Monday 30 March 2020

Writing Brave (Even if Your Knees are Knocking) by Nola Lorraine



Image by Viktor Ivanchenko at Pixabay


Meltdown in Aisle 3

Last Thursday, I launched my author website with the tagline ‘Weaving Words of Courage and Hope’. I’d come up with that line last year and it seemed like a good fit for most of my writing


Rewind to last Tuesday, and I was standing in the toilet paper aisle at Woollies, fighting back tears because the lady in front of me had grabbed the last pack of toilet paper. You know how it is when you want to cry, but you’re in a public place and don’t want to make a spectacle of yourself? So you open your eyes wide and work your tongue round the inside of your cheek, trying to hold it together. Yep, that was me.



Now to be fair, it wasn’t just the toilet paper. I think the enormity of everything suddenly hit me at that moment and I had a lot of things rolling around in my head. Would my parents’ nursing home go into lockdown? How could my cousin’s wife plan his funeral with only ten mourners? What if it’s months before I can catch up with friends for coffee? What about the people who were already isolated before COVID-19 reared its ugly head?

I felt like a hypocrite. How could I possibly have any words of courage and hope for people in this crisis when I was having a meltdown myself? But you know what? We don’t have to try to dredge up some skerrick of courage from within ourselves. God is by our sides right now and He can help us through this. He WILL help us through this.


The Example of King David

I did a study of David’s psalms a while back and discovered something surprising. Although he was described as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), he didn’t sanitise his words. He expressed his fears, worries, griefs, frustrations and disappointments in poetry and song without censoring or filtering them. He was authentic before God.

I am worn out from groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears (Ps. 6:6).

I am forgotten by them [my friends] as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery (Ps. 31:12).

I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart (Ps. 38:8).


Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash
But David didn’t stay in that place. After expressing his real feelings of fear and despair, he handed them to God. Where there was sin, he repented. Where there were fears, he stood on God’s promises and proclaimed His faithfulness. Where there was uncertainty, he prayed and put his trust in the One who holds our past, present and future in His hands.


But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands … Praise be to the Lord, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city. In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. Love the Lord, all his saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord (Ps. 31:14-15a, 21-24).


Writing Brave

So how does David’s example apply to us as writers, especially during these challenging times?

  • Be real. If you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or depressed, don’t deny what you’re going through. Do some journaling or free-writing and express what you’re really feeling and thinking at this moment. Don’t try to spiritualise it. Don’t censor yourself. If you’re angry with God, or don’t understand what He’s doing or why this is happening, tell Him. He can take it. He knows what you’re really thinking and feeling anyway, so cut to the chase and be authentic with Him.

  • But don’t stop there. Take what you’ve written and bring it before God in prayer. If there’s anything you need to confess, come before Him humbly and ask for forgiveness. If you’re afraid or frustrated or lonely, read scripture and pray out His promises. Listen to worship music or read an inspirational book. Give thanks for what you do have. Remember that there are still many blessings, in spite of the challenges. Connect with others by phone, Skype, or email and encourage one another. God will see us through this.

  • Ask what God would have you write in this season. For some, it might be a continuation of what you’re already doing. For others, it might be a nudge in a different direction for a time. For others, it might be the courage to start writing something that God has laid on your heart. You could step out of your comfort zone and start a podcast or run writing workshops via Skype or Zoom. Or maybe it’s as simple as writing a letter to someone who’s isolated. (For more ideas on that, see Adele Jones’ post You’ve Got Mail).

 
Photo by azboomer on Pixabay.

Please don’t feel you have to have it all together in order to speak into this situation. You’re not doing it alone. God is with you and He may have a word that only you can share. For more on that topic, see Belinda Pollard’s inspiring post on Being a Christian Writer During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Yes, these are challenging times, but it’s also a time of great opportunity. Many are looking for answers that only God can provide. He loves us intimately and cares for each one of us more than we can imagine. He is our protector and defender and He will never let us go. How will our responses to this current crisis influence those around us for good? What will it mean for us to ‘write brave’?

