In His Timing | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: In His Timing | Previous Challenge Entry
By Alisha Ritchie
04/05/15
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In His Timing
I first felt the need to write devotions two years ago. I remember the night as if it were yesterday. I was on vacation with my family at the beach. After a fun but exhausting day at the pool, all but me had turned in for the night. I laid on the couch and reflected on the events of the day. With my reflection, I was inspired to write down the spiritual truths God impressed upon my heart. Only having an Ipad available at the time, I typed for an hour that night, describing in great detail how God had touched my heart with time spent with my precious family. It was then that I first felt God nudging me to write my inspirational pieces, mainly so my children could have them to see how God had worked in our lives.
In the days and weeks following that night, I wrote what was in my heart and what God laid on my heart. Every day, God used situations to let me know He was there. I started to pay closer attention to how God made His presence known. I was diligent in my pursuit of writing and eventually felt led to submit my work to different publishers. Sadly, no contracts for publication were ever sent my way. I became frustrated with this process and wanted to give up on my devotions. I felt as if my writing was somehow meant to inspire others and give them encouragement in their walk with God. But how? The publishers didn’t seem interested and I had no platform to get my writing out there for others to read. Of course, doubts flooded my mind continuously and I was tempted many times to quit all together. But I kept hearing God whisper, “Wait.” I prayed in earnest that if this wasn’t His plan for my life, to give me peace and another direction to take. And again I heard the word, “Wait.”
So I waited…I would take small breaks from my writing and then would feel the Lord nudging me to type again. I continually prayed about God’s will for my life and the words in my heart that He wanted me to share. I knew God had something planned for me but in His timing. I had to learn to be patient and wait.
Finally, after a horrible week filled with lots of stress and problems, I received an email confirming publication of one of my devotions on a Christian website. The wonderful news couldn’t have come at a better time because honestly, I don’t think I could have handled one more piece of bad news that week. But God knew exactly what I needed and provided me with hope in the form of a published devotion. After two years, my writing was going to be read, hopefully becoming a blessing to others.
Since my first devotion has been posted online, I have had many other devotions and articles published on various sites. I even have a devotion that will appear in a print magazine at the end of the year. It has truly been amazing to see how God is working in my life and making His presence known daily. He has shown me that through my struggles in my writing career, I have grown into a more mature Christian, learning to depend on Him in a deeper way. He needed to prepare me for this time in my life- I simply wasn’t ready two years ago. He has given me purpose to share His story and relentless love through my writing, thus strengthening my personal testimony.
God’s persistent tugging on my heart to continue writing, even when it seemed hopeless, has led me to where I am today. Sharing my heart and pointing others to Jesus through writing is what I was created to do, at least in this season of my life. I am thankful God never gave up on me and that I never gave up on the dream He laid on my heart two years ago. He surely blessed me with a story to share, all in His timing, and finally I can say, “It is well with my soul.”

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