Thankful for your gift?

Recently I found myself facing a few difficulties in launching my new book, The Jealous Son…with technology, with people, with time. Basically things weren’t working fast enough and the way I wanted them to. And while some people have surprised me with their support and encouragement, there have been others who, let’s just say, have let me down, or at least it feels that way. I always have high expectations, which can sometimes lead to resentments.

I actually found myself wishing at one point that God had not given me the gift of writing, nor the desire to be a successful author. Why couldn’t I just be happy with working a nine-to-five job, I asked Him. I even voiced this complaint out loud to my husband. And immediately I was sorry I said it, much less thought it. I realize that God has called me to write Modern Day Bible Stories – contemporary novels based on Old Testament stories in the Bible. And I actually love the writing part. It’s the business part of which I’m not particularly fond.

And then I heard a fellow Christian author, who was also having difficulty too, say that often, the closer we get to doing God’s will or building His Kingdom, the harder Satan works to thwart our efforts – and the harder we have to pray. I need to remember I have been given the gifts from God…the desire, ideas, ability to write these books…and that I need to use them for His glory. I also need to learn from the tests and trials to depend on Him more, and that it’s all a journey, not a destination, one that has led and will continue to lead to incredible opportunities if I stay open to them.

Jesus told his disciples while He was here on earth, “Truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.†(John 14:12-13) John wrote these words in the Bible to give to us today. How amazing that we are to do greater things than Jesus Himself! But we have to believe we can, even when the going gets tough, and ask for His help.

It gives me renewed hope in this season of Pentecost that God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, all will provide me the help I need and everything will all work out if I just keep using my gifts to the best of my ability for His glory.

Are you thankful for your gifts? I wouldn’t trade mine for anything! Lord, help us to be grateful for the dreams, the desires, the talents, even the tests you lay before us.