3 Reasons Why You Should Absolutely Step Out and Write

typewriter photo 2

I stood outside the car so crazy scared.

For years I had wanted to go to a writers conference. I’d researched them online, asked questions of others who had gone, always wanting and wishing I could do it. Last week I finally took a HUGE step of faith and showed up to Carol Kent’s SpeakUp Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

It didn’t make ANY sense to go, I didn’t feel at all equipped or prepared or even pretty enough to get on that plane. There was even a point about three days out that the pit in my stomach almost won the day and kept me home. But since the plane ticket was bought, I packed my bag and went.

As I stood at my car and looked at the doors across that parking lot, my mind raced back to a beach in Washington State. Two years ago, almost to the day, I had stood on a rocky shore in the Pacific Northwest and looked out at the waves and had a big girl conversation with God. My heart pounded just as much as those waves because I knew that I knew that I knew: I wanted to write a book.

I can feel it still, that knowing deep within that writing was what I desperately wanted to do.

But God, what if nobody cares or gives a rats about anything I have to say? What if my voice doesn’t matter, or I don’t measure up to everyone else who obviously is so very gifted and published and famous?

Maybe you’ve felt that way. Maybe you’ve wondered if you’re suppose to actually sit down and write that thing you’ve always wanted to write. Or start that blog. Or create that study.

Maybe you just need someone to come alongside you and say it, in that still small voice you know you’ve already heard…do it.  

Why? Because of this:

1. Your voice matters. Your story is beautiful because it is God who is writing it in you. Nobody else has lived your life, had your burning bush experience, or seen God move like you have. Someone needs your message because they need hope right where they’re at.

2. You can do hard things. Maybe you just need to carve out an hour or two and research how to start a blog. Maybe you need to put all your Bible study ideas onto paper. Maybe you need to write that book proposal or read those submission requirements to that magazine. Sometimes hard ground can be holy ground when we take that small step of faith, trusting God with the results.

3. Obedience is such a beautiful thing. You know that God has wired you to write. You feel that sense of joy, as if God is actually smiling on you when you sit down to that blank screen. You feel an urgency to write when you read a profound truth from the Bible or hear a powerful message from a speaker. You know God is asking you to write. And there is something profound that happens when you obey Him.

I did finally make my way across that parking lot and into the conference center.  I quickly grabbed a seat in the back and shoved all my stuff under my chair. As I sat there and took a deep breath, I looked out. What I saw were 200 amazing women, all with the same hearts, same ideas, same nervous stomachs, wondering if they were in the right place at all. I felt at home. And so grateful I had come.

In those next two days, God revealed something very significant to my heart. He reminded me that twelve years ago I had heard Carol Kent speak at Scottsdale Bible Church. That night her words pierced me as I was in the middle of my struggle with infertility, wondering if God was going to ever bring me a family. I stood afterwards in tears, knowing God was asking me to lay it all down before Him and trust Him with the results.

As I stood in that grand ballroom last week and listened to Carol speak again, it came full circle to my heart. Carol’s voice absolutely mattered to me in those days I was crying out to God. Because she stepped out in faith, believed she could do hard things, and obeyed God by telling her story, my life was forever impacted. And here I was, once again, in tears, knowing God was asking me to lay down these dreams of writing before Him, and trust Him with the results.

Sweet friend, your story matters.  You have no idea who needs to hear your message, or what impact your words could have on their life. Maybe someone is struggling with all you’re struggling with and they are desperate for encouragement. Maybe you have a message of great hope and your words are what someone needs to find joy again.

Would you be willing to trust God with the results?

Do it.

Take that next step. Google it. Ask a friend for help. Sign up for a writers conference and invest in yourself. Pray desperately about it. Stand on a shore and have a big girl conversation with the Lord.

Write.

We need your voice. You can do hard things. And your obedience before God is a beautiful thing.

 

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16 Comments

  1. Bethany on July 19, 2016 at 10:11 am

    Thank you for this encouragement, Julie! I’m looking forward to reading what you write!

  2. Moll on July 19, 2016 at 10:32 am

    I needed to hear those words!! THANK YOU for sharing! Your writing has already lifted me up and encouraged me through those rough days in Haiti… I look forward to however else your heart fills the empty pages.

    • Julie Thomas on July 19, 2016 at 10:46 am

      Molly, YOU absolutely need to write! So much you have to share my friend!!

