"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

‭Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)

𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘞𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳

The life of a writer is not always easy. In fact, it hardly ever is.

The life of a writer is the life of an artist. Yet the life of a writer is harder than that of a painter or a dancer. That is because writers not only face the void of nothingness and fill it with beauty, as all other artists do; writers fill the void with their own words, capturing their thoughts in inky cages and putting them onto paper or into pixels.

One of a writer’s greatest fears is that his thoughts are not worth writing for others to see. Someone far more gifted has almost certainly written something better about the same thing before—so who are they to add another voice to the chorus? One writer’s unique story can pale in the dazzling drama of someone else’s story.

Yet a writer bears the distinct privilege of reflecting God in a unique way. Through their words, writers reflect the Spirit who hovered over the waters at creation. God spoke life into existence by words, and writers breathe life into others through their words. A writer’s words are shadows illuminated by the Light.

This is what a writer has to remember always. This is what will hold a writer steady and motivate him to keep pouring forth words when strength has run dry. This is what will make a writer keep plodding on through the highs and lows. For there will be highs and lows in the life of every writer.

There will be moments of inspiration and moments of struggle. There will be letters of acceptance and letters of rejection. There will be 5-star reviews and 1-star reviews. Some people will understand and others won’t.

The life of a writer is a blend of hiddenness and exposure. All that is well-written must be born from some secret place deep within the heart, carefully thought through and brought to life in quiet space. Yet once it is published, it is available for the world to see, every member of the audience determining its impact.

It is a form of torture only word-wielders know, to put out your words, your thoughts, your heart, and lay them bare for the world to see. You cannot know all that others truly think, and you cannot let their thoughts become the line by which your words are drawn. It is never an invulnerable exchange: your words for others’ eyes.

Bringing beauty into being and allowing art to enter you can never come without pain, for creation has been put under a curse until the day when God sets the world free. But bringing beauty into the world is one of the surest signs of the hope to come.

The life of a writer is the life of one called to bring heaven a little closer to earth.

𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴

My biggest writing-related endeavor of late, far and away, has been starting my blog, The Grace Space. This blog has been years in the making, and after months of planning and weeks of preparation, I'm so glad that it is finally ready and I can share it with you. I'm excited to be stepping into this next season on my writing journey. It's an entirely new adventure for me, so please give me lots of grace as I figure out what I'm doing.

As some of you already know, a couple of months ago I enrolled in the Young Writer's Workshop, a program designed to teach young writers how to further develop their writing skills and give them an opportunity to interact with other young writers as well as more experienced authors. I have absolutely loved my time in this community so far, and I cannot say enough about how it has helped me grow both as a writer and as a person. Having access to a content library jam-packed with practical lessons on all things writing-related and a community filled with enthusiastic and encouraging young writers has been incredibly helpful and immensely motivating. It's a gift that has come into my life at just the right time, and I'm grateful for it.

𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 (𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴)

"We want to know every detail of the plan—and to be assured that the outcome will be positive and in our comfort zones—before we begin something, but here's a question for you: Are you planning an intentional life, or are you planting one?

With no plants yet sprouting, place your foot on the bevel of the shovel. And even if you are afraid and trembling, press in. Take the next step forward in faith, believing in the possibilities ahead. If God plants a dream in your heart, you can trust Him to walk alongside you—cultivating you and causing growth—until the harvest."

Lara Casey

-"It's All Grace" (Nicole Howe) — This beautifully moving article captured my attention when I first read it, and it may have provided subconscious inspiration for my first blog post.

-"I Will Rest in You" (Jaci Velasquez) — Soft and soothing, this song has spoken to me deeply in recent days, reminding me where true rest is found.

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What is a topic you would like to read about on the blog? Feel free to reply and tell me what you think!