Spending Time In a Valley | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Spending Time In a Valley | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Fahy
07/27/23
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In the past few months, I have entered the Faithwriters challenge less than five times. Prior to entering this group of Christian writers, I asked myself a simple question. Why do I write? I write to know, to serve, and to glorify God. I followed the Faithwriters suggestions, by reading and critiquing the work of others and having the judges critique my work. This was extremely helpful. I could see that my writing was improving.

Then bang I hit a brick wall. I would receive the new word or verse, and a sense of inadequacy flowed over me. I read and studied other entries looking for a spark that I could turn into a blaze, hoping for the words that would pop off the page that would transform lives.

The words poured out of my pen, but then my brain clogged up and there was nothing. If I wrote a twenty-five word paragraph that was a victory. I continued trudging to get the words on paper. God, what is wrong? I said to myself many times. No answer. How can I get back in the game? I continued reading other entries.

I missed my first challenge. That upset me. Then I missed the next one. Then another I kept praying for guidance. The parable of the talents came to mind. I didn’t want to be the one who hid his talent in the ground.

After three weeks I entered a challenge. I felt good about it, but it was a struggle to get the words down. The following week I couldn’t come up with a grocery list. I was getting angry with myself as I read other entries, questioning myself what was I doing wrong? The thought of withdrawing from the Faithwriters challenge crossed my mind a number of times.

I binged watched TV shows. This got me upset. My prayers continued, but still no answer. I was involved in an internal battle. I told myself things like Who do you think you are? You can’t do this loser. Why don’t you quit? I was swimming upstream not knowing what to do. I felt I lost my purpose. My attitude became testy something that would never bother me in the past was now a huge nuisance. I was spending time in a valley.

One day I plopped down in my desk chair and noticed how messy not only my desk but the surrounding area. As I removed the papers and other clutter from the desk, an index card fell from a folder. I stared at the words printed on the card. I allowed them to sink deep into my mind. Words that I had forgotten. For me, they were important words. They were reminders; they were my motivation. It was the question I asked myself before joining Faithwriters.

Why do I write?
I write to know, to serve and to glorify God!
How do I know God? Getting into His word. I asked myself was I studying his word, or just reading it? Was I applying it in my life? How do I serve God with my writing? Understanding his word and putting pen to paper no matter how I feel, to glorify God to write the best I can, and come from the heart. Write, no matter what the circumstances.

I took my eyes off of my purpose for writing to glorify God. I lost that purpose. I relied on self and my own knowledge instead of leaning on God. It was pride for believing I could do it myself. Having this attitude I missed out on God’s blessings. It was a lesson I needed to learn. Darkness always comes before the dawn.

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