11 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 NIV
In spite of the challenges we face these days, I believe we will one day look back and see where God’s hand touched our lives in 2020.
You might be able to see it now. I’m always a bit slow in this area, only later realizing what God did.
I thought I’d share a story with you today about how God touched my life with regard to fiction, something I wasn’t able to recognize as special until later on.
In January 2009, I decided to write a novel. Each day, in the window between when the youngest left for elementary and the oldest got home from middle school, after I prepped dinner and ran the errands and folded laundry, I sat down at the computer for at least half an hour and wrote.
I didn’t know what I was genre I was writing. I didn’t know who my readers might be. I didn’t know how long my book should be. I just wrote the story that came to my mind. Four month later, by late April, I had finished 70,000 words and I typed “The End!”
Then I wondered what to do next.
I talked to a friend who taught English at the university in my town. “I wrote a book that has some mystery and some romance in it, but it needs work. Should I take a class?” I asked. “Maybe something in creative writing?”
“No,” she said. “The classes in creative writing here are more suited for literary fiction. You should join an organization for the genre that you want to write, a group that will have contests, classes, conferences, and offer critique groups.”
Eventually, after some hunting around, I found such a group. I joined a huge organization, which at the time had more than 10,000 members writing all types of romance, from Christian romance to romance with aliens to romance that was very, very steamy stuff. One benefit of the organization was that it offered online writing classes.
I signed up for a class that seemed like it might help me, a class about the types of conflict in a romance. (There are three types. I still use my notes.) I learned that my story had a plot and subplots and that one of the subplots was about the faith journey of the heroine. I emailed the teacher. “Does that part about the faith journey belong in here? I don’t really know. It just came to me when I was typing.”
The teacher of the class—who “just happened” to write Christian romance—told me that the subplot about the heroine’s faith journey was key to how my story resolved. Then she said that if I had those stories inside me, that there was a market for them and I should write them.
Thank you, Lyn Cote!
I kept writing. I took lots and lots of classes. I wrote manuscript after manuscript. Eventually, I wrote some I thought were good enough to publish.
Today, knowing the rather small percentage romance writers who write Christian romance, I believe that the fact that I found that particular class, taught by someone who writes Christian romance, was the hand of God at work in my life.
I believe He led me to that class. I believe I was called to write my contemporary Christian romance series. And I believe this calling is part of God’s plans for me.
Most of all, I believe that—even when we can’t see it, even if things seem stressful or scary or downright impossible like they do when I read the news—God is in charge. I don’t by any stretch of the imagination think He wanted this pandemic, but I believe He is here in the midst of it. He has a plan.
We may not be able to see that plan, but He’s got this.
Sally Bayless writes contemporary Christian romance that features compelling characters, real-world problems, and uplifting endings filled with the power of love. She lives in the beautiful hills of Appalachian Ohio and has two grown children. When not working on her next book, she enjoys reading, watching BBC television with her husband, doing Bible studies, kayaking, and shopping for cute shoes. For updates on her writing and a free insider’s guide to her books, subscribe to her newsletter by clicking the newsletter icon below or visiting http://bit.ly/NewsfromSally.
So true in what you have said, God will always see us through. At the time we are going through trial and tribulation it seems as if we are alone but when we look back is then we realise that He is always there through it all.
Hi Sally I only know Lyn through a couple of readers groups (On was the LIH goodreads group) but she feels like a friend. She seems very thoughtful and caring and was very active in the group.
I think in some ways with the shut downs and slow down its a time for many of us to reprioritise things. I have found I am doing more around the house and after the first few weeks adjusting am appreciating the more simple life. Its been a time to be re-evaluate.
Hi Sally! You quoted what I have considered my life verse for quite some time. I have gone through some tremendous challenges for the last few years making me home bound much of the time. I can’t begin to tell you how many times God has shown me His blessings! During this pandemic He has shown me one more very big one. I am grateful for the time I spent unable to leave the house making this lately so much easier for me to deal with than the public as a whole. I’m more empathetic for anyone who is having trouble with it. One sort of selfish way I consider being blessed is by my church doing live online services! I have had difficulty sitting through services making my attendance spotty and while I have always been able to listen to our sermons the difference between hearing & seeing while communication with others through comments is indescribable!
It amazes me how God continues to show me new blessings every day. He has my life in His hands and uses EVERYTHING I go through to bring me to the perfect ending only He could possibly imagine. Thank you for sharing such a powerful verse!
