by Sandy Kirby Quandt @SandyKQuandt

Do writers have anything in common with King David? According to a keynote speaker at the North Texas Christian Writers Conference ten years ago, the answer is yes. And I would agree with her.

In the summer of 2010 I attended one of my very first Christian writers conferences. It was the North Texas Christian Writers Conference near Dallas. One of the keynote speakers spoke on how, as writers, we have a lot in common with King David. I didn’t read the “Expect an Adventure” type books this speaker wrote, so I was unfamiliar with her. All I knew was her appointment sheet filled up fast. 

The following thoughts are based on DiAnn Mills’ keynote. This is not a word for word of her speech. It is merely my impression as it applied to my life at the time, and how I continue to process it today. 

DiAnn began by saying when David was anointed as the future king, he didn’t have all the necessary tools he would need. He didn’t take the throne immediately. He had much to learn. David submitted to his calling. He knew who was in control. 

As writers, when we first feel called to write for God, we don’t have all the necessary tools we’ll need to take the throne, either. We have much to learn. We need to remember who is in control, and submit our purpose and calling to God. 

David needed to face the lions and bears with courage, and defeat them with God’s help before he could defeat Goliath. He needed to build up strength, confidence, and trust in God. 

Time spent building our writing strength, confidence, and trust in God’s perfect timing helps us face the looming giants in the ever-changing land of publishing. 

The future king needed to care about the people in his ragtag band of misfits before he could lead an entire nation. Although David was the anointed king in waiting, he had to humble himself and became a servant-leader. 

Our writing has the potential to lead others to Christ. Do we care for our future readers and pray for God to help us lead them to him through the words we write? Do we share what we learn about writing to help other writers grow while we continue to grow?

When David made God his priority, he succeeded. David succeeded as king because he knew who was in control.

As writers we must make sure God comes first. We’ll never succeed until we acknowledge God is in control of the whole process. 

David never gave up. He waited for God to fulfill his promise. 

From my own personal experience, I would say it’s easier to want to give up than it is to want to keep going. Even though anointed as the future king, David was a man on the run for over ten years before he reigned. During those times when he felt discouraged, defeated, and disappointed, he leaned all the more into God. Some of his most heart-felt psalms were penned during his time of deepest despair. 

Perhaps that is what God desires us to do when we are discouraged, defeated, and disappointed. Perhaps he wants us to turn those hard times into heart-felt offerings to encourage our readers who face similar situations.

Here are DiAnn’s final words spoken to those of us in the audience ten years ago. 

David knew who his boss was. Who is our boss?

Sandy Kirby Quandt is a former elementary school educator and full-time writer with a passion for God, history, and travel; passions that often weave their way into her stories and articles. She has written numerous articles, devotions, and stories for adult and children publications. Her devotions appear in two Worthy Publishing compilation books; So God Made a Dog, and Let the Earth Rejoice. She has won several awards for writing including the 85th and 86th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition in the Young Adult category, First Place in the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Children’s Literature 2016 Foundation Awards, First Place in the 2017 Foundation Awards in the Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Flash Fiction categories. Looking for words of encouragement or gluten-free recipes? Then check out Sandy’s blog, Woven and Spun.