We need never be hopeless because we can never be irreperably broken.
John Green
I love this quote from young adult author, John Green. It says so much in a few words. We all have an essence in us that survives even the most tragic or unfortunate circumstances.
Stories of holocaust survivors, overcomers of abuse and cancer conquerors are inspiring. Overcoming the odds, persevering, coming out the other side stronger, and other phrases like this cause us to have hope that if we too had to go through something, we could thrive and not just survive.
In the midst of struggle we often feel helpless and hopeless. We can be paralysed by fear, or just plain run out of energy.
To reach that part deep down inside of us that is still alive, to reignite the spark we once felt, to rebirth our passions and have the courage to start again takes three things, faith, hope and love.
As writers we all need to have faith, hope and love in order to keep going on a path that is often filled with rejection, loneliness, discouragement or just plain weariness.
We need faith in ourselves. God has created each one of us to have something specific to write. Something he wants us to bring to the world. Have the faith that you were created unique for a purpose and that, no matter what, you can still achieve that.
We need faith that there is a God, a force bigger than us, who has everything in control, even when we doubt or filled with unbelief. Or even when our work is rejected or we just can’t find the energy to write one more word.
We need love. The love of those around us: friends, family and community is crucial to unleashing hope. We need a cheer squad-even if it’s a squad of one. God can be our biggest supporter, but we need the warmth of flesh and blood. The right people around us can love us through our situations and hope can rise.
A mentor empowers a person to see a possible future, and believe it can be obtained. It’s that feeling that someone is concerned about you, that they want you to succeed. Shawn Hitchcock
Having critique partners and writing groups such as Christian Writers Downunder give us connection and love in a very lonely profession. We sit at our desks and write alone, day after day. Without the connections with other writers, we may be tempted to give up.
We all need hope. Without hope, our soul becomes sick. Nothing is joyful, we can’t even enjoy the moment. Hope gives us the capacity to live in the now, without seeing what we hope for. Loss of hope causes us to see life as purposeless and meaningless.
Maintaining hope that our work will be published, will be read by our intended audience and will fulfill the call God has placed in our hearts will keep us pushing the pen or clicking away on the keyboard.
A blend of faith, hope and love weaves a pattern into our lives that will sustain us even during the darkest of times.
Our lives are not perfect and we are often challenged by our insecurities. Every now and then, I need a reminder to plough ahead in faith, hope and love despite the challenges.
Elaine Fraser
www.elainefraser.co
Hi Elaine
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post. When a few years back I became very discouraged through burn out, grief, sickness and a loss of a long held and hard fought for dream, God gave me the the words Faith, Hope and Love. I even found them in a knick knack shop and put them on top of my bookshelf where I could see them. Them's powerful words, and our God is more powerful still - who can bring life to the dead. Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks Jeanette. I have the words from Isaiah 40:28-31imprinted on my brain from when I was going through a particularly difficult time years ago. Words are powerful, especially ones like these.
DeleteHi Elaine,
ReplyDeleteThat's an inspiring post. It's good to think we can reach for these three things ourselves and also help impart them to others.
Thanks Paula.
DeletePsalm 31:24 is what comes to mind after reading your post. I used to scoff at hope. What is hope other than fluff? is what I used to think. Nowadays my main strength is this very hope you're talking about Elaine. I cherish the support of fellow writers and this community. Thank you for an Ace post.
ReplyDeleteLost hope is very hard to deal with isn't it? That's why we need to hang onto it as well as we can.
DeleteLoved your post Elaine. Thanks so much. Have been feeling lately that I am a trifle jaded as a writer since I've had so many rejections and was wondering where my writing journey was headed. Your post was a breath of fresh air to remind me that with faith, hope and love (which are mine through Christ) I have all that is needed.
ReplyDeleteSo I will have the faith that God is leading me. I will have hope to know that He will use my gifts for His glory when I surrender to Him. And will claim His loving kindness and the love and care of my fellow writers and cheering squad on my journey.
Thanks for the refreshment Elaine. May God continue to use you on your own writing journey to touch His world in amazing ways. Bless you. xox
Thank you, Anusha. I think we all feel a little jaded at times. Your posts are so encouraging Anusha. Your writing is touching people even if publishers may not be accepting your submissions at present. I often feel like the line from the poem, O what made fatuous sunbeams toil. To break earth's sleep at all?
DeleteOur writing is not fatuous. It has purpose and even an audience of one is worth it. xx
I agree wholeheartedly about the blessing of belonging to our writers' groups, Elaine. Where else can we share our problems, rejections and small triumphs? No one else can possible understand the struggle we go through to bring our work into the world. Yes, just like birthing a baby! Once we overcome those feelings of failure, it all works to make us stronger. I also believe it can be incredibly cathartic, after all, a lot of our life experiences find their way into our stories.
ReplyDeleteGood point, Rita. Talking through and sharing the struggles makes the burden lighter and the celebrations heartier!
DeleteA great reminder Elaine. It can be hard to hang on through the rejections and loneliness of writing, but you're so right about the connections we have with others. I was on a writing retreat last week with three wonderful women and it was so encouraging to have others cheering us on. We really need to hang onto faith, hope and love. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading about your retreat on Facebook. It looked like such fun and very productive!
ReplyDeleteMentoring is a great thing. I have a couple of writers who'd like mentors, but paying for a mentor is costly. And time is precious for those of us who could mentor. It's a tricky business, but a necessary one too.
ReplyDeleteI love mentoring too, Meredith--and Elaine. I guess I was helped so much by my lovely mentor Joy and want to pass the same experience on to others who need someone to believe in them and encourage them to be the person God created them to be--which is probably all of us!
ReplyDelete