Time to Finish

I sit bundled under a blanket on the couch in front of a roaring fire in the fireplace. It’s time. It’s been almost six months, and to be honest, I had no idea when, or if, this day would come. They told me it would, but people sometimes tell you whatever you want to hear. But here I am, a gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit, telling me it’s time. Ideas have started swirling the past couple of weeks, and now, an epiphany.

I open my laptop, take a sip of my warm tea, and turn on the computer. As I scroll through my recent documents in Word, it’s missing. I actually have to search for it, that’s how long it’s been. Finally, I locate it, and think back to the warm sun heating my face as I sat on my deck, typing. It seems like forever ago.

Tonight, as I begin, I feel a sense of unease. Like I’ve put a bandage on a wound, and it’s time to change the dressing. Butterflies dance in my stomach as I open the document and prepare to work.

Six months ago I felt the Lord whisper to me to stop working on one particular manuscript. Set it aside for a time. My emotions needed a break. My mind needed a break. Work on another project. But wait! I can’t do that. I’m the type of person who can’t even read two books at once, let alone write two books simultaneously. How can I stop working on this manuscript when I’ve come so far?

Have you ever started writing something, only to put it aside for one reason or another? Here are a few insightful tips I’ve found helpful:

Don’t Get Discouraged and Trust God It may seem like the end of the road with that story if you set it aside. It’s OKAY. Give it to God and trust that in the right time, He will release it back to you. “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:17

Think on it and Take Notes Just because you set it aside doesn’t mean you still can’t think about it and jot down notes or thoughts. Sometimes life experiences change our perspective or might trigger an event in our story. That’s great! Don’t let the opportunity pass you by because you say, “Oh, I’m not working on that right now.” Grab your notebook and make a note of it, so when the time comes to finish that manuscript, you have your notes.

Keep Writing After I set the story aside, I went through a time where I didn’t really feel like writing. I mean, I spent months pouring my heart and soul into this piece, and at the end, what did I have to show for it? I felt empty, like I had nothing left. But I kept writing. I kept editing and blogging. I still have so much to learn about the art of writing so I spent my time focusing on what I could do, not what I couldn’t do. “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” Philippians 1:6

You might be wondering whether the story that’s been sitting in your document library, collecting computer dust for ages, has any purpose for being written. Have you wasted all that time for nothing? The answer is NO! You haven’t wasted any time. It may take years, but there is a reason for that story, and at the perfect moment, you, too, will be able to brush away the dust and open that document, filled with anticipation and hope for the masterpiece God will use you to complete.

If you’ve been in the same place or are there now, I’d love to know some other strategies you’ve used to help you get through.

Photo Insert by Brett Jordan