(N.B. All scripture references from the NIV Bible)



Nola Lorraine (aka Nola Passmore) lives in southeast Queensland, Australia, where she and her husband Tim run a freelance writing and editing business called The Write Flourish. She has a passion for faith and social justice issues, and loves weaving words that inspire others with courage and hope. She co-edited the Christian charity anthology Glimpses of Light; and has more than 150 short publications, including fiction, poetry, devotions, true stories, magazine articles and academic papers. Her debut novel Scattered is being published by Breath of Fresh Air Press later this year.

To find out more, please visit her author site: https://www.nolalorraine.com.au

She’d also love to connect with you on social media:

Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/nolalorraine
Twitter:            https://twitter.com/nolalorraine1
Pinterest:         https://www.pinterest.com.au/nolalorraine1


22 comments:

  1. Thanks, Nola. Wise words. I managed a sneak peak at this last night (perks of being an admin) and it was as a soothing balm to my soul. I read several Psalms of praise, and honest hope, before I drifted off to sleep. I love the term, 'imprecatory' - the one theologians use to describe those psalms that pour out inner turmoil and strife, clearing the decks of self, as it were, so the praises might flow. Dare I say it, the very word has that nice, harsh, 'c' sound in the middle, good to spit out when feeling frustrated ;). As to writing brave, I'm not sure how that will manifest for me just yet, but I'm certainly open to the Spirit's leading. As you said so well, "We don’t have to try to dredge up some skerrick of courage from within ourselves. God is by our sides right now and He can help us through this. He WILL help us through this."

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    1. Thanks Mazzy. I must admit I haven't heard the word 'imprecatory' before, but I like the idea of 'clearing the decks of self' so the praises flow. I think it's easy to miss that first step. I think you're already 'writing brave', Mazzy. Looking forward to seeing what God does through your writing. Thanks for the encouragement.

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  2. Great word, Nola. I love how real the psalms are and that we can draw on the resources of the king of all creation to get through. I also like that we can be part of the solution too. Onward we march :).

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    1. Thanks Sue. I read the Psalms a lot and I find them a great encouragement. It's wonderful to know that we don't have to have it all together before God can use us. Looking forward to marching onward with you and God. Thanks for commenting.

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  3. Lovely, strong, honest writing, Nola--thanks so much and well done to you! I love the psalms as well and go through them all at least twice a year. Sorry you had such an upsetting experience in that shopping aisle though--it can be very unsettling to go to such places at times. A lady pushed in right in front of me at the checkout at our supermarket the other day, when the rest of us had lined up in orderly fashion a trolley length apart--and you should have heard the chorus of protest from about ten people in the line behind me!! I was so stunned, I didn't say anything, but I was being careful too, as I had just shared a bible verse that had popped up on my phone with the lady behind me in the queue!!!! Keep writing, Nola--lovely to see you forging on!

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    1. Thanks Jo. You'll be happy to know I've recovered from my shopping experience and managed to find toilet paper at my local convenience store. I bet you were saying 'goodness golly gumdrops' under your breath when that lady pushed in. She's lucky security didn't haul her off. And good on you for sharing that verse. Isn't it annoying when God gets us to practise what we preach? LOL Your faithful blog writing encourages so many people. I know God will give you wonderful words to share at this time. You've been a great encouragement to me. Thanks for commenting.

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  4. Thank you, Nola. I think some scripture verses that we may have been a bit glib with in the past now have deep meaning and profound comfort, and the circumstances people were in when they wrote them are instructional. Paul was often in pretty awful circumstances when he wrote some glorious words under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And one of my favourites: Gideon was hiding in a wine press when the angel addressed him as, "Mighty warrior"! Maybe, Nola, God saw you fighting tears in Aisle 3 and considered you a Mighty Warrior, too?

