What Success Looks Like as a Christian Writer

As Christian writers, we often struggle to understand the difference between success and the importance of our words. We know we want to share the hope and good news of Jesus through our writing, but we tend to measure our “success” the wrong way ... quickly becoming discouraged. Friend, there is hope for your weary writing heart! Here are five truths to keep you on the right track as you follow Him in your writing journey.

Do you remember how you started writing? What was your motivation and highest desire? What were your goals? How did you picture your success as a Christian writer? Perhaps you have envisioned having a website; publishing articles, blogs and books; and having a certain number of followers on social media. 

The truth is, we can’t define and measure success as a Christian writer by the output and the numbers. God has another definition of success, and we will be wise to apply it to our writing too. 

Here are five key truths about what success looks like as a Christian writer to calm your heart and help you focus on the right goals: 

  1. Success as a Christian writer is linked to our primary and most important calling: to be God’s faithful witnesses and ambassadors of His grace. God calls us to be Jesus’ witnesses in the first place and to speak and write His words whether people pay attention or not. This means if we find our reach, number of followers, etc. disappointing, we should continue to do what we know we should do. For example, when God called Ezekiel to be a prophet, He even warned him that the people will not listen to him (Ezekiel 2:3-8).
  2. God also calls us to hear and store in our hearts and minds His Word and truths and then to express His messages and truths through our writing and speaking. Being recipients and distributors of God’s Word, insights, wisdom and revelations is a huge part of our success as writers. 
  3. We write in the name of Jesus — primarily to bring Him glory and praise and to show Him to the world. If this is our highest motivation, then we are already successful in our creative ministries. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17, NIV).
  4. Success as a Christian writer means aligning our writing goals and expectations with God’s goals for us on a regular basis. It is crucial to follow God’s leading in daily obedience and involve Him in the goal-setting process. We need to do what we know He is calling us to now, not what the others are doing. These goals can change in different seasons of our life and under the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
  5. When we focus only on what God has given us to do in this particular season and not compare it to anyone else’s assignments, we are successful. “Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else …” (Galatians 6:4).

When our highest goal as Christian writers is to glorify Jesus, then we are on the right path to true success. God has given us writing and speaking ministries, and He also has given each of us a designated area and harvest field. The size is not important. What matters is to follow Him in daily obedience and to write words as His faithful witness. 

Ultimately, success is writing and speaking faithfully God’s Word and truths in God’s power, in God’s timing and in God’s ways. 

Blessings,

Hadassah Treu

Do you consider yourself a successful Christian writer? Why or why not? Share in the comments. 

 

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Hadassah Treu is an award-winning Christian blogger, author, poet, speaker, and winner of the Encouraging Blogger Award from Fluxing Well for 2020. She loves to encourage and motivate people to stand firm in their faith and grow spiritually by applying biblical truths to their lives. Hadassah is a contributing author to several faith-based platforms, and devotional and poetry anthologies. She is also a COMPEL Training Freelancing Community Group leader and Blogger Voices Network contributor. Hadassah has been featured on (in)courage, Proverbs 31 Ministries, Living by Design Ministries, Her View From Home, Thoughts About God, Today’s Christian Living, and other popular sites. You can find her online by visiting her blog at onthewaybg.com.

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