I spent most of my early years being told everything was predictable and orderly. If I lived a certain way or did something in a specific way, there was a guaranteed outcome consistent with my original plan.
Even God was pressed into the predictability mix. Anyone who follows the Ten Commandments and does everything the Bible requires will live long and prosper. God always worked in logical, understandable ways that made perfect sense.
Then life happened, and I saw things differently. The only things predictable about God are his trustworthiness, faithfulness, and perfect parenting skills of his children.
Preparing for this life’s serendipities, changes, and interruptions makes things interesting, to say the least. God regularly interrupts our plans, calendars, desires, prayers, thoughts, Bible study, service, conversations, careers, creativity, public speeches, and whatever is left.
In reality, God interrupting us on a regular basis is a good thing. Since we tend to wander off a bit, the Good Shepherd must interrupt and pull us back to the flock. Hard-headedness is a common human trait.
Proverbs 16 is a mix of encouraging and uncomfortable statements. The same chapter containing “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans,” (vs. 3) moves to the next verse with something less inspirational, “The Lord works out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster.”
I haven’t seen verse four on a wall plaque lately. After verse three, we smile; but after verse four, we think, Wait, what?
So, what does this have to do with writing? Frankly, everything.
Planning your writing is just fine. Pray about it and regularly ponder it. But God might very well take you in a different direction than planned. At the very least, he will likely use your work differently than you thought. As if he says, “Nice work, my child; but I’m going to use it for something else.”
The book for young people, helping them process a difficult issue growing up, might end up bearing fruit among much older people who still haven’t settled a difficult childhood.
A book helping fellow believers solidify their faith might be used to bring an unbeliever to faith.
A book for unbelievers might help believers strengthen their faith.
A book of basic Bible stories for young children might bring a parent to see their need for a Savior. (A friend of mine prayed to receive Christ while sitting in his daughter’s kindergarten story time at church.)
The Holy Spirit intervened.
How many believers have been interrupted by God as they routinely read Scripture one morning and have a thought-altering encounter with the Creator over coffee?
I’ll often think of how some people write as a process of discovery. This means they might have a general direction in mind; but they allow the story to go where it will, a character to say what they want, etc.
Writing (and living) as a Christ-follower is like a discovery process, as we realize our thoughts and ways are not his.
When you write, be open to interruptions by God, who might have another idea, taking you in unpredictable directions.