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    1. Thanks Julie. Yes the verse I included in the post about being in a besieged city certainly seems more relevant at the moment. And that verse about Gideon has always been one of my favourites. It's reassuring to know that some of those we regard as heroes of the faith, weren't always courageous, but God used them where they were. Thanks for your encouragement :)

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  5. Hi Nola,
    Thanks for that wise and well-timed advice from both you and King David. In this days when we can't even control our numbers of toilet paper rolls, at least we can control our pens (to a certain extent). I'm sure there will be plenty of powerful writing coming out of this Covid-19 crisis. And I must say, your toilet paper aisles look identical to ours :)

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    1. Thanks Paula. I think you're right there. Lots of powerful writing (and the odd zombie movie). It's great to remember that God is still in control even when things seem so uncertain. Thanks for commenting :)

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  6. Great post Nola. Thanks so much. I'm so sorry for what happened to you at the supermarket - it's perfectly understandable in the current context. And look what a lovely blog you got out of it! Love your quotes from the Psalms. The Psalms have been the fountain from which I've drunk for years now - and how much they bless me during tough times and moments. I too love it that David is utterly honest and yet he is also able to trust God through His darkest times (something I am striving to do - but not always getting there!) I never tire of reading them so thank you for sharing. I feel a sense of hope and expectation these days as to what our mighty God is doing and will do through all of this. It's such a comfort to know that we can continue to write during these turbulent times. In fact we have so much to offer the world - when we allow the Spirit to lead. I love your points for writing brave. Courage has never been my strong point, but over the last 3 years God has been calling me to a life of courage and it has been very hard going. The plus is that He has taught me so much these tough three years - so I hope I can use it to encourage others now when the whole world seems to be falling apart around us. He is always a Good Good Father. Thank God for that! And thanks Nola for your refreshing post.

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  7. Thanks Anusha. You're so right that 'we have so much to offer the world - when we allow the Spirit to lead'. I'm sorry you've had such a hard time over the last 3 years, but God has given you many pearls of wisdom that have encouraged others. May He continue to bless your writing. I'll look forward to seeing what He leads you to write in this season. Take care.

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  8. Love it Nola. Thanks for sharing your heart honestly and openly. I am still learning to be totally honest and open with God and people. What a journey. But a valuable and necessary life lesson. Thanks again for your words that weave courage and hope. xx

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    1. Thanks Janelle. It's a process I think. There are still some things I find hard to share, but God meets us where we are. If we're honest with what we're feeling and going through, others will relate to that. Looking forward to seeing where God takes you on that journey. Thanks for your support and encouragement.

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  9. I love that you said that God is big enough to handle me being cranky with him, so good! And so true! I've definitely found courage from David - seeing that he was so raw and real with God and how he managed his situations. Great post.

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    1. Thanks Miriam. Yes, David's Psalms are very encouraging to me too. Sometimes it's easy to think we need to act super-spiritual, but I think it's a much better witness if we're authentic. Thanks for your encouragement :)

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  10. Thanks for sharing Nola, very encouraging.

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    1. Thanks Susan. And I even have toilet paper now :) Thanks for commenting.

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  11. Tears and toilet paper. What interesting times we live in! Really appreciate your honesty and vulnerability in sharing a timely message of encouragement. It can be easy to get caught up in the torrent of catastrophe-dense reports in the media, and the fear and anxiety these reports generate - or be overwhelmed by frustration or sadness. How grateful to know our responses, no matter how raw, can be brought to the One who stands with us in the fire, Who calms our fears, in Whom all things hold together, even when it seems the world is unravelling like an old woollen jumper.

    Thank you for choosing to write bravely, especially at this time when there's such a desperate need for encouragement and hope. Who can measure just what a difference those words will make.

    (And thank you for the shout out. 😊)

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    1. Thanks for that, Adele. I think a lot of us will be called to write those words of courage and hope over the coming months. The news is so grim each day, it's good to remember that God is still in control and there are a lot of glimpses of light if we know where to look for them. Thanks for taking the time to comment :)

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  12. Thank you for your authenticity Nola! I loved how you described David as a writer who didn't sanitise his words despite being a man after God's own heart. How very applicable in this sanitising season we are in right now! Your advice was helpful too about writing what God would have us to, according to the season we're in. Thanks for setting a wonderful example of doing just that!

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    1. Thanks Bronwyn. I go back to the Psalms a lot and always appreciate David's authenticity. I think God's calling a lot of us to write different things in this season. It will be interesting to see what comes out of it and how God will use those offerings for his Kingdom. Thanks for your encouragement :)

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