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

Jamaica is a beautiful exotic island. I was blessed to grow up being able to visit my family there regularly. But since we stayed with family, we enjoyed the experience of living like a local, not a tourist. Some of these experiences meant it was unlikely we’d have running hot water, and power outages were common. Locals often keep wells and store outside water sources. Because if the power goes out, the water shuts off.

Living as a local, having a shower in the morning and night met its share of challenges. For one, the water was frigid in the morning. But at night, when the sun had warmed the pipes and the water was tepid, you faced the challenge of also being hit with a power outage. This could last a few minutes, a few hours, or a few days. We learned from experience not to be in a shower covered with cold soapy water in the pitch dark. Darkness in Jamaica isn’t like a night in the US. It’s dark felt to one’s core, especially in the countryside, away from the prominent lights from the streetlamps.

Therefore, we adapted. We learned to forgo our evening bathing and bathed while we had the consistent light of the day. We could see where the additional water was stored to rinse off—if the power went out. We didn’t have to stumble through the darkness to feel our way through the home we were visiting to find a water source and then stumble and fumble back to the shower to rinse off. Like locals who are often busy and productive, handling their many jobs, we learned to handle the most critical matters—while we had the consistent light of day.

Similarly, as authors, we must embrace today, working while we have the light. Many of us must decide to take risks and step out in faith despite setbacks, fear, and the darkness of this present world. There are things God has assigned us to do as authors. We know that there will be times when we can’t see and times when we don’t know what’s ahead of us, and it’s terrifying because we could get hurt by rejection, tripping on fear, falling when we stumble or running into walls of disappointment. But we walk by faith, not sight. We overcome the uncertainty of the darkness, the things causing us to trip, and the towering walls of oppression we often run into—by the light of God’s word.

There are four truths regarding the things that cause us to trip and fall and the walls of oppression we often run into that discourage us today:

1. Just because we can’t see our answer to prayer doesn’t mean it’s not working. Press on!
2. The light of God is evident in the presence of those who are His. It’s clear in how we speak, act, and think about life, work, family, and the Christian faith.
3. Being in the light of Christ reveals God’s favor in our daily lives. (Psalm 89:15) “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.”
4. To walk in the light means we have the right relationships with others and a daily commitment to living out a righteous life. This way, we can be empowered to be a refreshment to those around us.

Walking in the light is our spiritual birthright. The word in Isaiah 2:5 tells us: “Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” The light of Jesus Christ is a birthright to those who are the children of Abraham through the covenant. We are the stars in the sky and the sand by the seashore that represented Abraham’s seed through Isaac. Our spiritual heritage leads every believer down the path of victory over sin and death. We are free to accomplish incredible things for the kingdom, including every writing project God has called us to complete!

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.”