Dear Writers, I hope you had a beautiful week and considered how to embrace God’s grace for His call for your life! This week, we’ll explore how to shift from the subtle mindset of victimhood into our role as gatekeepers of God’s words to others.
You see, sometimes we approach our writing passively, viewing life’s circumstances and their results as inevitable. But as children of God, He’s given us agency to rule and reign in life with Christ. Not to create our own kingdoms. But to bring more of His Kingdom into every situation by the power of the Holy Spirit. This ability is invaluable, especially for His writers!
But before we dive in, let’s look at others whose shift from victimhood to full engagement transformed lives…
From Victimhood to Gatekeeper in History
Helen Keller is a beautiful example of a woman who moved from victimhood into her true identity. Rendered blind and deaf as a toddler, Helen would have been what the world considers a perfect victim. Cut off from meaningful communication, Keller became a very angry, demanding child often throwing wild tantrums. But when her tutor Anne Sullivan broke through Keller’s physical prison to communicate, Keller quickly took to learning.
Keller set her mind to better herself in every way possible. Far from being limited, she began to write books over her own and became a public speaker on behalf of the deaf and blind. Keller’s work left an indelible impact on the quality of life of the deaf and blind worldwide and transformed everyone’s understanding of what the handicapped are truly capable of.
From Victimhood to Gatekeeper in the Bible
Rahab is another stunning example of a woman who overcame victimhood to step into her role as a gatekeeper. Though life had run Rahab into prostitution, she immediately recognized to two Hebrew spies. Both the men and their God. In that moment, Rahab took action. Her intervention saved the lives of the spies in exchange for her family’s protection.
Because Rahab refused to remain a victim of her culture, saved her whole family. Not only that, she herself was brought into the family of God and became a forebear of Christ.
You see, writer, accepting our identity in Christ often begins by refusing the identity that culture, circumstances, and even our own past try to label us with.
From Victimhood to Gatekeeper in Life
I stepped into my role as a gatekeeper when I first led in my church community. God graciously provided a leadership mentor for me at the time, who shared invaluable wisdom and experience. At the same time, he sometimes struggled to release me—and he was a very busy man. One day, I had an urgent need to talk to him and asked if Jared and I could go to lunch to discuss some pressing community issues. My mentor said he was already having lunch with a mutual friend and wouldn’t be able to meet until next week.
At that moment, I kindly excused myself and asked our mutual friend if their lunch date was urgent, or if he would be willing to postpone. Our friend was more than happy to wait. So I returned to my mentor with the news that he would be having lunch with my husband and me instead. When he heard, his jaw dropped. Then, to my surprise, he said, “If you ever need a job…let me know.”
You see, writer, it wasn’t my conformity that impressed him. It was my willingness to step fully into my role as a gatekeeper and make space for what was needed. And here’s the thing….
From Victimhood to Gatekeeper in Your Life
Moving from victimhood into our role as gatekeepers is about recognizing God’s priorities for us, and then taking strong measures to guard and grow those priorities. You see, sometimes we assume that when life takes our writing plans crossways, it must just be a bad time to write. Perhaps on occasion, it is! But more often, life’s attempts to disrupt God’s call is an invitation from our Father to press into Him for help as we rise up in with holy initiative to contend for His plans. Let me show you…
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- Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’” – Luke 13:6-9
- Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” – Luke 18:1-8
- I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
- Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. – Romans 8:35-237
You see, writer, trouble isn’t necessarily a sign of God’s disfavor. We are guaranteed a certain amount of trouble in this world! But those obstacles cannot keep us from our purpose in God—as long as we don’t give up.
When we step into our role as God’s sons and daughters and lean on Him, by faith, for the strength and wisdom we need, we become an unstoppable force for Christ with a witness far beyond what we ever could accomplished on our own.
Where to Start with Moving from Victimhood to Gatekeeper
So are you ready to shift from victimhood into God’s role for you as a gatekeeper of His glory? Here are some things to keep in mind…
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- Know Him. The confidence to walk in God’s call comes from knowing who He is. We get to know God by spending time with Him—in His word, in worship, and especially in obedience. You see, as we begin to act on what He’s asked of us, we come to understand Him better and better. This is why Jesus said, that is was the man who puts His words into practice would be like the man who built his house on the rock. The more we obey, the more God gives us wisdom and revelation to match that obedience.
- Know His Word. Knowing God’s word to us is critical. Often we know God has said, but life distracts from that word. One key to entering our role as gatekeepers is to keep God’s word in front of our eyes. Find ways to actively study, engage with, and grow in Gods words to you. Which is how you…
- Chew on His Word. For example, if God has called you to write fantasy, daydream about and playfully brainstorm your world. Spend time with other fantasy authors. Read excellent fantasy fiction. Any or all of those steps can fuel God’s call on your life. If God speaks to you to write about a certain non-fiction topic, study it in the Bible. Listen to excellent teachers talk about it. And in any case, regularly pray over your own personal call from God to write. These types of actions help keep God’s word top of mind. Pray over His words to you. Dream about them. Regularly ask for His help. And finally…
- Know All Things Are Possible. Sometimes, we cut our feet out from under us because we assume certain circumstance preclude God’s call for us. Like, we can’t finish God’s call if (fill in the blank!). But one huge key to moving forward in the call of God is to cultivate a childlike faith that looks for where He is at work in every circumstance and trusts He plans to fulfill His word. Because here’s the thing…
Moving from victimhood to gatekeeping is really learning to recognize the fullness of God’s supply for us. Not that His grace makes hard things easy (though sometimes it does). But His grace makes impossible things possible. And when we begin to trust God for the impossible, it gives strength us to take bold steps, like Helen Keller, Rahab, and myself. And here’s the other thing…
Sometimes, we may feel like stepping out in faith borders on presumption or pride. But God’s call is never just about us. It’s about those He intends to reach. You see, every time a soul changed by Him—it’s a miracle. A miracle we’re included in! And the amazing thing is that, when God calls and we stay in step with Him, He does not limit the ways He can work to accomplish His goals through us. So, neither should we. Because here’s the final thought…
When we release a victimhood mentality to grab hold of the truth that all things are possible with God, He opens our eyes to possibilities and creative solutions we never saw before. Then, He can begin to take us beyond anything we ever dreamed to touch lives we never imagined. Just as He did with Rahab, whose legacy impacted the world through Christ. Just as He did with Helen Keller, whose work transformed the lives of the deaf and blind community. And just as He did with me, as He grew a bold love that was unafraid to risk.
So if you’ve felt like everything on God’s green earth has blocked your writing goals, I encourage you that maybe your obstacles are a fresh invitation to lean into the Lord and your identity in Him. As you step into that role with Him, you will enter the freedom He’s designed you for. Better yet, you’ll become a conduit of that freedom for those He longs to touch with His light and life.
Be brave, writers!
#nolongeravictim #gatekeeper #bold #EveryWriterWriting
