Unflapped by Feelings by Elizabeth Lux

Unflapped by Feelings

by Elizabeth Lux

 

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”

(John 15:5, NIV).

 

The temptation to write only when inspired provides a great excuse. Not inspired? That’s okay, I can do it tomorrow. But tomorrow easily stretches into next week, next month, or next year. If we wait for inspiration to write, we will never finish our stories.

Recently, I have struggled to feel God’s presence. I KNOW he is here. I KNOW he will never leave me. Yet, I feel lonely and discouraged. I feel like I will never reclaim the peace I desperately desire.

Human life isn’t static. We change and so do our feelings. We often struggle to remember God’s truth beyond the church walls. However, God’s presence isn’t connected to our emotions. He never abandons us. When I feel distant from the Lord, I need to open my Bible, turn to God in prayer, and reach out to my community.

Inspiration is an emotion, one of many fleeting feelings in our human existence. As writers, we cannot restrict our writing to moments when we feel inspired. Neither our relationship with God nor our ability to write depend upon emotions. I struggle when I feel distant or uninspired.

But God proves greater than our feelings. Scripture promises God’s faithfulness to complete the work he started within us. We can choose to abide in and align with him no matter how we feel.

As my grandfather says, “That’s the essence of writing. Butt to chair.” Whether fifteen minutes or an hour a day, get in that chair and write. God can use us for great things.

 

Lord, please give me courage to face the fear. Give me peace in the face of trepidation. Let me rest on your grace and continue to move forward toward the goal you have called me to complete. In your precious name, Amen.

 

Elizabeth Lux is a professional artist, writer, and editor running after her dreams and faith. She is a member of Word Weavers International and a Graduate of the University of South Florida. You can find Elizabeth Lux on her website at https://elizabethlux.com, Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/ElizabethLux, @Elizabeth_Lux_ on Instagram, and @Elizabeth_Lux everywhere else.