It can be a thankless job.
Sitting at your computer writing. Posting. Watching the number of hits creep up (or not creep up as the case may be).
Opening yourself up. Letting other people in. Sharing what is in your heart. Not knowing if anyone understands or even cares. Wondering if you have reached anyone. Touched anyone. Connected with anyone.
Am I the only one who struggles with this? Am I the only one who wonders if what I write is making a difference?
I know, I know it is not about the numbers.
“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
I don’t write for others. I write for God. I write to bring glory to Him, not to myself. This is a daily reminder for me. You see I am a words of affirmation girl. Say something nice to me and it will make my day. But God is not always a wordy God. He is not always overly generous with His praise (at least not in the way I want Him to be). It takes me being still, being quiet and sitting in His presence (things I am not always good at) to here Him speak to me. And when I am still, He does speak to me. He encourages me and urges me to press on. He reminds me it is not about numbers but about bringing glory to Him, even if it is just between He and I.
The thing is, I really, truly, honestly believe He wants me to write. I really believe He wants me to encourage others. I believe this is one of the ways He has gifted me. Perhaps you have this gift too.
I also believe it takes faith to do this.
It takes faith to put yourself out there. It takes faith to put words on the paper (or in this case the computer screen) and hit publish. It takes faith that what you are doing for God will ultimately bear fruit for God, not for you (or me) but for God!
I recently heard someone say, “When our little bit of faith intercedes with His faithfulness God shows up and does some amazing things in us and through us.” (author unknown).
You see God is faithful. We are assured of that over and over again in Scripture. And when we act out in faith, God is faithful to answer that. His faithfulness will magnify our little bit of faith 100 times over.
So I will keep sharing. I will keep putting myself out there. I will stop counting the number of hits and lean fully on God. I will have faith that He will accomplish a good work in me just like He has promised. I will write. I will have faith.
Will you?
Will you?
It’s tough job…but somebodies got to do it!
Thanks, it is true that we have to be careful not to make an idol out of our blogs (and it can be hard). I find it really helps me to never place my blog before the church I actually attend, and the church family I serve. That way between my job, and being an active member of a church, I cannot place my blog too central in my life. I want to write well, and I want to help people to know God better, but not to the detriment of the people God has placed in my life. I think society today replaces physical interactions with virtual ones, but the church is not a virtual thing. I love my blog, and it most likely helps me more than it helps anyone else. It forces me to carefully study God’s word, and carve out time in my schedule for him, but it cannot replace God or church family. Thank you for challenging us to step away from caring how popular we are among humanity, and to focus our lives on God.
Tami, I can certainly relate to this. I recently wrote about how when I started writing several years ago I had little expectations that others would even read it and therefore I had little expectations for myself. It was simply something I felt lead to do at the time. However somewhere down the line I started to feel the pressure of carrying “my” blog which is not what God intended at all. Every time I find myself venturing off course, I’m thankful that God will gently nudge me back on course.
I feel exactly the same way. Writing is a solitary venture. And I’m enticed by the numbers too. It’s so easy to be drawn into that! I have to keep reminding myself, I want my writing to be purposeful and of worth. Social media makes it so easy to focus on SELF…it’s all about posting my life and my pictures and ME. It sure feeds the ego!
Thank God that God keeps me grounded (most of the time.) 🙂
Marianne – excellent point about social media! It paints such a false picture of not only our lives but everyone else’s too! Sometimes I tell myself low numbers are God’s way of keeping me humble! (really, it’s for my own good!) Keep on writing!
Tami
Wow! As I read your post, I felt like I was reading something I had written myself! I know exactly how you feel and to every word you wrote in that post, I add “amen, sister!” I tell myself, don’t look at the stats, they don’t matter — you are writing for God. Yet, I still peek at them and sigh when they are so low. I’ll think, gee, this was a really inspirational piece I just posted – yet, maybe one or two people have read it. Really?? Reading your post has encouraged me. I know there are more of us out there, writing our hearts out for God and needing an occasional reminder that it is indeed worth it. If no one ever reads my posts, God has been glorified in my heart as I wrote and added the photos He inspired me to take. It is for God’s glory — not for mine. Thanks again, Tami — and if you’d like, you can peek at what a writing-sister with low stats is pouring out before the Savior — http://www.sandra-ramblingrose.blogspot.com.
Sandra-
I am SO glad this encouraged you. Keep writing, just for him! And one day he will tell you, “Well done!”
Tami
Great encouragement! I just keep reminding myself: take a step, take a step (or make a post, make a post). Keep stepping forward in faith. Our job is to be obedient to His call and let God take care of the results. That said, it’s still awfully hard to stop looking at the numbers 🙂
Kathryn – I am so glad you keep taking that step and making that post! We are never told obedience will be easy. Keep writing!
Tami
Hang in there! I know Papa is very proud of you! It takes courage to be faithful when it’s hard, but He promises He will always reward us!
Thank you for the encouragement Jamie! He is indeed faithful!
Yes, I can relate to that… blogging can sometimes seem like a fruitless exercise.. but in blogging, I find that I dwell on the things of Christ and that is a good thing.. I hope it blesses others too of course, but just what it does for me is enough to keep it up! Blessings. Glenys
Hey Glenys – I love what you said about dwelling on the things of Christ! There is no doubt that I am significantly closer to God on the days I write than the days I don’t. What a great reminder! Thanks
It is good to keep focused on Him.. 😀
Yes. Completely. Ditto. But seven years later I’m still here (new site) but still years later and blogging. 🙂 I loved this. Thank you,
Georgia
Georgia – Thank you for your comment! It feels so much better just knowing others feel the same way. Keep on blogging!
I know what you mean. It’s so easy to become overly concerned about the numbers on your blog….I’ve only been blogging a short while but sometimes its good to sit back and remember why I started blogging in the first place.
I’m so glad you can relate. It is a daily reminder for me that I am doing all this for him. Thanks for the comment!