The Writers Alley: You Don't Have Time to Read This

Ashley here! Today, I'm excited to be hosting an industry expert and a dear friend of mine, Allen Arnold. Previously the founder and Publisher of Thomas Nelson fiction, Allen now leads Content & Resources for Ransomed Heart Ministries. I know you're going to be encouraged by his post today. Please leave any questions or comments you may have for Allen, and help us welcome Allen to the Alley!

Allen Arnold loves the epic adventure God has set before him. From the mountains of Colorado, he leads Content & Resources for Ransomed Heart Ministries (led by John Eldredge). Before that, he spent 20 years in Christian Publishing - overseeing the development of more than 500 novels as founder and Publisher of Thomas Nelson Fiction. He was awarded the ACFW Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. But those facts don't really describe the man. Allen savors time with his family, craves the beach, drinks salsa by the glass, is hooked on the TV series "Once Upon a Time" and is passionate about helping storytellers write from an awakened heart.

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If you have more than enough time to read this and an abundance of time to pursue your writing – I’m happy for you. But this post isn’t for you.

I wrote this for those of you who are stretched so thin it’s either read this or brush your teeth.

You don’t have time to write...much less read this.

I get it. I didn’t have time to write this post.

And yet here we both are.

Because God wants to talk to you about writing...and time.

But I have to back up just a bit. See, God plays this odd game with me. Often before I write a post like this – I’m drawn to a movie scene or I get hit with an emotion that pulsates through me... a deep sense of loss or maybe confusion or perhaps joy. I’ve learned this is God’s way of giving me a foretaste of what the people I’m writing to are feeling.

It’s taking me to the sweet spot of what he wants to go after.

Kind of an advance preview.

As I write, here are the three emotions I’m sensing:

1) overwhelmed, 2) disheartened, 3) alone.

Which is odd. I love to write and God has given me a clear calling to go after the hearts of creators. And when I write with him – I know I am not alone.

So I push in to these feelings. I want a clear read on the thoughts that are circling around me but yet are not of me.

So here is what I’m feeling.

That I have absolutely no time to be writing this.

That God should give me more hours in the day if he really wants me to write...or at least take away all these never-ending distractions.

That I am a loser father for writing this while my family is eating dinner without me.

That no one will read this post.

Because I am getting hit with these feelings now, my guess is that you get hit with them – or something similar – when it comes to your writing.

So that’s why we’re here.

God has given you the gift of words and story. But in what feels like a cruel joke, there simply doesn’t seem to be enough time in your day to pursue it – much less savor it.

You’d love the luxury of hours of writing time at your favorite café as you sip a double whipped, chocolate-infused latte with sprinkles. But you have a full time job. The laundry is overflowing. Young children are spilling things on you. Perhaps there’s an ill parent, an unsupportive spouse or a recurring health issue.

God has called you to write

and yet,

There is no time to write.

Those sentences seem to collide with each other – unable to exist in the same universe. Yet they co-exist in your life.

I sense right now that God wants to breathe life into you.

To speak to your heart. Because it’s impossible to write words of life when you – as creator – are burnt-out, worn-out, or stressed out.

God certainly doesn’t promise us time to do everything.

But it doesn’t make sense that the Creator of time would somehow underestimate the time we need to do what he’s called us to do.

If he’s called you to write stories,

he will give you time to write them.

He doesn’t stir a desire in you to leave it unfulfilled.

That sounds great in theory, right?

But how does it work when there simply isn’t

an extra two minutes in your day?

I don’t know. But that’s okay.

The place where we get to the end of our understanding is one of God’s favorite places to do his magic.

The place where we have no idea.

Stay with me. Actually, forget me.

Stay with God on this line of thinking.

When we give God our days and follow his lead, we live in his abundance. To the Creator of time, there’s no such thing as a shortage of time. He never plays catch-up.

That’s why the psalmist says of God, “You’ve got all the time in the world – whether a thousand years or a day, it’s all the same to you.” (The Message, Psalm 90:4).

Like a good father, God loves to provide for our needs.

To come through for us. In abundance.

So rather than me offering you five tips to manage your time,

l want to invite you to give your calling and

your time back to God.

Think of it as your offering.

Think of it as your couple of pieces of fish and bread.

I want you to give God your fading dream of writing and

your lack of time. It may not feel like much. But I urge you to do it now. That’s why you’re still reading this.

Just say these words out loud to God.

It’s just for the two of you.

“God, I love that you’ve given me the gift of words. I don’t understand why there’s never enough time for me to enjoy this gift with you. I feel overwhelmed, disheartened and alone.

I want to live in the abundance of the Kingdom.

I want to write with you.

But even more, I want to spend time dancing and dreaming with you. It almost sounds too good to believe this could be a normal part of my life.

I pray today that you will give me this daily bread.

Not just sustenance. But my daily portion of time.

My daily bread to savor as a feast of words

and creativity and story with you.

My soul hungers for this.

Give me this daily bread.

I won’t try to make it happen.

Or try to earn it.

It is a gift from you.

I ask for it boldly and expectantly.

Let this gift of time and creative fellowship

rain down on me like manna from heaven.

Mostly, give me you.

Because only you can satisfy me.

And I’ll only be satisfied if we do this together.”

I think that should do it.

If this feels too simplistic, don’t let that throw you.

Psalm 3 reminds us not to try and figure everything out on our own. God can handle our biggest mysteries.

Now, watch expectantly how he provides this gift of time and fellowship. I suspect you’ll notice it in both big and small ways.

But it likely won’t be in the exact way you’re expecting.

I do know this – if it’s from God, it will be far better than what you would dare to imagine.

I sense God is smiling at you right now.

Spend a few minutes with him celebrating what just happened. And what is to come.

You have the time.

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GIVEAWAY!

Don't forget to enter for our huge giveaway at our Facebook Party, Saturday, August 30! For the big giveaway, we are giving away The Writer's Alley New Design Launch Basket containing the following: