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

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3 NIV).

As 2019 ended, I knew 2020 would be an important year in my heart. I imagined breakthroughs in writing, networking to new heights, and accomplishing incredible goals I’d set for myself. But as the world experienced a deadly pandemic and I lost my brother to a sudden heart attack, my goals paled to my deep pain.

New Year’s Eve of 2020 started with my mother being admitted to the hospital with COVID-19. Some days I couldn’t sleep for the nightmares that played out behind my eyelids. Despite my angst, I worked on my novel constantly, capturing ideas whenever they came. Then when my mother succumbed to the virus on February 3, 2021, I blogged, wrote guest articles, sat on panels, taught at conferences, launched a podcast, and entered competitions through my sorrow. I felt I’d hit bottom when it came to pain. Yet, I hit my stride in my writing, and it never occurred to me that I’d be able to accomplish as much as I did.

The last two years brought with them significant changes for my family. Two of the closest people to us perished only eight weeks apart. Their deaths caused an unthinkable divide in the extended family. Pain and misunderstandings attacked the fabric of trust in the worst way. It was challenging to focus on the circumstances during those times, but I flourished in the escapism of writing. Before I knew it, I had an entire manuscript written. I’m almost finished with the second book in the trilogy, and I’ve begun considerable work on the final installation.

However, I often find myself consumed with worry about the rejections I get in my writing career and the issues within our extended family. Although I’d berated myself for lacking the tools to fix the problems, I realized my life had transitioned into a new season where I bowed to the urging of the Holy Spirit.

With that realization came the grace of not feeling like a failure in solving the problems around me. I heard the Lord speak to me in my spirit: “Don’t fear, don’t doubt. Just believe. Praise your way to victory.” It occurred to me that my plans for my life, others, and writing must be committed to God.

I’ve recently stopped fighting for control and have embraced rest, beautiful friendships, and the unknown. I’ve surrendered to the new season, letting go of worry. Instead, I praise God for all he has done and will do; I spend more time in the Bible and continue writing.

Despite experiencing uncertainty, I know God will establish my plans where reconciliation and success are possible for my family and my writing career. I know God’s in control, and my dreams will prosper when I allow him to direct them.

After all, the joy of trusting God is that he sees us through the valleys, mountaintops, darkness, and happiness to accomplish much more than we could ever imagine.

Thank you, God, for establishing my plans and resting so I can recover and replenish my strength. Thank you because you are in control even when things are not going according to my goals. Thank you for directing my steps and showing me how to plan and be encouraged when things go wrong. Amen.

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.”