Where do I go from here?
This past week I had a wonderful opportunity to travel to Fort Wayne, Indiana for the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association conference. Informative sessions, meeting new friends, and winning an award made for an awesome experience. But I’ve found myself pondering a major question–where do I go from here?
Perhaps you’ve had a similar experience? Have you felt an urge to change directions on your life journey? Perhaps take on new responsibilities or give up some tasks that threaten to overwhelm? Please feel free to share your decision making process in the comments (it will help those of us struggling on a pathway change).
It’s not unusual to come home from a conference with a head full of new information and a long list of tasks to complete. In this particular case, it’s a plethora of new tasks I should do (or maybe not).
The pressure of learning a new technology skill looms on the horizon. Making videos, adding on additional marketing strategies, increasing contacts on social media–and the list goes on.
After retirement, I felt the call to be an author–to serve others through my writing.
Often, a feeling of being overwhelmed creeps in as writing gets pushed to the back burner by tasks associated with marketing our work.
Where do I go from here?
Questions I’m pondering…
- How can I possibly add to an already busy schedule?
- Do I really need a newsletter? A podcast? A YouTube channel to add to the social media tasks already in place?
- What about family time?
- When am I supposed to actually write?
Where to find my answers…
As in any of the hard questions we ask ourselves, the answer is with our Father:
- Ask God–What should I do? Where do I go from here?
- Pray for His guidance
- Look for answers in His Word
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
So today, my friends, as I express my wish to pray for you in your hard decisions, I humbly ask for your prayers, that our loving Lord will guide me on this writing journey. I need His help in knowing how to proceed–what to write, when to write, and what to give up.
May God bless you and keep you safe.
I’m excited and honored that Stay the Course received an award from AWSA. I’m continuing to pray for our first year college students and I hope you’ll join me in prayer. It’s a tough world out there!
Wonderful post. Thank you. I was just journaling this morning and included a prayer about ordering my steps according to His word. Psalm 119:133. May God give us both the strength to ask, pause, listen, and obey.
“Pause, listen, and obey.” Wonderful wisdom, Kristy. Thank you for sharing. I just prayed for you, that God would guide your steps and bless you in your ministry of service to Him.
Facing these decisions can be an overwhelming task. Praying with you, Katherine, as I also covet this direction. Congratulations on the award!
I know you’ve been there, too, Barbara, searching and asking for our Father’s guidance. I’m praying for you. I loved your article that you read for us on our Lighthouse Bible Study Zoom meeting. My words have gotten me in trouble before and I’ve prayed for God to help me think before I speak and for me to be silent when He wills me to. Your message was so reinforcing for me. Thank you and may God bless you as you continue to write for His glory.
Congratulations on earning an AWSA award for Stay the Course! It’s a fabulous book that a lot of kids going off to college could us right now.
Thanks so much for your kind encouragement, Priscilla. Joy and blessings!
Congratulations! Thank you for this wonderful message, too. 🙂
Thank you, Melissa. Your smile brings joy! May God continue to bless you and your family and your service to Him. I’m looking forward to the next lesson you share from your precious grandchildren.
Congratulations, Katherine, on your award. It’s a well deserved honor to have your work recognized by others.
I too struggle with where to go from here. I continue to write my 4th book and I’m about a third of the way done. Even though I know God has called me to write, I also sense Him calling me to return to some of my previous activities. Since moving to East Tennessee 2 years ago, I put most of my medical endeavors on hold. I resisted obtaining a medical license down here stating that it would be too difficult and expensive. Well, God has my attention after my ankle fracture which has greatly slowed me down. And there is so much need in Appalachia. So, I’m working on my Tennessee and North Carolina medical licenses which will enable me to volunteer in free clinics or work part-time at a rural community health center near our home. Who knows? Maybe there’s another book idea I’ll glean from this experience!
Oh, Suzanne, that is wonderful! There are so many needs in Appalachia and I know God will bless your work in this region. I have no doubt that you will find much to write about. May God bless you in both your endeavors, writing for His glory and serving His children.
Congratulations on your award, Katherine. I can identify with your desire to make the right decisions about the possibilities ahead. I’m praying for you and all the students heading back to school. I enjoyed hearing the local university’s marching band practice last night.
Thank you for your good wishes and for your prayers Diana. Our students need our Father’s guidance. My children both played percussion in marching band. I miss those days. Peace and blessings.
