Dear Writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and were encouraged by our guest post from Laurel Thomas! This week, we’re going to explore a question many of us have as new writers. That question is, “Do I really need to be seen?”
You see, it can be tempting to hide behind the pages of our books, thinking, “No one needs to know me.” In fact, sometimes hiding can feel like humility. After all, it’s not ourselves we want to promote but the message God has given us. But here’s the thing…
God never separates the message from the messenger. One of His favorite ways to show His glory is through His people. We are made to house His presence. But how can that presence be seen if we hide behind the books He’s called us to reach readers with?
This is a question worth answering! But before we jump in, let’s look at some others whose willingness to come out of hiding displayed God’s glory in powerful ways…
Stepping Out in History
Saint Francis of Assisi is a good example of a man who came out of hiding. Francis renounced position and prestige shortly after his conversion to Christianity. As the popular son of a wealth merchant, Francis understood the delusion of pursuing personal glory. However, as Francis devoted his life to poverty and reformation, his joy and extreme lifestyle drew many to him.
Without pride or presumption, Francis ended up witnessing before leaders of all kinds. That witness birthed a movement that’s become one of the largest orders within the Catholic Church today. Franciscan’s have shaped significant portions of Western Christian expression and impacted the world through their missionary efforts.
You see, writer, part of stepping out is learning, like Francis, that God is your true source. There is no need to perform. You simply need to show up where He is opening doors.
Stepping Out in the Bible
Gideon is another good example of a man who stepped out of hiding. The angel of the Lord found Gideon hiding in his father’s wine press and called him a mighty man of valor. When the angel commissioned him to save Israel from Midianite oppression, Gideon objected. He was the youngest of the smallest families in the tribe of Benjamin, after all!
Reluctantly, Gideon believed the angel’s message and obeyed his command to destroy the local idol of Baal. Gideon, still afraid of exposure, did so under the cover of night. But as God protected and guided him, Gideon’s confidence grew. By God’s grace, he freed Israel, and the land enjoyed peace for forty years.
You see, writer, stepping out doesn’t mean we have to know or do everything perfectly. It does mean we must believe God’s opinion of us and seek and trust His guidance along the way.
Stepping Out in Life
I stepped out when our church community struggled to find a junior co-leader. Every Sunday, the senior leader adjured the class that God was speaking to someone and they’d better step up! With each announcement, my heart pounded. I knew deep down—though I’d never led anything—God was asking me to fill the empty leadership role. After a couple more weeks, I finally did. And here’s the thing…
When I obeyed, I did not receive immediate courage or wisdom. I simply stepped out in obedience. But as I did, God met that obedience and grew me through mentors and His direct guidance. And here’s the deal…
Stepping Out in Your Life
Sometimes, we’re afraid to step out because we think we don’t have what it takes. Often, we’re not wrong. But here’s the deal: God uses our obedience to equip and teach us as we go. This doesn’t mean we’re to avoid preparation. But it does mean we can’t let perceived lack keep us from obedience. Because here’s the real deal…
Obedience always glorifies God as He meets our weakness with His strength. Let me prove it…
- But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. – 2 Corinthians 4:7
- But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9
- I can do all things through him who strengthens me…And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:13, 19
- His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. – 2 Peter 1:3-4
You see, writer, cultivating courage to be seen and to engage your readers is really about remembering that God is the one who desires to work through you. He wants to demonstrate His glory in the way He’s uniquely designed you to express it. Some readers may not encounter that aspect of Him in any other way.
Where to Start with Stepping Out
So are you ready to step out of hiding and to reach your readers? Here are some ideas to get you started…
- Believe God’s Word. If God’s called you to write a particular story, it’s because He’s uniquely designed you to share that story. The first step in stepping out, is to believe this is true. That you are who He says you are and that He will equip you to do what He’s tasked you to do. If you’ve struggled to have that confidence, spend some time studying verses about your identity in Christ. Make these verses into personal confessions and speak them to yourself daily. What we hear over and over again, we begin to believe.
- Seek God’s Guidance. Recognize you are not on your own. Like Gideon or Saint Francis or me, God called you because He plans to guide, equip, and provide for you along the way. Be intentional to partner with Him. Pray regularly over your writing, your readers, and your efforts to reach them. Write down the ideas and scriptures that come to mind. Take action on any steps God gives you.
- Step Out in Faith. It’s difficult to grow when we’re not fully invested in ourselves or our work. People often sense when we lack enthusiasm, so one of the best ways to spark passion in others is to be passionate ourselves. If you lack that passion, ask God for it as you begin to obey. When we wholeheartedly engage, readers feel our confidence and begin to respond. And here’s the thing…
Being seen isn’t actually about us. It’s about God. Jesus said that when He is lifted up, He would draw all men to Himself. Similarly, when we boldly engage those He wants to reach, His presence begins to draw those He plans to touch through our work. And here’s the real deal…
I said before that God never separates the message from the messenger. If you think about it, when God wanted to reach us, He put on skin and walked among us. We had no right to demand such engagement. But He did it anyway. If the God of Heaven stepped down to earth to promote His message of love to us, how can we expect to do less? But here’s the wonderful part…
When we step out to engage those He’s called us to reach, we need never do so alone. Just as Jesus relied on the Father to show Him what to do and say, we can press into God for His wisdom to reach His people. And as Jesus was surrounded by those who loved God, we can navigate our journey with the support of His body.
So I encourage you, today, if you’ve been reluctant to engage readers, to press into God for wisdom, and to step out in faith toward those He’s designed you to reach. Trust that you are who He says you are. Trust that He will guide you as you continue to seek Him. As we do, we have no idea how ours lives, words, and work will become a beacon of His glory.
#takethestep #faith #glory #EveryWriterWriting
