Without Fear
by Melinda Eye Cooper
(Psalm 102:18, GNT).
My co-worker complained to upper management about a supervisor who wouldn’t put anything in writing. Instead, he’d call her with complicated directions. She’d ask him to please write it in an email. He’d promise to do so, but she still wouldn’t receive one. So she’d call him and he’d make excuses.
This continued causing my co-worker to make mistakes because the supervisor refused to send her anything in writing. The blame for errors ended up on her shoulders. After she complained and upper management confronted him, he finally sent her an email.
I couldn’t help but consider his motive for not putting anything in writing. Obviously, he didn’t want to be held accountable for his words. It left the option open for him to blame someone else if a mistake was made and he could plead innocence.
Her frustrating story pierced my heart and convicted me.
I see myself having the same poor attitude when it comes to writing in obedience to the Lord’s call. I hold back and neglect to put down in writing what he has laid on my heart. At times, I make excuses. Sometimes, I’m afraid.
Will I offend someone? Will someone argue with me? Will I make a mistake?
I don’t want to be held accountable even though what I write may help someone. My words could offer good direction and prevent terrible mistakes, as my co-worker did at work.
Will upper management (God) need to discipline me or call me out on it?
When God calls us to write, we must write. We can’t worry about those who may find fault with our words. Truthfully, someone probably will, especially online.
We can’t allow negative comments to keep us from sharing the truth or prevent God’s word from getting to those who need it most.
Trust God and write truth without fear. He’s with us in our calling.
God spoke the world into existence with his powerful words.
Who knows what he may do with the words he has laid on our hearts?
Father, help me write truth without fear. In Christ’s name, Amen.
Melinda Eye Cooper lives near Nashville, Tennessee. She and her husband have three sons, two daughters-in-law, and three beautiful granddaughters.
Melinda writes articles and devotions. She also writes fiction and is currently working on a middle-grade fantasy novel. Many of her devotions and stories are inspired by her childhood.
Visit her website here. You can follow her on Instagram here.