He is! I think one of the advantages of getting older is that you can look back on your own life and see those times and have faith that He is with you in the present. Not that I’m getting older. ;)
I was fortunate enough to meet her once at a writers’ conference and tell her how she affected my life. I hope our paths cross again one day!
I agree. This time at home has made us see what is really important–a blessing in the midst of the crisis.
Deb,
What a beautiful outlook you have! Your strong faith shines through your words and is SUCH a blessing and inspiration. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and your thoughts.
Sally, Thank you for sharing your story! Isn’t that cool?! Jeremiah 29:11 is one of my favorite Bible verses. (And also Ps 46:10 “Peace. Be still, and know that I Am God” basically “don’t fret my child; I am in control”). Both remind me that during times of trouble God is still in control. God still knows my name; He still loves me; He still has a plan for my life (and it’s not to purposely hurt or destroy me). He is not surprised by what is occurring; He is still able and willing to bring me through whatever is terrifying me. My job is to only believe. I call it “hanging on for the ride”, trusting Him to never let me go. Sometimes the difficulties seem to last for ever, but then I remind myself – God is eternal. From His perspective this is just a speck in time. Perspective sometimes helps. Other times, I just need to hunker down & trust. Reading positive, centered HEAs help (me). And turning off the news. ;)
Hi Penelope! Ps. 46:10 is a great verse! I love it too. Perspective, trust, and controlling what goes into my brain help me too! If only I could remember this every day, every hour…
Hi, Sally! I agree whole heartedly!!! Cov19 was not a surprise to God, and He’s got this whole thing under control!!
One of my favorite verses…that and Proverbs 3:5-6!
Amen, Trudy! Amen!!
Another great verse! I sometime think I need a big sign in front of my face all day that says “Lean not, Sally! Lean not!!” :)
One of my favorite scriptures. Thank you for sharing.
And you’re so glad you did!
I have often wondered if the trials we go through, in addition to the refining that they cause in our own lives, might have an additional purpose, both here and in heaven. Whether in living our lives before others or in the great judgement in heaven, we may be called as witnesses when someone accuses God of unfairness.
“Look at what you did to me, God. How could I seek you or want you when you put me through all this misery?”
“I call my child, Sally Bayless, to the stand. Sally, daughter, did you go through the same difficulties, struggles and pain that the defendant has experienced?”
“Yes, sir, I did.”
“Were these a hindrance to your faith, to finding me trustworthy?”
A smile crosses Sally’s face. “No, Abba. You were always faithful. Most times I hated the process but when I could look back, I saw your faithfulness in every moment. It may have taken some time to see how You were working, but the results were amazing. And knowing You has made every moment of those trials worth it.”
“Thank you, child, for your testimony. You may step down.” As Sally turns to leave the witness stand, the Judge of all the universe leans over to her and smiles, saying, “I will see you later for dinner.”
So, there may well be more to our trials than just watching our own train wrecks. I know that my own has been going on, literally, for years. Some of it is because the hard knocks are what it takes to break some of the sin loose. The rest, however, may be threads in a much larger tapestry of glory.
Good job, Sally!
A lot to take from this.
Hi Sally! Loved your story of your literary journey! I firmly believe our Father God leads us every step of the way. Lyn Cote being your teacher? That was awesome! May your gift of writing continue with lots of more great stories! God bless, Margaret
Sally, thanks for sharing about your writing journey. I do believe God guides, even when we don’t realize it.
Remembering to listen to our hearts and know it’s the Lord guiding us through is something we sometimes forget. The answer is there in Faith.
Thank you!
Yes I am, Laurie!
Lincoln, what a lovely thought! I can only hope that one day I might be someone of such faith and eloquence and then have dinner with our Lord!
Whatever His purpose is, I know He loves us!
Thank you, Mary!
Thank you so much, Margaret! May God bless you as well!
Hi Merrillee! He is so good to us!
You are so right, Denise! I keep practicing every day and hoping I will keep His guidance in my mind. It’s a one step forward, two steps back sort of thing, but I keep trying!
My point was that your post constituted such a testimony. You’re already there. As for dinner with the Lord of Glory, Jesus was always eating with his disciples. I have no reason to believe that would change in heaven :). I believe that God not only loves us with His agape love (an unconditional commitment to our ultimate well-being that demonstrates His glory), He also enjoys us! If we, as imperfect humans, enjoy our children and have pride in their growth and accomplishments. Would not our Heavenly Father do so, only perfectly? I find great encouragement from the first question in the Westminster catechism: What is the chief end (or purpose) of man? It is to know God and enjoy Him forever. Amen!
You are too kind, Lincoln!
Stay safe!