Congratulations, Katherine! What a thrilling honor for your writing! , too, struggle with all the social media and marketing things that are expected of writers today and just wish I could write! I do remember that Edie Melson often says to look on those things llike blogs and newsletters as a n additional way to serve God in the larger world, and to bring His light into it. And my agent often says much the same thing about marketing–that if we’ve written something that will help others to know God and honor Him more, then it’s worth it to do what it takes to let people know about our work. But you are so right, none of this is possible without God’s help and guidance in what things are good and to balance everything in a God-honoring way! Sometimes a virtual assistant can be a great help. I have one who helps me with things like my newsletter. My prayers are with you as you make your decisions!
I’m so grateful for your prayers, Kathy. It helps to know others struggle with these same issues. Your wisdom and suggestions are much appreciated. Edie and your agent share helpful information–thank you. I pray God’s continued blessing for you as you write to His glory.
Those of us who feel the call to write often face the same dilemma. We simply want to write the message on our hearts. Then hear that we need to have a presence on social media, and do all kinds of marketing to sell our product. You are right, it’s overwhelming.
I often ask myself what is my purpose. Why do I write? That part is easy. I am compelled by Holy Spirit to share what’s on my heart in the hopes of encouraging someone else. Somehow that brings clarity and peace.
I’ve been blessed by your writing, Katherine, and our online acquaintance. May God bless you in all your endeavors.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Terri. Your words are so encouraging. It is comforting to know others have the same struggle and I’m grateful you shared what helps you find clarity. Our online friendship blesses me as well–there are times when social media helps bring those of like minds and purposes together and our connection has brought joy. May God continue to bless your writing and your service to Him.
Hi Katherine, Thank you for sharing about your time at the conference in Fort Wayne. I was so happy to meet you there, and I congratulate you for your book award – yay! I too was overwhelmed by all the information and by seeing the success and productivity of so many of the members. It actually makes me tired to think of what it seems to take to get to that level. At the same time, I was hugely blessed by the spiritual aspect of the conference. I felt like I was at a spiritual retreat and that is my biggest take-away from the weekend. Oh, I also have another takeaway – covid. It started Wednesday, but I’m feeling so much better today. Back to our topic – I’m cutting and pasting this blog onto a page and I’m going to read it daily for a while to remind me of what’s most important — speaking to God about all of this. He and He alone will guide us to the right path in our writing life, as well as all other aspects of our life. Thank you again for sharing this, Katherine. God bless you, my friend!
Sandra, thank you for stopping by my blog. It was such a blessing to connect with you at AWSA. I’m still overwhelmed by the knowledge shared at the conference, but I’m also rejoicing at the blessings we received at Fort Wayne. I’m glad you’re feeling better. Thank you for your prayers. I’m also praying for clarity and wisdom for all of us; that God would let us know the path He has plan for our work. Wishing you joy and blessings, my friend.
I’m right there with you as I examine God’s plans for the 3rd act of my life. I, too, feel pulled to serve God in ways other than writing.
I’ve recently cut my blogging and social media presence in half to focus on finishing my book. I’ve got to have something to market, after all! Sometimes we have to listen to that quiet inner voice rather than all the “You shoulds…”
Congratulations on your award. I know your book has blessed, and will continue to bless, many.
Your action to cut back on blogging and social media in order to focus on your book is a good one. I’m considering that as well as I pray for God’s guidance. Thank you for your encouragement and good wishes. May God bless you with joy and blessings–and much success on your completing your book.
Congratulations on your award, Katherine! Such a blessing! I understand what you are going through. So much to do as a writer. Writing–great! Marketing? Social media? Not so much. Overwhelming? Yes! I, too, am praying for the Lord’s direction. And I’ll pray for Him to guide you as well.
Thank you for you good wishes and prayers, LuAnn. I’m grateful! I wanted to let you know I’ve just begun to read Our Faithful Love and I’m enjoying it! It’s my first opportunity to read one of your books. May God continue to bless your writing to His glory.
Congratulations! Sometimes life is keeping all the ball in the air. Sometimes it’s rest. Thanks for encouraging us to seek God’s way and time. God bless!
Thank you for your good wishes, Nancy. Sometimes it’s hard for us to keep life well-balanced. I need reminders to consult with my Lord when the “busy-ness” of life becomes overwhelming–the better option, of course, is to consult with our Lord BEFORE reaching the overwhelming stage. May God bless you!