Go, Stay, Give: A Call to Obedience

I love the quote by Jill Briscoe: “You go where you’re sent, and you stay where you’re put, and you give what you’ve got.”

God has a specific plan and path for each of us as writers. Rather than wishing we were the next Francine Rivers or Francis Chan, we can learn to embrace the road we’re on.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)

Go Where You’re Sent

Where has God sent you? To what church family has He called you? What platform has He given you?

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. (Jonah 3:1-3a, NIV)

We served on the mission field for about 15 years. When God called us back, I had my “Jonah” moments. However, we went…we returned home. I had a fairly large platform overseas where I could use my writing and creativity in so many ways, and now I’ve been called to a different environment where my abilities are not as needed. Thankfully, God has opened opportunities I did not expect. Some of my favorite types of writing are monologues and worship programs. I get so much joy from writing them and seeing them performed in my local church. I’ve been blessed to have some used in schools and other churches beyond my own, but nothing beats seeing those we love enjoying what we’ve written.

Stay Where You’re Put

Learning to be content with where God has us is a powerful choice. How can you use the gifts God has given you here and now?

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, NIV)

I’m certainly not where I thought I would be at this time in my life, but I do feel that God has me here for such a time as this. I don’t know why yet, but I’m certain this is where we’re supposed to be. Wherever God has taken us in our ministry, we’ve had lives to touch and lessons to learn. Moving away from a painful place may not be God’s plan. His grace is sufficient for where He has us now (2 Corinthians 12:9).

God gave me a children’s story years ago. I thought it was a one-time thing. After all, I usually write nonfiction. But God wasn’t finished. I’m now writing my sixth story about this same character! I can’t leave him until God says we’re done.

Give What You’ve Got

Only you can tell your story. Only you can write what God has put in your heart. We can’t let fear, or an alternate route, stop us from sharing what God is telling us to write.

“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. (John 6:9, 11, NIV)

If God has a publishing contract in my future, I’m thrilled. However, I can’t stop sharing and writing while I wait. I may not be a well-known speaker, but I am known among my circles of influence, and God has opened many small doors for teaching, speaking, and writing through those. To discount that is to be ungrateful for what God is doing. At Christmas, we had a wonderful time writing an Advent devotional book for our church. It made Christmas so meaningful as we wrote and edited each day’s reading.

This is my prayer: Lord, I don’t know all You have planned, but You encourage us to plant seeds. Seeds are small, and You bring the increase. Please bear fruit through my life and through my writing. Help my life and my writing reflect You even if only one person is touched by what I do or write. One life brought closer to You is worth it. Thank You for inspiring and teaching me as I walk with You. I just want to follow and obey.

About Terrie Hellard-Brown 3 Articles
Terrie Hellard-Brown is an Orange County California native but grew up in Oklahoma, spent fifteen years as a missionary in Taiwan, and has now settled in the Sacramento area. She is a writer, teacher, minister, entrepreneur, wife, and mom. But mostly, she’s just a Christian trying to live out her faith on a day-to-day basis. She’s always loved writing and has been published several times throughout her career. Her favorite topics relate to living the Christian life, but she’s also written several children’s books that her oldest daughter has helped to illustrate.

7 Comments

  1. Terrie, this is so profound, and yet, it’s hard to accept at times, right? We are always comparing ourselves to others. Just this Sunday our pastor said: stop comparing (and stop complaining). Thanks for this insight; I’m gonna right these down so I remember them. (PS, nice to meet you at the conference!)

  2. Terrie, I absolutely LOVED the Jonah illustration. I read the question “What platform has [God] given you?” and it was a hiccup in the read for me. God gives us platforms? I’d never thought of it that way. We are always told that we must build that beast, but here Terrie said God gives us a platform.

    Then to read the Jonah quote … wow! That was so spot-on. Really well done, sister. Thank you for sharing.

    • Thank you, Damon. I was told early on in ministry that God promotes us for what He calls us to do. Basically, He gives us the platform or audience. I guess, like most things, we do what we’re supposed to do, and He brings the increase.

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