by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

Nobody knows the difficulty in getting on that next novel or article better than I. Between health issues with my husband, dealing with a 99-year-old Momma, a son with disabilities, and conference travel, trust me. I know how challenging it can be to get started on a project. There are times my head is so full of “stuff” that I can’t sort through the muck to find page one. Still, despite the roadblocks of life, I manage to sit down and begin.

I find my way clear to begin again because I love writing. Writing is my happy place. It’s where I go to let loose and allow my life experiences to start shaping a story, albeit there are times when I feel spent. Avoidance doesn’t give me the excuse not to do what I love. Write.

When I hit these moments when words don’t seem to flow, I’ve learned that pushing through and beginning the process unlocks everything I thought I’d lost sight of. So, the Nike phrase of “Just Do It” has real meaning. My point is simple. The writing won’t start until you begin to put words on the page. I realize that is a Captain Obvious phrase, but it’s true. We won’t move forward until we take the first step.

I recently spoke with a writer who reminded me I’d given her a challenge. She’d become “stuck” in her writing and felt as though she’d lost her way. This writer has an excellent command of the craft. She has the know-how, but fear and doubt cloud her view. I understand this dilemma because I’ve stood in those same shoes, but the difference for me was pushing the fear and doubt aside so I could take the first step.

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My heart ached for this writer who’d fallen prey to confusion and fear. She’d asked, “Do you have any advice for me?” I thought it through for a while before I responded, “I can give you all the advice in the world, but until you take the step to write, it doesn’t do any good.” I realize this sounded a bit cold, and that was certainly not how I meant it, but I didn’t feel like pouring into a fear was helpful.

I frequently hear writers say that God has called them to write something specific, yet they can’t seem to write it—they don’t feel qualified. So let’s step back in time to the disciples and take a look. Jesus challenged His disciples to go and preach. He reminded them that following Him would not be easy but that He would always be with them. Christ spent three years training His disciples, preparing them to go into the world. That should tell you something: if Christ calls you to a task, He 1) remains with you and 2) prepares you for it. The preparation is not all book sense. Sometimes it’s hard work and life lessons, but the fact remains that if God calls you, He will work in and through you, prepare you, and help you accomplish the good work that He has placed in you. This preparation is the one thing I try to remember when I hit those roadblocks. Christ prepares me for His good work, and He will carry through to completion in me, but I must be willing.

Perhaps God assigns you a challenging task in writing that you feel afraid of or inadequate to write. Say yes and trust. I know, that’s the hard part because our human side says we don’t have enough to complete the task. Ahh, but you do, because God is with you.

As an acquisitions editor, I searched for three years for a devotional manuscript that would take us back into Scripture, rather than a niche book. I felt like God was leading me to find something more along the lines of Streams in the Desert or Experiencing God—something more Oswald Chambers-ish. Nothing ever crossed my path. It wasn’t until the publisher said, “Why don’t you write it?” that it occurred to me that God was asking ME to write the book. I’m not a Bible student, not a Bible teacher or pastor. How can I possibly dig deeper into Scripture without the necessary credentials? I chewed on it for a few days and then decided I just needed to start. God would provide the necessary information. The book began with all the scriptures we learned as new Christians—those that pricked our hearts to invite Christ into our lives. The adventure started when I typed the first verse I planned to use. A lightbulb came on. “Duh. I know who can oversee my work. The year before, I’d coached a Bible University president through writing a fiction novel. He’d always written non-fiction, and he needed to understand the ropes of a novel. We worked together for an entire summer, rewriting his manuscript from start to finish. I called him and explained the task God has assigned me, and without hesitation, he said, “I’m in. I’ll oversee the work.”

I began to write devotion after devotion, taking reading just a small step deeper into the Word and history. There were no “I” stories, nothing about me in any of the devotions. Three months later, I’d written “Meet Me Where I Am, Lord,” which went on to be published and win several awards. God assigned me a task and then provided the necessary person to guide me through the teaching. Lesson learned. If God gives you a task, He will equip you to accomplish it.

There are times when writing is flat-out hard. Maybe it’s the subject matter. Perhaps it’s fear or lack of self-esteem that holds you back. Still, the fact remains, the writing will not start until you type the first word. Standing up to our writing fears can sometimes seem bleak, even hopeless, but it’s important to remember that this is the enemy telling you that you can’t. But you can. God knows you can. That’s why He has called you into writing for Him, because you can.

When you feel frozen and unable to take the next step, lean into the fear. Use it to your advantage, not your disadvantage. You were gifted this talent long before you were born. God knows what you are capable of, and He waits for you to take the first step. When you do take that step, I can only imagine that God leans back on His throne and claps, excited that you’ve begun so that now He can complete the work through you.

Don’t be afraid. Trust that God has a finger on every key of your computer. Now is the time. Write.

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. Having served for a number of years as a managing editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Ironstream Media, Cindy now works as a mentor, coach, and freelance editor. She is the co-founder of Writing Right Author Mentoring Services with Lori Marett and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Cindy is also the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and www.christiandevotions.us, as well as www.inspireafire.com. Her devotions are in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and her novels have become award-winning, best-selling works. She is a popular speaker at conferences and a natural encourager. Cindy is a mountain girl, born and raised in the Appalachian mountains, where she and her husband still reside. She has raised four sons and now resorts to raising chickens where the pecking order is easier to manage. You can visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com or www.wramsforwriters.com.