CHALLENGE WINNER: Write to Remember


In May, COMPEL Training challenged our members to submit a compelling blog post that encourages and equips other writers with wisdom they have learned in their own writing journey. Today’s blog post is one of five winners of that challenge and was written by COMPEL Member Emily Jones Petty.  Continue reading to be inspired by her words and her unique writing journey. 

The very thing God used to prompt me to begin writing is what Satan uses to hold me back. After years of suffering, Jesus freed my soul from the depths of shame and depression. Knowing I wasn’t the only one hindered by a past of fear and condemnation, I began sharing my story out of a desire to help others know God can set them free as well. 

I wrote a book and started a blog, eagerly anticipating the miracles God would perform in and through me. I envisioned lives being changed simply because I embraced what God was calling me to do. 

Months passed but nothing happened as expected. Few blog followers. No book contracts. I began questioning God’s plan, believing myself a failure, sliding down the slippery slope of shame He graciously freed me from. But His purpose was not for me to relive my past, but to remember Him rescuing me from it. 

God wants me to share my experience as a reminder of what He’s doing in my life. Writing keeps the memories fresh. It keeps my need for Him at the forefront of my mind. It keeps me accountable to the transformation, encouraging me to keep climbing out of the pit. 

Now, I write to remember the goodness of God. The journey itself has more meaning than the destination. When I focused on what would happen, I lost sight of why I was writing. Receiving recognition becomes less important than sharing what Jesus is doing in my life. My story matters; yours does too. Be encouraged to keep going even when it seems you’re going nowhere. Write to remember and remember to write what Satan wants you to forget. 

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Comments

  1. Great advice. Thank you.

  2. Thank you for an amazing reminder of the importance to remember and not forget what our Lord does for us – collectively as His people and as individuals. It sent me on a research journey of the multiple reminders in God’s Word of exactly what you shared beautifully in your last sentence!

  3. Melissa Labieniec: September 10, 2019 at 1:52 pm

    Awesome! I needed to hear this today.

  4. Thank you for sharing!! I have had alot of failures in my life and especially with ministry. Almost threw in the towel until one day I gave God an ultimatum and his answer was, “I’m not finished with you yet.” So now I am on this new journey of committing my time to writing, scared as heck but obedient as ever!!

  5. This was so beautifully written. Thank you for imparting that writing is a vehicle that can help enhance our relationship with GOD. I love the last sentence so much.

  6. April Rockdaschel: July 25, 2019 at 8:20 pm

    Wow. Thank you. I can very much relate to shame, becoming free, and then wanting to hide and slip back into the old habits of shame again. Thank you. Yours was a nice, easy read, that left me comforted and inspired. Blessings! Thanks for sharing!

  7. “Write to remember and remember to write what Satan wants you to forget.”
    This last line was so super important and an important reminder for me. Very often, I allow the enemy to successfully keep me from writing about those things he taunts me with make me feel shame. These are the very things I’m sure would bless others. And as you said, it’s just a blessing to remember ALL the many ways the Lord has saved and redeemed us. Thank you for sharing this great writing lesson.

  8. Kelli Mercurio: July 23, 2019 at 11:19 am

    Thank you for sharing your heart. This was so timely and encouraging. Blessings in heaps as you continue to share His love with others.

  9. Congratulations Emily! I appreciate your encouragement to write to remember God’s transforming work in your life. Sharing your testimony is a powerful thing – for you and those who read it – I’m blessed to hear yours.

  10. Lynda Varada: July 19, 2019 at 4:28 pm

    Just what I needed to hear! I loved your last line, “Write to remember and remember to write what Satan wants you to forget.” I’ve written it in my journal. Such an important truth!

  11. Thank you for the reminder…

  12. Amen! Remembering and sharing His faithfulness, so that others will know! Beautiful. I would love to follow your blog and will look it up! Congratulations on your post. Keep sharing!

  13. Such a beautiful reminder, Emily! God is so faithful to call us and encourage us in that calling!

  14. Thanks, Emily. I really needed to hear that message since Satan is working on discouraging me. Congratulations also for being among the winners of this challenge!

  15. I absolutely LOVE this Emily!!! !
    Thank you

  16. Thank you so much for such an awesome reminder! Don’t give up. “Run with perseverance the race marked out for you. ” Hebrews 12.

  17. This was awesome! What Emily said in the last paragraph is EXACTLY what we need to keep in mind daily:
    “Receiving recognition becomes less important than sharing what Jesus is doing in my life. My story matters; yours does too. Be encouraged to keep going even when it seems you’re going nowhere. Write to remember and remember to write what Satan wants you to forget”.
    Congratulations Emily! Thank you for sharing, and encouraging us all. God bless. 💕

  18. I have grown through the pain as I became closer to God having to put all my trust in Him and Him alone. Standing up for God did not go the way I expected but knowing that His light was illuminating from me in such a magnificent way that caused Satan to attack my family brings Joy as I know I have learnt so much.. I would not have made it without Him. Thank you Lord.

  19. Congratulations, Emily! Thank you for sharing encouragement from your writing journey. Your perspective and reason for writing are inspiring, friend. Love your benediction, “Write to remember and remember to write what Satan wants you to forget.”