Where God's Word Meets Our Mess
I’m asking myself this question because exactly 10 years ago, I published my first post on this blog. Frankly, I feel like the answer to this question is “no” sometimes. Yes, I press on, even when I notice an inexplicable drop in blog views…and when I lose blog followers…and when I remember my plan to become a famous author remains unachieved. But what if I shouldn’t press on? What if this isn’t worth it?
I used to hear things like “God can change the desires of your heart,” but I severely doubted it. After all, I had (and often still have) very strong desires. However, over the past few years, God has changed my mind about His ability to change the desires of my heart.
The goal of getting a book deal from a traditional publisher has spurred much of my writing in recent years, but I haven’t yet achieved that goal. I’ve learned there’s no formula I can follow to make this dream come true. I’ve also learned a few other important things about writing that I want to share with you.
I’m going to be honest with you—I still feel like a failure sometimes, even though Real Recovery was published back in 2022. In the past three years, I’ve learned lots of hard lessons about writing, dreaming, and trusting God. One of these lessons has been particularly hard for me to learn, but my hope is that it’ll ultimately encourage you in your endeavors.
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It’s been nine years since I started Tizzie’s Tidbits of Truth. It’s been almost three years since Real Recovery was published. It’s been over a year since I started seeking a publisher for my second (yet-to-be-published) book. And while I certainly haven’t learned everything about writing, I have learned this: It’s. A. Long. Haul.
I do believe God has called me to write—at least in this season of my life—but the burnout is agonizing. It’s also agonizing to not know when I’ll stop feeling this way. But honestly, that’s why I wrote this post—to remind you (and myself) of a few important things if you're experiencing burnout and don’t know how to move forward.
As I journeyed through anorexia and recovery, I decided to write a book about eating disorder recovery. Honestly, I couldn’t not write a book about that. It was so therapeutic for me to put my thoughts on paper—and watch what God would do from there. Although I didn't know how my random thoughts would become eventually turn into a published book, I knew I had to do something with the fire—the passion—that was burning inside me.
Though I had some preconceived notions about the writers' conference, it turned out to be much different than I had expected. It helped me realize (or re-realize) a few important things about my writing craft and my relationship with God. So whether or not you’re a writer, here are two lessons I learned at my first writers' conference that apply to anyone who belongs to Christ and wants to use his or her talents for His kingdom.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 