What do you do when the going gets challenging? Give up, push harder, have a good cry, call a friend, say a prayer. Yes to all of those things, right?
At one time or another in this past week, those have been my experience and more. Self-publishing a book is not for the faint of heart. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. The birthing pains have been intense. Of course, since this book, Want to Hear God? Connect with Him in Prayer is about having prayer conversations, there may be some fiery arrows of the enemy flying around as well. God says our battles are not with just the things we see: In Ephesians 6:11-12, TPT, Paul writes:
“Put on God’s complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser!12 Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms.”
Not every problem or issue we face is against the evil strategies of the accuser, but it is good to remember that there is a real battle going on around us. Sometimes there is no accounting for all the snags and difficulties we run up against when involved in a project.
When working on my book, I worked three days to get my book uploaded to Amazon. Doesn’t that sound simple? Ha! The ins and outs of accomplishing an upload are amazingly complex For example, Amazon wants your ISBN number. That number is something you buy from another company of course. That other company, Bowkers, wants a profile of you so they can tell Amazon you are a legitimate person. Imagine that! It’s like six degrees of separation……
I could tell you lots of stories similar to that…. I am sure any writer who self publishes could do the same.
How do you keep going?
What do you do to keep going when you’ve been working long hours, keep hitting obstacles and snags and your project still is not complete. Here are some discoveries these last two weeks:
- You and I are not alone. God is here each step of the way and sent friends to check on me, pray for me and encourage me. I can tell others are praying because my stamina has not flagged.
- We can reach out for help. Asking for help is a humbling experience. However, to complete a large project, recruiting others becomes vital. I have found that all the people I have asked have been more than willing to share their time and expertise. I have paid for some of that expertise as well, as it should be.
- We listen to God’s promptings. For example, today God reminded me that I was partially under my own self-imposed deadline. I could take a breath, look at the bigger picture and have Him help me determine the next steps, especially since things were not getting completed as quickly as I had hoped. He and I discussed together a worst-case scenario in which there were some workarounds. Taking the time to step back and listen to Him helped tremendously.
What can you learn in challenging situations?
As one friend reminded me, the end is in sight. Each of you can connect with God through my book Want to Hear God, Connect with Him in Prayer, IT GOT PUBLISHED:-)
God has taught me courage and perseverance through this journey. I know I am a great start-up person, not such a good finisher. With His help, together you and I can learn how to face challenging situations with prayer and grace.
I am so grateful for each of you on this journey with me. I have discovered some of you have been on this journey with me ever since I started. What a grateful gal I am.
Blessings to all of you as you face your own challenging situations. May He give you the perseverance and courage you need as you turn to Him for help. Let me know how I can be praying for you!!
As a spiritual director and author, I walk with people who want to hear and see God more clearly and develop a special intimacy with Him. If this post is helpful to you, could you share it with others? Or if there is a way that I can pray specifically for you, would you reply to this post? I want to be of service to you in your life and the lives of others. My book, Want to Hear God, Connect with Him in Prayer may also be helpful.
I look forward to walking with you “for such a time as this.”
