Photo Credit- Karsten Wurth Unsplash
#Writing seemed easy until I started putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). I strive as a writer to point others to Christ by sharing my unique encounters. Pit stops and slow downs speckle my writing journey. I pour my heart out and share sentences with the world. And then I wait. I check for comments, likes, or shares. Each ding of my phone beckons me to see if my words resonated with someone. Anyone.#My audience has slothfully grown over the past few years. I struggle to stay disciplined to my small tribe. The desire to turn others to Christ often battles the desire to reach lots of people. I start to believe my words don’t matter and halt my journey.#The most difficult aspect of being a writer is the temptation to compare yourself to others. Watching other writing ministries take off feels like personal rejection. I’ve cheered my writer-friends on when their dreams come true, all the while wondering when it will be my turn. I want to celebrate their good news, but the pit in my stomach reveals my discouragement and frustration. Their success magnifies my stagnation. Their victory feels like my defeat.

#I wonder if you can relate. I believe as Christian writers we have the same goal: to impact God’s Kingdom by pointing people to Him. We have a variety of spiritual encounters and learned lessons to share with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. But the enemy is present. He seeks to throw us off the path and immobilize us. We crawl along our individual roads while the enemy tosses distraction bombs at us: comparison, rejection, failure, competition, and loneliness.

#In the midst of discouragement, I find it helpful to turn to Scripture. In God’s Word, I find the encouragement needed to take the next step. I pray the following Scriptures motivate you.

#He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30, CSB)

John the Baptist spoke these words about Jesus, humbly stepping aside and pointing his followers to Christ. He never sought the limelight. His journey prepared the way for Jesus. As Christian writers, we seek to point others to Christ. We live in a world that promotes “me” and the line between promoting self and elevating Christ is a thin one. Lack of affirmation trips me into discouragement. It’s not about me, though. It’s all about Him.

#Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9, CSB)

Discouragement tricked me into quitting not once, but several times. I believed the lie that I wasn’t meant to write if my ministry failed to take off on my timeline. God may use you to reach one person or ten thousand. The number doesn’t matter. The life changed by your words does. Don’t grow weary if you feel your words aren’t being heard. God has a specific time in which you will receive the reward of obedience. Keep writing.

#This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. (Joshua 1:8, CSB)

In order to encourage others, we ourselves need to be encouraged. The best thing you can do as a Christian writer is to stay in God’s Word. Be consistent. Dive deep and study it. Memorize Scripture. The Lord will guide us on our writing journey, and the way to hear His voice is to read His Word. Obedience is the path to success.

#For I want very much to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. (Romans 1:12, CSB)

Find a tribe of fellow Christian authors, engage with them, and support their ministry. God created us for community. Writing can be an isolating and lonely job. Fellow writers are not competition; they are companions. The Christian writers God has put in my path are precious to me. They keep me focused on Christ and speak His Truth into my complaints.

#Writing still isn’t easy for me. Temptations and distractions threaten to lure me away from the path God has set before me. My prayer for all of us as Christian writers is that we would walk our own paths while encouraging our companions along the way. Let us lean in to God, remembering He has a path and a purpose for us all. Be encouraged to keep taking steps forward.

#Chasing Christ,

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Jennifer Andes is a Jesus girl, wife, and stay-at-home mom to three beautiful blessings. She is passionate about Christ and encourages others to chase Him through the chaos of life on her blog jenniferandes.com and Instagram account (@jenandeswriter). She also enjoys caffeine and the slow, southern pace of life as a SC transplant.