Three Things God Revealed To Me About Sharing My Work

On January 10, 2017 I released a book into the world. 

Did anyone know that?

Maybe?

Maybe not?

If I am being honest I have struggled greatly to promote the book after it went live for purchase on the world wide web. 

For some reason when I think about sharing my work with the world I get all weird and squirmy and self-conscious. Not because I’m worried about how people will react to the actual words (I fully get not everyone will love it, and I’m cool with that, I surely don’t love everything I read), but of how people will react to me TELLING THE WORLD about my work. 

Ugh. 

It’s such a struggle. I mean, I have shared my book on Instagram a total of three times. Three times! Four if you count that I recently added it to my highlights. I spent a lot of hours writing and a lot of dollars publishing this piece of my heart and yet I’m scared to talk about it because of what people might think of me. 

  

What in the actual world?

But S-L-O-W-L-Y (a.k.a two years, hello) God has been working on my heart in this area. 

Omgoodness, look at baby Camille.

Here is what God has been revealing to me. . . 

1.   Somewhere along the way we have equated humility and humbleness as not talking about our work. But friends, is this perspective even Biblical? I don’t think so. God has given us gifts and talents and testimonies and if we are truly letting the Holy Spirit lead us in our gifting, regardless of what that is, He wants us to share our offerings! Yes, the Bible warns us against succumbing to pride and arrogance, and this is a dangerous train to jump on, but I truly believe we can assume the posture of humility and still put our work out there for others to see. On the flip side, promoting a book (or a service or a product or whatever your thing is, regardless of if you are getting paid for it) is not egotism. It’s simply the follow-through of the original act of obedience, the original "yes" to write it, make it, create it, etc. 

2.   I have been making this about me. Yikes. When we let fear or insecurity stop us from sharing our work, we are making our thing All. About. Us. In my case, I’ve been making it about me, not the reader. I wrote the message of Desert Song for other women, to be encouraged to claim joy despite circumstance. I wrote it and then I let myself get in my own way. 

3.   If I opened a coffee shop, would I not spend time advertising to bring in customers? If I had a small business where where I created custom jewelry out of my home, would I not let people know? Yes. I would. And I don’t think I would be all weird inside about it. Yet, for some reason, writing has felt different. Yes, I did it for the message itself, not the money (let's be real, authors make about 5 cents per sale), but I have to remember that whether we are talking about vanilla lattes or words in a book, the same principle applies. 

Anyways, that’s what I’ve been wrestling through for awhile. And all that to say, you might hear me talk about my written words a little bit more in the future. 

Here’s to humbly letting the Spirit lead us as we share our creations with the world. Here’s to getting out of our own way, and following-through with the weird marketing side of producing a product or piece of content, whatever that looks like.

Here’s to doubling my Instagram posts in 2019! Ha! 

And here's to hoping my words don't put you to sleep like they did my husband.
It looks like he is faking it, but I assure you, he was out cold. #thanksbabe

 . . . 

What are you writing? What are you creating? What is your hobby? What are you good at and enjoy more than anything in the world? What is your small business? What are you selling? What do you spend hours on, just for the love of it? God delights when we share, so please comment below with Your Thing!   

The Book Is Here!

For a while I felt God calling me to write my story in book form. To share my journey, in all it's realness and rawness, and what He has done, how He has carried us through it all. I felt this nudging for some time yet kept putting it off in the name of "I need to fine-tune my writing," or "I will just keep praying about it," or "Ok, God, if you want me to do this then I need you to plop the opportunity in my lap." 

And after several months of excuses I heard God telling me, "Brittnie, Just because I call you to something doesn't mean I spell it all out for you or throw open the door. Sometimes obedience looks like plain hard work. Delayed obedience is still disobedience." 

Ouch.

The next day, January 1, 2016,  I pulled up a blank Word document, cursor blinking, and told God if I was going to do this He would need to bring the words. And He was faithful. All I did was show up. 

I am honored and humbled (and let's be honest, intimidated) that these words are now in print, for eyes other than mine. My prayer is that it will get into the hands of those that need it, those that need the reminder that joy despite circumstance is feasible. That God is good regardless of circumstance. That God is good even when He calls us to walk the desert. Whether the desert wandering is for a season, or for a lifetime. 

Your desert walk might not look like mine. Maybe you haven't struggled though an eating disorder, been called to parent a special needs child, or said goodbye to a baby born still from your body. 

However, I bet there is something you've faced. A pain or disappointment or loss or expectation that didn't come to pass. We all have unique stories. We've all faced suffering and moments of heartache. 

God encourages us in His word to count it all joy - the good and bad and frustrating and gut-wrenching times, because when we glory in our sufferings we are given a spirit of hope and hope never disappoints us. 

This counting it joy doesn't come naturally, at least not for me. It is a discipline that takes work and intentionality and focus. I tend to write the messages I need the most. This is true for this book. I have not mastered this concept, but still struggle through it when life takes a turn I didn't expect. 

Thank you for your love and support over the years. I couldn't have hand picked better family,  friends, and encouragers. 

If you want to learn more about the book, you can find it here.  Or here, as well as other online book retailers. 

. . . 

Is there something God is calling you to do? Something He is whispering to you but you're afraid or questioning the how's of it all. God just needs a willing heart. Just show up. Take one step and then another and then another. You don't need to know how it will all play out or when. What is your passion? What lights you up? What has God done in your life and how can you share His faithfulness? It might not look like written words in book form, but I guarantee it looks like something. Make that phone call. Write that email. Paint that picture. Research that business idea. Plan that date night. God calls us all to different things and we need all of it.

Just show up. Run your race. It's not about our strengths. It's about His strength in a life that says yes. I may have a love for stringing words together, but I can't tell you how many grammar errors were found in the initial manuscript. That is why God gave us editors. There are people that will support your race. Don't wait until you learn all the grammar rules or have the perfect office or perfect tools or perfect plans. Every one of the sentences in this book was written sitting on an uncomfortable bar stool, laptop placed on a small, wobbly kitchen island. Take that step. And then watch expectantly as God fills the gaps. :)