In the Face of Defeat

There are times in my writing when it would be so easy to quit. To close all my files and toss my flash drives in a box never to be opened. Recently, I lost the flash drive that held 2 half-written novels, and several novel beginnings. This was one of those times I wanted to quit. Desperately. What's the point if fate is going to throw it back in my face? There's another question that came to mind though... what if, by giving up my writing, I never wrote the book that could change someone's life? If God gave me a talent, isn't it my duty to use it for His glory, even when it seems like the world is shouting "You can't!" in my face? If I can make a difference, and if I can praise the Lord in my writing... then what excuse do I have for giving up? Aren't these things so much greater than the challenges I face? So here I go. New flash drive. New story. Keep dreaming, keep writing, keep believing.
For me, this has been my writing. The talent I posses that seems too much like a burden at times. It's not the only talent of mine that can be a burden though. Everything that God has given you, the devil despises, because he despises you and he despises God. We are the warriors of God's kingdom! We fight with our prayers, with our words, written and spoken. With our actions, and our talents; writing, singing, acting, science, discernment, comforting, and any. other. talent. that we have been given by God. "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" 1 Peter 4:10 So yes, sometimes it will seem more of a curse than a blessing. A lot of the time you're going to want to give up, sit down, and stop caring. But when we carry the light of God in our hearts, that light spreads to everything that we do. There is a greater battle than the ones we face in everyday life. There is a battle against the powers of darkness "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12 and it's not guns or swords that will win that battle. It's light. It's faith. It's perseverance. So come, weary warrior. Come my brothers, my sisters, and take my hand. Let us join together in this fight. Let us stand when we have fallen, and continue on the paths of light. Let us continue to use the talents we have been given to spread light and glorify God. Let us stand, and not despair. To be fought against means that we're heading in the right direction, because the enemy does not want us to use our God-given gifts. He doesn't want us to shine our lights to the reaches of the earth. So if you are facing opposition, keep going, and pray and persevere your way through! Never give up, because all your talents are needed to fight the darkness and shine the light.

~Katie Stone~