When Writer’s Block Is Really Disobedience
“What is happening? God always shows up.” I stared with glazed eyes until the white page on the screen blurred. I couldn’t write. I had the idea but nothing followed — neither brainstorm nor outline. Writing became like wading in mud, and I remained stuck. Prior to this, ideas flowed like a fountain. I journaled, jotting down observations, sticky statements, book concepts and outlines, devotion drafts, and social media post ideas. With each new idea, I thought, I can’t wait to write this piece! However, I kept filling the journal and never finished writing any of the pieces. I began to pray. What I learned surprised and convicted me.
You see, I wrestled with the thoughts of Reason and Wisdom:
Reason said, At least you are writing.
Wisdom said, Write a little each day.
Reason said, You are overbooked.
Wisdom said, It might be time to change your priorities.
Reason said, This is very hard and will take a lot of time.
Wisdom said, Hard work delivers a blessing.
Then, Reason lied, God understands if you can’t do it now.
Wisdom told the truth, Obedience blesses you, others, and God.
As I went back and forth, I realized my lack of follow-through was disobedience. Instead of finishing the pieces, I saw these as “someday” projects. Some were, but others were not.
When God gives an assignment and we do not obey, we follow in the footsteps of Jonah, the prophet. In the book of Jonah (Jonah 1:1-2; Jonah 3:1-10), God provided the prophet with a specific message (a warning of judgment) to a specific group of people (the people of Nineveh) for a specific purpose (Nineveh’s relationship with God). This urgent message would change Nineveh’s relationship with God one way or another.
Likewise, if you are called to write, God chose you to deliver a specific message (your witness of Him) for a specific group of people (your niche) for a specific purpose (to tell them about Jesus). This message will change your audience’s relationship with God one way or another.
As I prayed to God about my writer’s block, I realized I had not been faithful in completing the writing God had given me. Like Jonah, I did not share the message. I thought I had plenty of time, until I saw my words and ideas in someone else’s message. I could have been writing for and sharing the message with dear souls so they could believe in Him. God’s grace redeemed me; He inspired someone else to do the work He intended me to do. He forgave me, but He desired my obedient “yes.”
If you are experiencing writer’s block, you may want to ask yourself:
Have I obeyed God by completing the assignments He gave me?
Have I prayed for God to help me prioritize my writing assignments?
Have I asked Him to send me the provision of endurance?
Have I stumbled upon a reason not to obey His writing assignments?
Like Jonah, we can discover and turn away from the reasons that keep us from obeying God’s assignments. But God wants to reach our readers, and He uses us to deliver messages He wants to reach them with.
Blessings,
Joanne Almeter
Have you experienced writer’s block because you disobeyed your call to write or speak? How have you prayed for God to help you through it? What provision has God given you to write His message?
I really needed this!
This was so good and so convicting! I do this all the time. God asks me to write or plants an idea in my mind, I write it down without following through. The good thing, though- God in His goodness grants us mercy. I prayed and asked forgiveness for not not following through, and then revisited the list of titles and began writing. Thank you for sharing.
…and I accidentally hit send😆
This really ministered to me. I was a Compel member a few years ago and took a step back after our 2nd daughter was born, then tried to re-join after we had twins a couple years later, but stepped back AGAIN. I’ve been delaying what I felt deep down I was called years ago to do. And what you said about your message showing up through another writer, that’s real, I’ve experienced it, and man it stings. BUT my logic explained it away as a “coincidence”. What a fantastic reminder that God will get His message out and He’s kind enough to allow us to partner with Him. What a profound gift! Praying for His covering over us all. Help us guard our hearts and minds, Lord.
Thank you, Joanne, for doing the hard work of pushing past the “logic” and getting this message into the world. What an incredible moment it will be when one day Jesus pulls back the curtain to show you how many hearts your writing helped transform. Cheering you on!🫶🏽
Whoa, so it’s not just me?! 😅
So good, thank you for sharing.
This is a timely piece for me. Thank you!
This was so good! I definitely never thought about it like this. This blog post has given me a new perspective to think about God and my writing assignments and it makes me think how many times I’ve sat on writing assignments because of fear or pride, but it was still disobedience if He told me to do it. Thank you for something to take to my prayer closet with Him.
Pride, yes! So often the root of me holding back is pride! It’s so sneaky.
Lord, tear down any strongholds of pride in our hearts and replace them with Your spirit of love and order, in Jesus Name.
Cheering for you, friend!🥳
Aren’t they because they don’t feel like pride! Thank you friend! Cheering for you as well 🎉
Yes! I admit it, along with other excuses, my pride is really what is stopping me. This never looks like pride on the surface, I can label it so many other less convicting ways. Fear of failure, concern that I am not good enough at this, etc but underneath it is self-reliance when I need to trust Him with the success of my obedience.
I’ve never thought of it as disobedience. Quite honestly, it is a little of that mixed with not knowing “where to go” I am so glad I found compel pro!