by Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed.D. @khutch0767

Don’t Fall Apart

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17 NIV).

I recently received a string of rejection letters in rapid succession. Usually, they discourage me and can sometimes derail me for days as I experience crushing feelings of inadequacy, doubt, and fear. But this time, I was baffled. I couldn’t remember sending material to any of the publications. I’d gotten to a point in my writing journey where I’d sent out so much material that I forgot I’d queried certain publications. Instead of mourning another missed opportunity, I laughed at myself this time. I then read through the form letters, filed them, and began to work on a new piece. Two cups of coffee later, it hit me that I’d reached a significant milestone because I didn’t fall apart!

The word tells us in Colossians 1:17 that God ensures us He won’t allow things to fall apart because He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. The Greek construction of this verse can also be translated as “all things continue” or “endure.” Ultimately this verse explains that not only is Jesus — God — responsible for creating everything, but he’s also why all things continue to exist. God is both a creator and a sustainer.

This theme is repeated in Paul’s letters and by other New Testament authors. So, we see through the lens of scripture that Jesus is eternal, just as God is eternal, and he created all things, and through Him, and for Him. After describing Jesus as supreme Paul explains that it was Christ’s sacrifice allowing the Colossians—and all saved believers—to be reconciled to God.

As I reflected on the powerful meaning of the scripture, I felt comfort knowing God uses everything despite the outcome. I also thought about why my writing efforts to reach others sometimes fall apart. And I wondered if any of my rejected work could find a way to serve God’s purpose.

I concluded that even our disappointments and failures become part of God’s plan to uphold his purpose and see it through to completion in his timing. Therefore, rejection becomes a preparation for opportunities, acceptance, and success. As God holds all things together, he won’t allow things to fall apart when we trust him with our writing, aspirations, and dreams.

As we write to glorify God, our kingdom worldview will impact those around us. God is a God of purpose. And God provides everything we need to fulfill His calling on our lives. He has a specific plan for us, “‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope”’ (Jerimiah 29:11NASB).

Therefore, the next time we face rejection and feel tempted to give up, turn to self-pity, or fall apart, let’s not do it! Let’s do the hard work of revising, editing, pursuing excellence, mentorships, and training. But let’s work knowing that God reconciles everything. He even reconciles our shortcomings and pain. As Christian authors, be encouraged that whatever God has inspired us to accomplish will have eternal repercussions. We can laugh despite defeat because we understand God holds it all together and finds purpose and plans for everything in our lives.

Author, speaker, educational consultant, and editor–Katherine Hutchinson-Hayes, Ed. D. has had her hand in leadership for many years. She loves speaking to groups and delivering messages with a quick wit and real-life stories. Katherine is a freelance writer/content editor, a content editor/writing coach for Iron Stream Media, and a sensitivity reader for Sensitivity Between the Lines. She is a review board member and contributor to Inkspirations (an online magazine for Christian writers), and her writing has been published in Guideposts. Her work in art/writing is distinguished by awards, including the New York Mayor’s Contribution to the Arts, Outstanding Resident Artist of Arizona, and the Foundations Awards at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference (2016, 2019, 2021, 2022). She was a finalist in the Genesis Contest ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers/Romantic Suspense 2022). She is a finalist for the Claymore Award 2022 (Thriller Division) for the best-unpublished manuscript. She is a member of Word Weavers International and serves as an online chapter president and mentor. She belongs to FWA (Florida Writers Association), ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), CWoC (Crime Writers of Color), AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association), and AASA (American Association of School Administrators). She serves on the board of the nonprofit organization Submersion 14 and is an art instructor and virtual exhibition specialist for the nonprofit organization Light for the Future. Katherine is the host of the podcast Murder, Mystery & Mayhem Laced with Morality. She has authored a Christian Bible study for women and is currently working on the sequel and prequel to her first general market thriller novel, “A Fifth of the Story.”