How To Keep Writing Through Busy Seasons
Full calendars, work deadlines, parenting challenges, holidays, external circumstances … Some seasons in life are busier than others. These are busy seasons when other people and tasks require more of our time, attention, and resources.
But does this mean there are seasons when we stop writing?
The truth is that’s a question that only the Lord can answer. However, if you’ve been called to write, busy seasons don’t have to mean you stop writing; it may just mean that your writing rhythms look a little different.
As a mom of four littles, here are a few ways I’ve learned to keep writing through busy seasons.
- Surrender Your Schedule.
Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails” (NIV).
As writers, we often have goals or ideas of how much we can accomplish in a given time. However, especially in busy seasons, we need to first and foremost surrender that time to the Lord. He is sovereign over everything, including our schedules.
When you write, start by surrendering your desire for control and your expectations to Him. He is a God who multiplies fish and loaves to feed the masses (Matthew 14:13-21), and He can multiply your limited time and efforts too. - View Writing as a Spiritual Discipline.
Next, it’s helpful to remember that, ultimately, writing is a discipline. God desires our obedience, even when it’s not necessarily fun or convenient.
In certain seasons, you may be able to wait for inspiration to strike or until the setting is “right,” but in busy seasons, it may mean you write in less than ideal situations for the sake of writing. Remember, God cares about the state of our hearts. When we have the discipline to write, we offer our words as an act of worship to the only One who is worthy. - Write in the Margins.
Lastly, in busy seasons, we keep writing by choosing to write in the margins. These are the extra precious minutes sprinkled throughout our days: the 15 minutes waiting in a car line, the 10 minutes between meetings, or the 20 minutes of quiet before the rest of the house stirs.
When you make the most of the time you have, you can chip away at writing projects little by little. However, this does mean you have to learn to be OK with unfinished work. Know that God provides, even if it’s not on the same timetable you had hoped.
Busy seasons are inevitable, but it doesn’t mean your writing has to stop. Instead, be a good steward of the time you do have, offering it all to the Lord. Seasons come and go, but what’s done for the Lord will last for eternity.
In Christ,
Samantha Decker
How else do you find time to write in particularly busy seasons? Share some practical tips and strategies. We’d love to hear from you!
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