I have not written for a long time.

First it was summer, full of travel and kids home from school, good activity but not much time alone in a quiet place to write. Then came the second-guessing: asking if I have anything worth saying and questioning the value of this writing; it turned out to be a time to reflect on humility and purpose. Finally, the past month has been unusually busy, again with no time or “mental space” to write. During this period, I was encouraged and challenged to continue writing long before I had the time to do it; I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity to sit and write the thoughts that have been developing over the past several weeks.

Two years ago, God gave me a theme verse as I prepared to teach at a pastor’s conference in India.

The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. Isaiah 50:4

This turned out to be a theme for the entire year and multiple situations, including starting this blog. But then, I began to question if I had anything worthwhile to say. Part of my struggle was measuring “worthwhile” by who – or how many – would want to hear it. God has been teaching me the long-and-slow-to-learn lesson not to look to others for affirmation and value, but just to be faithful to what I sense God calling me to do. I may question if I have anything to say that’s worth hearing, but I know God’s words have value. If I can pass on any encouragement from what He teaches me, then it’s worth it.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:4-6