The Writing Life: Partnering With God to Write Words That Impact OthersParaugs

New Vision

It can be easy for us to see God through the lens of our circumstances rather than seeing our circumstances through the lens of God and His Word. We question why and how our lives arrived at a specific place and whether we’ll ever move beyond that place.

In Genesis 21, we come upon a heart-breaking story regarding a servant named Hagar and her son Ishmael. Hagar wasn’t just any servant, but the servant of Abraham’s wife Sarah. And Ishmael just happened to be Abraham’s first son. This came about after Sarah grew impatient regarding God’s promise to provide a son for Abraham and Sarah. So, she arranged for Abraham to sleep with Hagar (Genesis 16).

As we might imagine, there was jealousy, resentment, and just about every other emotion surrounding this whole family dynamic. After Abraham and Sarah finally received their promised son Isaac, Sarah had reached the end of her patience with Hagar and Ishmael and told Abraham to send them away.

As you read this part of the story in Genesis 21:14-19, put yourself in the shoes of Hagar and Ishmael who were basically being kicked to the curb. And Abraham had grown attached to his firstborn son.

After preparing food and water for Hagar and Ishmael, the old man sent them on their way wishing them the best. Wandering around in the desert, it didn’t take long for the food and water to run out.

Setting her son in the shade, Hagar can’t bear to watch him die under these circumstances. We can imagine the anger and frustration. “Why, God?” “Are you even hearing me?” “Is this where it all ends, God?”

But God did hear their cries and He did see them in their circumstances. And though it seemed hopeless, God promises to make a great nation from Ishmael’s descendants. Before this could be a possibility, God also provides for their immediate physical needs.

“Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.” (21:19)

Is it possible that in her pain and despair, Hagar assumes the worst? That God is not with her and that He will not help her? That He doesn’t see her suffering, and that this perspective blinds her to the well in front of her?

Is it possible that in our own trials and pain, we let that same lie sneak in? Maybe this time God won’t come to my aid? And that my eyes become so fixed on that lie that I’m blinded to the grace and joy right in front of me, all around me, or perhaps right around the corner?

We need God to open our eyes to ideas and possibilities for our books even when our resources have been used up and we feel like we’re dying in the desert.

He wants to inject hope into our writing like a cool glass of water amid drought.

As you may recall, Hagar found herself in the desert more than once. In chapter 16, near a spring in the desert as a pregnant runaway, she encountered the angel of the Lord and declared, “You are the God who sees me” (El-roi)

You and I will also find ourselves in the desert more than once. And more than once, the God who sees us will be more than faithful to provide for our deepest need as we cry out to Him.

Have you found yourself in a desert with your writing and in life? Cry out to God with every ounce of passion you can summon. Ask Him to give you new vision and new perspective to see these things from His vantage point.

If you feel called to the writing life, please check out our masterclass for Christian writers titled Write Now - From Doubt to Done: Silence Your Inner Critic and Finally Finish Your Book