6, NIV)
All Things Subject to Change 