“The Fusion of Old and New”
Dear writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and began to identify and remove some distractions from your writing life! This week, we’re going to take a look at “voice” and how to begin identifying the uniqueness that makes your writing “you.”
You see, writer, every person has unique experiences and perspective that give birth to their distinct voice and that shape what they write about and why and how. When you recognize the unique ingredients God has placed in your life, you can begin to develop them on purpose so that your voice can reach its fullest form and strength.
But, before we dive in, let’s take a look at some others who recognized and leaned into their God-given experiences and giftings to express a special message in a way that caught the attention of a world that desperately needed to hear it.
Voice in History
Nelson Mandela is a strong example of a man who discovered and used his distinct voice. Growing up in a rural South African village and then, after his father’s death, being adopted and raised by a royal chieftain, Mandela’s unique background, life experiences, and Christian faith positioned him to speak powerfully into the difficult problem of South African apartheid. Though he’d been told his background as a black South African would only allow him to become a clerk at best, Mandela boldly used his unique voice beyond the bounds that society had predetermined and studied to become a lawyer becoming actively engaged in the social and political issues of his time.
Though the backlash was severe and landed him in prison, Mandela persisted in his message refusing to compromise for an early release from prison. As he was faithful to use his voice, its power only grew, leading to his eventual release and presidency where he not only brought justice but reconciliation between the warring whites and blacks.
You see, writer. Sometimes, when it comes to voice, we can be tempted to be limited by what others say we can or can’t do. However, the power of your voice lies in being who God created you to be—and in being true to the distinctiveness He’s given you and growing in it even when it’s difficult. Because here’s the thing. Like Mandela, you never know what doors He has designed your unique voice to unlock in the hearts and minds of others.
Voice in the Bible
John the Baptist is another excellent example of someone who understood and embraced his unique voice. Chosen by God at a young age to live as a Nazarene, John’s divinely ordered diet and clothing under-girded his plain-spoken message and unusual mode of delivery that stood in stark contrast to the Pharisees who opposed him. But John’s faithfulness to His unique God-given expression not only caught the attention of the masses but created space for God to speak truth into hearts in a way they’d never heard it before.
You see, writer, as you begin to discover your voice, it’s important that you recognize what your God-given distinctiveness is and to allow that to develop and shine. Through there may a temptation to hide in the safety in sameness, God intends to reach people in a whole new way through you.
Voice in Life
I experienced the power of voice when I traveled to Uganda to teach. As I moved through Ugandan life, my voice was distinctive as I—unlike most white people—thoroughly embraced the Ugandan lifestyle and yet challenged the Ugandans to stretch beyond aspects of their culture that kept them in poverty. As I spent three months among them, I joyfully celebrated their strong ties to community while challenging the pride that coerced them to spend their small incomes for appearance’s sake on items they didn’t need.
Because of my willingness to both embrace and correct, many of the Ugandans listened and began changing their habits, because they could see my challenge came from a heart of love that was also willing to embrace change.
Voice in Your Life
You see, writer, that’s the interesting thing about voice. Voice is born from who we are and the experiences that have shaped us. It also born of the unique loves and passions God has placed in our heart for Him, for His people, and for the world. Voice has as much to do with who we are as with how we express ourselves because the two are inextricably connected. And the process of discovering our voice is often part of discovering who God has made us to be. Let me show you.
- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11
- Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. – Psalm 139:14-16
- 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
- for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.” – Acts 17:28
- But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. – 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
You see, writer, discovering our voice is about understanding the heart of God for us. And it’s in that place of confidence that we gain the courage to step into who He made us to be. Because here’s the thing. If you noticed, it took courage for Mandela to speak against the prevailing powers of injustice, even when it landed him in prison. It took courage for John the Baptist to break with societal norms. It took courage for me to embrace an unfamiliar culture and also to challenge it. That courage to express who we are can only come from the One who created us. It’s His love that casts out fear, and that love that causes our faith to rise up. Because here’s the real deal writer…
The opposite of your God-given uniqueness isn’t sameness. It’s apathy. You’ll notice that with Mandela, with John, and with myself, there was an element of courage required to discover and use our voice. There was a willingness to risk and to try and to possibly fail. But here’s the beautiful thing…
When we are willing to embrace the thing God’s put on our heart, it opens the door for us to experience Him more deeply, and in we abandon ourselves to this journey with Him, others get caught up in the adventure, too. Why? Because developing our voice comes sparks passion. And passion is contagious.
Where to Start with Voice
So are you ready to being discovering your voice? Here are some ideas to get you started!
- Know Your Story. Sometimes our voice can be uncovered in our story. Take a look at significant events in your life that shaped you. Are there any themes among them? What lessons did you learn? It is amazing to see how our voice is hidden in the heart of the story God is writing about us.
- Explore Your Passions. Give yourself permission to explore your God-given passions and dreams. It’s in a place of freedom and discovery that our creativity begins to take shape. That’s why play is so powerful to help children to develop their minds and identity, and if you allow yourself to play at the things you love and explore those thing God’s put on your heart, you will find your own ideas and identity begin to take shape, too.
- Ask Others. Sometimes others have a clearer idea of our gifts and call that we do. I encourage you to ask half a dozen or so friends, who know you, what your top three passions are. There answers can be very illuminating!
- Take the Next Step. Sometimes we are hindered in discovering our voice because we are too afraid to take the next step forward toward what we love. I encourage you today to ask the Lord for courage, because here’s the thing…
We will never grow past whatever limit we are willing to stretch to. You see, writer, athletes routinely stretch themselves in their workouts past the point of comfort. This stretching beyond is what enables them to grow in strength rather than simply maintaining.
The same is true with your voice, writer. There will inevitably be points in your journey that require you to stretch beyond your comfort zone and try something new. Maybe to put your work out there. To get feedback. To enter a contest. To try a new experience. But here’s the thing…
You’ll notice that Mandela and John and I all had to be willing to step beyond what was normal and comfortable. Mandela was willing to go where people had said he could not. John was willing to distance himself from the trappings of power and wealth. I was willing to embrace a lifestyle quite different from my own. But as we stretched and grew, so did our unique expression of God’s spirit within us. And here’s the beautiful thing. When we move forward in full faith in the freedom He’s given us, that freedom will flow through us into others too. Just like Mandela’s boldness unlocked freedom for his nation. Just like John the Baptist’s altogether different ministry prepared people to encounter God face to face in the person of Jesus. Just like my courage to embrace another way of life opened doors for others to learn new ways of life, too.
So I challenge you today, writer! Take some time this week to prayerfully consider your voice and the unique story and gifts and experience and expression the Lord has given you. Then courageously take the next step forward on your journey of discovery. You have no idea who and what the Lord might unlock in and through you as you do!
#EveryWriterWriting #courage #unique #expression #voice
Excellent, encouraging words.