Bonnie Leon

Happy Monday to you from Bonnie Leon.

There are verses I return to again and again. One portion of Scripture I especially love is Isaiah 40:26-31. It begins powerfully. “Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”

Calls them by name? And not one is missing? Our creator is powerful beyond comprehension. And yet, He’s interested in me and you. He knows every detail about us–our joys and sorrows, and our hopes and dreams. Scripture says He knows the very hairs on our heads. How is that possible? I don’t know. I don’t need to know. I understand that God is good and full of mercy, wisdom and knowledge. I trust Him.

If God created all the heavens then certainly the challenges and peculiarities of my writing life are a breeze for Him to manage. He knows when I’m flying through a scene or when I’m dragging through a tepid plot that needs a book doctor. He’s with me on days that feel like summer and He’s especially close when life is dark and stormy.

We all have seasons of discouragement. Every writer I know experiences storms of disappointment, fear, insecurity and doubt. Sometimes it feels as if we’ve taken up permanent residence in a valley. It’s all part of being a writer. We can’t live on a mountain top all of the time.

Last week I received a call that sent me into a tailspin. I’m good at that. Anyway, my old friends, insecurity and disappointment, grabbed hold of me for a few moments (okay, it was more like a few hours). My plans and my writing schedule were tossed askew, which meant that paydays I’d counted on would be delayed. Nothing was as I’d expected. It took prayer and a bit of time for me to look up and to see God.

Although I felt lost for a while, He never lost sight of me, and he soon reminded me that I’d been praying for just what I’d been given. Discouragement turned to wonder. God had everything worked out.

Like you, I’m not always strong, but I do my best to walk through life with joy and purpose. I’m confident that no matter what I face God has the power to lift me up, which He makes perfectly clear in the closing verses of Isaiah 40. Beginning with verse 28 Isaiah says, “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

What a beautiful promise! When we find ourselves run down, worn out or discouraged we have a place to go–God. He WILL renew our strength and we WILL soar on wings like eagles.

So . . . how about trying out those wings?

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie