by Kariss Lynch, @Kariss_Lynch

This spring was a transition month for me. New relationship, changes in my writing world, new little family member. It truthfully felt like a whole new world. 

I would love to tell you I’m a pro at change, but I struggle with it. Anyone else? Change challenges us. It stretches. It refines. It can also wound. And with wounds, I tend to withdraw.

Ever experienced that with your writing? A series of struggles hits and you start questioning…everything?

Maybe you’ve even had some of these thoughts:

I’m not cut out for this.

It’s too much time and money.

It’s never going to happen. I should just quit.

No one will ever want this. No one will ever read this.

What was I thinking?

I think I’ve had most of those thoughts many times (sometimes in the same writing session). But here are several steps I have to take when the struggle is real:

• Keep writing.

Even if it seems hopeless, if you have a story inside you, write it down. Don’t waste it. You have a gift. Use it. If for no one else, do it for yourself and those cheering you on.

• Don’t grow weary.

It’s so easy to grow discouraged. I’m abundantly thankful for the people in my life reminding me why I write. I would also encourage writing a note to yourself, maybe even having friends and family write them, too. Save these to read on the bad writing days. Then keep going.

• Trust that God is faithful.

His time. His way. His story. His calling on your life. He will put your writing in the hands of the right readers who need to hear the life-giving message you shared. Don’t miss out on that joy. Don’t rob others of the blessing of your gift.

• Change your train of thought.

Instead of focusing on everything that isn’t going your way with writing, focus on what is. Your internal monologue will shift, your courage will grow, and your grip will ease. I’m not cut out for this becomes I’m called to this, and therefore I will persevere. It’s too much time and money becomes The Lord is my Provider, and I will trust Him with the time and funds. I should just quit becomes He who called is faithful and will bring what He wants to pass in His time. How you think and how you talk to yourself all matters. Change your dialogue.

• Don’t compare.

You may see a friend’s career take off. You may be working on your fourth manuscript and have three times as many rejection letters. Don’t compare your journey to someone else’s. God is writing your story to use you for His glory in His way in His time to bless the people around you and conform you more into the image of His Son. That’s a complicated, weighty sentence. But I want you to feel the purpose it contains. Celebrate your friends. Celebrate your own story, no matter what it looks like in this chapter.

This journey is worth it. Hang in there, friend. Change can happen in the blink of an eye. Don’t miss out on what God is doing today. Keep writing. Trust God. And be ready to step into your new season when He brings it. You’ve got this.

Kariss Lynch writes contemporary romance about characters with big dreams, adventurous hearts, and enduring hope. She is the author of the Heart of a Warrior series and loves to encourage her readers to have courage. In her free time, she hangs out with her family and friends, explores the great outdoors, and tries not to plot five stories at once. Connect with her at karisslynch.com, or on Facebook, Instagram, or Goodreads.