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

“…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV).

How many of you, like me, would like more? More books published, more opportunities in the writing industry, joy, money, and satisfaction.

How many of us were disappointed at certain stages in our lives and careers when we received more but were still unfulfilled?

The new agent, book deal, publisher, speaking engagement, job, pay raise, or promotion may cause temporary happiness. By itself, it cannot fulfill us.

Anything we accomplish or set out to achieve will never bring consistent joy because God must be the centerpiece of it ALL.

When going through hardships, it’s difficult to believe God has something better in store because we have trouble navigating past setbacks. This is especially true when it applies to our pursuit of being writers of worth and the continual challenges to our joy.

Several years ago, I left a lucrative career in school administration to pursue glorifying God by writing, editing, and speaking. I believed God would create a clear, unobstructed path for me. After all, I was pursuing working for the kingdom, where I would work alongside other believers and industry professionals. What could go wrong?

Yet, I had many roadblocks preventing me from showing up. I faced challenges with my attitude, schedule, children, health, husband’s deployment, sickly mother, and so on.

But God continued to show up repeatedly during the valley experiences as I worked to be a writer of worth. And I strove to find victory and fulfillment daily—against all odds.

Five practical applications I learned through my experience helped me serve more effectively as an author, editor, and speaker. I believe we can all learn from them:

1. Worship—means leading a life filled with praise, prayer, and daily devotion to God; his word helps direct us and provides us protection, discernment, and joy.
2. Organize—our time and prioritize. Refuse to fill our lives with unfruitful people and activities that don’t help us reach our goals and purpose.
3. Rid—our minds of negative thoughts, people, and practices daily and on purpose.
4. Thank—God Always. Daily decide to be thankful for as many people and things as possible.
5. Hang on—by choosing resilient joy over everything else. Hang onto God, his people, and our happiness. Decide to be content. Decide to stick to God and his people no matter what.

This can be shocking, but we’ll face unbelievable odds as we strive to achieve our goals. Trials will surround us, and we’ll feel alone because the people we believed would’ve been there for us can’t be found anywhere. We often identify with people who defeated overwhelming odds in the Bible yet found themselves questioning God. We, too, may find ourselves crying out, asking, “Lord, where are you? I’m working to glorify You, yet I face opposition constantly. Why are you allowing me to have repeated rejections? Why are you letting this happen to me when I work for You? What will I do now?”

God’s word tells us we’re unstoppable despite the odds. The end of our strength is the beginning of His. In Isaiah 40:31, the passage refers to those of us who have challenges, but the word tells us that those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength, despite what we feel or see. There will be a reward for us when we choose what God offers. To leave the backward pull of doubt and disappointment, we must believe in God’s plan for our lives and that life works best when we trust it.

As writers of worth, we can learn to “see” God’s plan for ourselves by exercising our faith. Reading God’s word helps us when we’re overcome with challenging experiences, doubt, and fear. We discover that many people who served God were also frightened and faced overwhelming challenges where the odds were stacked against them.

Elisha’s servant was afraid when he saw the powerful Aramean army advancing. Joshua must have been terrified when Moses died and had to take over, leading a massive and rebellious community (Joshua 1: 6-9). David must’ve been confused when Saul, his father-in-law, turned against him, although he’d been loyal. His confusion must have morphed into terror when Saul chased him, intending to kill him, and all he could see was the large army carrying out this sinister plan (Psalm 35, 1 Samuel 23).

In each example in scripture, God encouraged his servants and told them not to be afraid. These illustrations demonstrate that when God gives us our purpose, he supplies our courage. We can become Elisha for fellow authors, friends, and family when they’re doubtful, scared, or worried. We can pray, “Oh, Lord, open their eyes and let them see!” We can demonstrate that God is on our side, and it’ll be all right.

God uses our unimaginable shortcomings and weaknesses to prove His immeasurable power. The patience, wisdom, and resilience we need to emerge fulfilled and victorious are entrenched in the challenges and hardships of life as we pursue our writing goals and dreams. As writers of worth, we can live fulfilled—despite the odds!

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.”