Hi folks! Erika here. My novella Fear Not Tomorrows has just been published in Wild Blue Wonder Press’s collection Springtime in Surrey along with novellas by seven other authors. (You can buy the book here. Grace’s story Her Heart’s Home is one of them, and I’ve been honored to work with her on this collection over the past several months. Today she’s sharing about her experience writing her story.
Greetings and salutations (which is so much more fun than “hello”), readers! Allow me to introduce myself: my name is Grace A. Johnson (which you’ve no doubt ascertained by this point), and I’m one of the eight authors who are part of Springtime in Surrey, a Christian women’s fiction and romance anthology that released on July 25th from Wild Blue Wonder Press! I’m so excited to be here on Erika’s blog to celebrate the anthology and share a little bit about my story + my experience writing it!
My story, Her Heart’s Home, is set in post-WWI Dorking, Surrey, where our heroine Meredith finds herself homeless and penniless. Her dreams for her life, shattered. Her hopes for the future, dashed. When I began this story, I was set on it being a simple follow-God’s-will type story. I seem to write about that theme a lot, in part because it’s extremely important but also because it’s something I can write without feeling challenged myself.
Naturally, God had other plans.
Somewhere along the way, just like always, Meredith’s struggles became my own. She has so many dreams and hopes and desires, not a one of which are wrong or ungodly, but oftentimes she found herself holding onto those things so tightly it causes her fear, anxiety, depression. On one hand, she wants these things with every fiber of her being. On the other hand, she’s scared to death.
There comes a scene where Meredith basically lists her greatest fears…and as I began writing that list, I realized I felt the exact same way. And so I pulled every single fear (well, all but one, really) out of my own heart and typed it out on the page. It was then, in the wee hours of the morning, where I sat trembling on the love seat with my laptop on a pillow in my lap, that it really hit me how this story was, in a way, my story.
A story of surrender.
Now, I’m not homeless or penniless or a spinster like Meredith. I’ve not faced any of the physical challenges or trials Meredith has. But I hold onto dreams and clutch desires until I’ve steeped myself in the fear that I’ll never be good enough to deserve those dreams and the anxiety that those desires will never be fulfilled.
And what God has slowly but surely been teaching me is that laying my dreams and desires down isn’t letting them go: it’s surrendering them to the only one who can fulfill them.
There’s no denying that this is tough lesson to learn. For some people, it can take a lot of crashing and burning to fully grasp it…but there is so much peace to be found in casting all your cares on Jesus.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
~ 1 Peter 5:6-10 ESV
“‘Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’”
~ Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
Sometimes, it’s my-way-or-the-highway. We want to be in control of our destiny. We think we’re the only ones who can do it right or make things just the way we want them to be.
But the truth is…the highway is so much better. His way is so much better. He knows all the things we don’t, all the turns our life could take or things this world could throw at us. And whether we like it or not, He is the one who’s in control. He’s Lord over all—absolutely everything. No matter what we do, He is still sovereign.
So why hold on to something we can’t actually control?
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
~ Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
~ Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
Like Meredith, we need to surrender. Each and every one of us, sometimes unknowingly, often find ourselves holding onto something, unable to trust God with it. But doesn’t His Word declare how trustworthy He is? How His ways are higher and His plans for us full of hope? If we can trust Him to provide for our food and clothing, can’t we trust Him to lead and guide us throughout our entire lives? Can’t we trust Him to bring us to the job…the spouse…the house…the ministry…the future we’re meant to have?
“‘Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.’”
~ Matthew 6:31-34 ESV
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
~ Philippians 4:4-6 ESV
The next time you feel anxious or uncertain about your future, depressed about those unfulfilled dreams, or afraid of what your life may look like, set your mind on things above. Just say a quick prayer, lifting your cares up to the Father. And remember: laying those things down at the feet of Jesus doesn’t mean you’re letting them go entirely, that you can’t pray about those things or hope for them. It means you’re letting go of your sense of control. You’re letting the God of all creation take the wheel.
Rest in the peace Christ has provided us. Read your favorite Scripture or turn on a worship song, and just rest, friend. God has quite literally got this.
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
~ Colossians 3:1-2 ESV
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
~ Philippians 4:7-9 ESV
Grace A. Johnson is a Christian fiction authoress, book reviewer, and avid reader. She has indie-published the first three novels in a Christian historical romance series, the Daughters of the Seven Seas, and a smattering of short stories and novellas, as well as a devotional. She’s also a marketer and editor who loves helping young authors. You can find her on Instagram and Facebook @graceajohnsonauthor or blogging on her website at www.graceajohnson.com. Join her for a virtual cup of tea and a free preview of her debut novel when you sign up for her e-newsletter!
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