The Task from His Hand
My writing project feels too daunting…
This was the thought tormenting me.
Sure, my previous work-in-progress was confronting and challenging in its own way, but this? This was far beyond my comfort zone. Not only was I seeking to write a story centered on a culture other than my own, but the relationship between their culture and my own is so complex. After all, I’m a Non-Indigenous Australian with a historical fiction novel on her heart. And if I’m writing a story based on this Great South Land, then it must include characters from the First Nations people. In fact, the story is beginning to center on them.
The task seemed way too big. Too complex. Too hard. Too sensitive.
I began to backtrack. I thought, I’ll give myself time to research. Plenty of time. I’ll write something else in the meantime… something light while I gather information, so I’m still being productive…
(To be completely honest, doing such a thing feels a little like Jonah refusing to travel to Ninevah. And we all know how THAT turned out – see Jonah chapter 1 for his little adventure into the belly of a whale)
Then, this week I “stumbled” across this quote in a devotional –
‘Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.’
Phillips Brooks
It’s incredible how quickly fear can try to talk us out of our God-given tasks. I know I’ve been called to write this book. There have been too many signs. Too many “coincidences”. But fear once again is getting the better of me. Fear of offending. Fear of not honouring history. Fear of the emotions this subject stirs in me.
When I began this blog post, I never expected the Lord would highlight the root cause of my not-writing. I knew I was daunted but I thought that meant I could detour and fluff around and, well, just not write that particular story right now…
But, as always, His plans are not my own. And there is something incredibly comforting knowing that He who calls us is faithful to help us complete the task.
‘But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, “Salvation comes from the LORD”.’
Jonah 2:9
Jesus, please help me to remember that You have not given me a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. Help me to complete this task You have gifted me.