by Sandy Kirby Quandt @SandyKQuandt

We’ve recently passed through the time of year when two of my favorite constellations, Pleiades and Orion, were visible over our house in the early morning hours. Each morning they rested overhead I walked down the driveway to retrieve the paper, paused, and looked skyward at God’s creation. 

As I contemplated their beauty, I marveled that the One who placed the stars in the heavens, planets in motion, and desire to write for him in my heart is mindful of me. God knew exactly where I stood each morning I went outside, and he knows each time I sit at my desk to compose words for him.

One morning, however, I was disappointed. I looked up. I saw nothing but clouds. No Orion. No Pleiades. Only thick dark clouds. There was no sign of Orion’s belt, his shoulders, or his sword. Clouds separated me from the stars I so enjoy viewing. Although I wished the clouds would move on while I continued staring upward, as if staring upward would somehow part the clouds, I was confident Orion stood right where he was supposed to stand. 

Whether I saw him or not.

Sometimes we might find our self in a place with our writing where we feel as I did with Orion. As if the thing we so long to see, God’s favor on our writing efforts, is hidden behind the clouds. Something moved in between us and blocked our view. During those times, it might be easy to believe God left us all alone to stare skyward into a cloudy dark sky. 

Or at a blank page. 

Or a scathing review. 

Or a critical critique. 

Or…fill in your own cloud.

Perhaps the words we were so certain God prompted us to write are returned with a no thanks from the agent, editor, publisher we were confident God wanted us to submit our words to. Sure. The rejection notes might be crafted to encourage, but with each rejection, dark clouds roll in to obscure the reason we choose to write for God’s glory. 

During our times of writing struggles when we look and can’t see God, let’s not forget the fact he’s still there. God hasn’t moved. He is as constant as the Northern Star. When events in our writing life block our view of God, let’s hang on to what we know is true about him. Not what our eyes or emotions tell us.

God loves us. He will never leave or forsake us. He has a plan; a good plan, for our lives. And yes. The Creator God who placed the stars in the heavens, the planets in motion, the belt around Orion, and the desire to write for him in our heart knows us by name. Our name is engraved on the palm of God’s hand just as surely as we write it on our submissions. 

In the early morning hours in another part of the world, someone looks into the sky and marvels at Orion’s belt. Somewhere else, an author pens words to inspire. Until the seasons change and Orion stands guard once again over my house, I’ll remember even though Orion isn’t visible to me at this time, he remains in the sky. 

The God who placed the desire to write for him within our hearts before we were born is with us. Even during those times when it seems all our time and effort to write for him is hidden from view behind dark clouds. 

God still sits on his throne. He remains in control. His timing is perfect whether we understand it or not. 

And truthfully, as far as my writing is concerned, I rarely understand it. 

How do you embrace God’s perfect timing in every season of your writing?

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.