Dear Writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and considered how to cultivate our sensitive friend, Creativity! This week, we’re going to explore an interesting aspect of being a gatekeeper of God’s glory: How His glory intermingles with the part of us that is uniquely…us. To create something altogether new.
You see, writer, there are stories God can only write with us. That “you” factor is incredibly important to Him. Our “you” factor is related to our voice – our original way of expressing the ideas He gives us. It can also related to our struggles and the way God has met us in them. But here’s the thing…
As creatives, we’re sometimes tempted to hide behind our work, remaining as anonymous as possible. However, it’s in the very space of our individuality that God’s glory shines most clearly through. But before we dive in, let’s look at others whose willingness to be themselves put God’s glory on display…
Being You in History
Sacajawea is a beautiful example of a woman whose uniqueness was her greatest asset. Enslaved by a rival tribe when she was young, Sacajawea was later purchased by French fur-trapper, Charbonneau, to be his wife. But when Charbonneau and Sacajawea met Lewis and Clark, her life story took a sharp turn from obscurity to history-changing.
Sacajawea’s painful background became her greatest asset as she helped Lewis and Clark navigate unfamiliar territory of the Louisiana Purchase. Her experience with multiple tribes equipped her to translate for the native peoples they encountered. Sacajawea’s uniqueness kept Lewis and Clark’s expedition from disaster and loss more than once. And with her help, they established friendly relations with people groups they’d never met.
Being You in the Bible
David is another powerful example of a man whose uniqueness unleashed God’s glory. From his earliest years, David was a worshipper. Whether with his sheep or as King of Israel, worship remained the center of all he did. When David danced heartily before the Ark of the Covenant, his wife Michal despised his unorthodox display of passion. But David insisted he would become even more undignified if it meant worshipping the One True God. But here’s the interesting thing…
David’s heart for worship didn’t end with him. David instated 24/7 worship in God’s tabernacle. This atmosphere of worship transformed and united Israel. Decades after David’s death as kingdom split and war threatened, whenever Judah experienced true revival, they re-instituted the 24/7 worship that David had begun.
Being You in Life
I was “me” when I taught news writing in Uganda. God’s grace in that unfamiliar environment cause me to come alive in a way I never had before. The class itself was challenging to me and the students. I was asking them to break with their culture in several areas in order to master the subject. Many occasions demanded wisdom and boldness for both correction and nurture. In those moments, God drew out exactly what the students needed—through my unfiltered responses.
At the end of the semester, beyond all the difficulties and victories, my students’ expressions of gratitude shocked me. They purchased a painting and several other unexpected gifts for me to remember them by. And here’s the thing…
The connection that developed between me and my students was not just because of what I taught them. It was who I was and the way I taught it. Though my own performance as a teacher was far from perfect, God used even my imperfections to build a deep bond and security that created true space for growth and genuine change. A space where God was able to speak to them.
Being You in Your Life
Our writing works in similar way. When we allow God to bring all of who we are onto the pages, it creates a powerful connection with our readers. Let me prove it to you…
- “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14
- For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing… – 2 Corinthians 2:15
- Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life… – Philippians 2:12-16a
- For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10
- “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” – Galatians 5:13
You see, writer, God has orchestrated every aspect of our lives to create a unique expression of His heart. When we bring all of who we are forward for His use, we allow others to see His grace at work in us.
Where to Start with Being You
So are you ready to let God use all of you in your writing? Here are some things to keep in mind…
- Surrender Your Story. Sometimes the message God gives us to share includes the pain we’ve experienced and overcome through Him. If God seems to be bubbling up those pain points, resist the urge to run away or water them down. The darkness God has rescued us from makes His transformation all the more powerful. Make a conscious choice to let God direct you as you write. He can do powerful things as you surrender your story to Him.
- Identify Your Non-Negotiables. As write, prayerfully identify what parts of your message are non-negotiables. What areas are critical to the message He’s sharing through you? Which are distractions? Identifying what is and isn’t core to His purposes in your writing can help you sort between the wheat and the chaff.
- Ask a Friend. Sometimes, if you are struggling to identify whether part of your writing or voice is truly you, it’s helpful to get feedback from someone who’s known you for a long time. Sometimes they can help you discern whether what you’re wrestling with is a “bug” to root out or a God-given “feature.” Because here’s the deal…
Learning who we are is impossible apart from God and from His body. The more we discover Him the more we discover who we are. The more we are rooted in His love, the more freely we move in all He’s created us to be. And a large part of that love and discovery process is found within His body. And here’s the deal…
God puts a high price on our freedom, because He knows the power of who He’s created us to be. To truly be. The whole of creation waits for us to step into the fullness of God’s plans for us. (Rom 8:19-20) You see, the glory of God has been placed inside every born-again believer. But it isn’t until we surrender to Him and the fullness of who He made us to be, that it begins to show. Just think…
If Sacajawea had allowed her past to limit her instead of fuel her, Lewis and Clark’s expedition may ended much differently. If David had allowed Michal’s criticism to dampen his worship, he may never have instituted night and day worship in the tabernacle—a pattern that has fueled revivals across the globe ever since. If I had let fear hold me back, my students would never have been unlocked to grow beyond the culture limitations they had known.
If you’ve been holding back, or have tried to hide the less savory parts of your story, I encourage you to prayerfully surrender to the fullness of who God’s created you to be. You never know how your story will uniquely touch the hearts of readers with His glory in a way that nothing else can.
#you #unique #glory #EveryWriterWriting