  3. Renee' Olsen on July 19, 2016 at 11:15 am

    Wow oh wow Julie I am so very proud of you. I have told many people that you should pen a book. I remember when Ron and I would pray in the children’s area and the church offices before church, I would always end up at your office and besides asking God to; bless you and your ministry and I also prayed about you putting your heartfelt words into a book. God has given you a gift and I cannot wait to purchase your first of many books.

    Blessings Renee’

    • Julie Thomas on July 19, 2016 at 1:31 pm

      Thank you Renee’ for your constant encouragement, and for your faithful prayers. I’m incredibly grateful!

  4. NATALIE MENDOZA on July 19, 2016 at 11:40 am

    FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, I HAVE HAD THE LONGING, DEEP DESIRE TO “WRITE MY STORY” !
    JULIE, I HAVE FELT ALL THE FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS YOU MENTIONED AND DESCRIBED ABOVE!
    IVE JOKED, “BUT NOT JOKED” ABOUT NEEDING A GHOST WRITER. I BELIEVE I HAVE A SPECIAL TITLE ALREADY. I INDEED HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT WRITING, JOURNALING IS SOMETHING IVE TRIED TO CONTINUE, OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, IN DIFFERENT SEASONS.
    I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD HAVE MAD POST IT NOTES ALL OVER EVERYWHERE IVE BEEN, AND ALL I HAVE ENCOUNTERED , IN EVERY MOMENT! I DO NOT WANNA MISS A THING.. SOUNDS CLICHE…
    I DONT HAVE THE EXTRA TIME OR FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO ATTEND A CONFERENCE.
    PERHAPS I SHOULD START SMALL LIKE A BLOG?! BUT WHERE DO I BEGIN… ITD BE LIKE A TIME WARP!
    THANK YOU FOR GETTING MY FLAME TO FLICKER!

    SINCERELY, NATALIE MENDOZA

    • Julie Thomas on July 19, 2016 at 1:30 pm

      Natalie, you have got this girl! Start that blog!!!! You have so much to share! WordPress or SquareSpace are great places to start, you can do this!

  5. Becky Harling on July 19, 2016 at 12:26 pm

    Julie! I’m so proud of you!!! Yeah and you did awesome at the conference and even had two publishers say they wanted to see what you had written!!! Cheering for you!!

    • Julie Thomas on July 19, 2016 at 1:32 pm

      Thank you Becky for being such an incredible cheerleader for me and for your intentional leadership and coaching. I’m so thankful for you!!!!

  6. Sheri O'Herron on July 19, 2016 at 3:26 pm

    Julie I don’t really know you but I have really enjoyed reading your posts. I wish you the very best in this new chapter of your life. You will do great.

  7. Michelle on July 19, 2016 at 3:37 pm

    I’m standing and cheering for you Julie 🙂 way to be brave. Yes and Amen our words matter, our stories matter, they are our proof of God at work within us and around us, and so we shout them from the mountain tops till the Lord tells us otherwise 😉
    I just finished my memoir. Through obedience it was written, and I lay it at His feet for what’s next. 🙂
    Thank you for sharing your words…your words matter more than you know.

    • Julie Thomas on July 19, 2016 at 6:47 pm

      Thank you Michelle, so very much, you are such an encouragement! Congratulations on your writing! God’s going to use your words to minister to so many!

  8. Heather Butler on July 19, 2016 at 7:55 pm

    Julie, this makes my heart ache in the most beautiful way. I’m 3 years in to a book I’m writing. Three. Years. Some days, I just want to melt into a puddle and wave my little white flag in surrender. It’s so hard to push. It’s so hard to write in small spurts – between nap times. And nursing. And in between laundry loads. And after bed times (instead of binge-watching the Office like I want to do.) I find myself constantly asking God to show me the balance of carving out time for writing and still investing fully in my family. But I KNOW 1000% that this is a calling on my life.

    Your post was just rest and air and encouragement to my heart. Thank you for your transparent words.

    • Julie Thomas on July 19, 2016 at 11:13 pm

      You are an incredible writer Heather, and your words ARE impacted so many women. You are doing amazing with all that you have going on around you and God is using your story in mighty ways sweet friend.

  9. Linda Larkee on July 19, 2016 at 8:51 pm

    You go, girl!!!

  10. Tammy on July 20, 2016 at 12:17 pm

    So happy for you Julie, you are an amazing women with such a heart for God and other women! You impact many lives by sharing your gift!

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