Finding Your Purpose Changes Everything
I write because words matter and impact lives. I publish books because God has made it clear that doing so is an act of obedience to Him. I continue writing because the desire has never gone away.
In reality, my goal of becoming a published best-selling author was indeed lofty. There’s fierce competition in the marketplace, a saturated market in many genres, and most of us authors dislike building our platform. It’s certainly a goal beyond my own capabilities.
When I stepped out to publish my first Christian book in 2017, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but I had no clue how much would be required. I self-published and quickly became overwhelmed with the things I read and heard I should do to market the book. You could say I was a little naive, thinking that once it released the ‘hard’ work was over. So what did I do? Very little, actually. I didn’t market it online, and I didn’t even spread the word.
Fast forward to 2020—I decided to step out in faith and submit my children’s book manuscript to a small press publisher. Six months later I eagerly signed a hybrid contract with Ambassador International, and now the third book in the Questions for Kids picture book series has released. What a wild ride! I’ve learned, I’ve grown, and I’ve prayed a lot. And I still consider this dream a lofty goal.
Can I support myself with this writing endeavor? Not yet. It feels more like a ministry than a career path at this point. In fact, I heard God’s still small voice say, “Investment in the Kingdom.” I’ve been investing my time, energy, and resources ever since.
If my ‘why’ in writing was to achieve fame and fortune, then I would have given up long ago. Because let’s face it, any lofty goal won’t be easy or happen overnight. It will require resources of time and money, focus, persistence, and stepping out in bold faith. Which is why it’s important to know your ‘why’ as a Christian writer and author.
My Writing Why
I write children’s books because I want to make a difference in the lives of children through colorful, creative books that point them to Jesus!
Why do I write children’s books? I can narrow it down to one word: influence. Picture books help children learn about the world around them and are often the beginning point for a lifelong love of books. Books teach kids about important character qualities and help them form an understanding of right and wrong. Some books help prepare kids for new stages, ages, and opportunities.
So, what is your why? If you’ve never determined this before, now would be a great time. Get quiet with God and seek his vision for your future. If it’s been a while since you’ve re-visited your “why,” this is the perfect time to reflect and realign.
Here are some prompts to get you started and some Bible verses to cheer you on in your lofty goal. Remember on those days when your to-do list is long and your focus blurred that your goal really is in the hands of a loving God. The Father loves you and has only good plans for you, and your writing dream. Will it be easy? Will you enjoy fame and fortune? Not necessarily, but you will grow in your faith and trust in God as you continue to surrender your dreams and control to Him. God sees the big picture. When we walk in alignment with His Word and in His way, continually committing our writing to Him, He will empower us with grace and strength. He will open the right doors at the right time.
For Christians, the writing dream is about much more than personal ambition and human effort. It’s about relying on God, investing in His kingdom, and planting seeds for eternity.
Writing Prompts
What do you like to write about? What topics and themes excite you?
Where do you find inspiration? What people, places, or ideas grab you?
What motivates you to write? Do you enjoy writing on serious or lighthearted topics? Do you write from your testimony or from fantasy? Do you write to understand or just to delight readers?
Who do you share your writing with? Who is the one person or group that needs your writing?
What is God speaking to you? Ask God what He desires for your writing. Seek Him for writing ideas that align with His best.
Bible Verses
Psalm 37:4-5 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this.”
Proverbs 3:6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Hebrews 10:35-36 “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”
2 Chronicles 15:7 “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
Writers Prayer
Heavenly Father, you see the desires of your children’s hearts. You see the passion for writing in each one of us. God, you promise to give us the desires of our hearts if we delight ourselves in you. Help each one of us to do that God. Let Your Presence be more important to us than any lofty dream or writing goal. Let time spent with you be our favorite time of day. And Lord God, help us to write in a way that pleases you and brings you Glory. Holy Spirit, inspire us to write and pursue writing pathways that are part of the Father’s good plans. With you all things are possible, so we commit our writing and our ways to you. We entrust our plans, goals, schedules, and dreams into your Loving Hands, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Author Bio
Karen Fergusen is a writer and children’s author with a background in K-8 education and a passion for pointing young readers to God’s unchangeable truths, and His unchanging love. Her picture book series, Questions for Kids, takes young readers on exciting adventures into the Bible where they discover unique periods in Bible history and learn important life lessons. She also hosts the 5-Minute Parenting podcast, a resource for parents who want to raise competent and God-confident kids. You can connect with Karen on Facebook and Instagram and sign up for her free newsletter to be the first to know about book updates, giveaways, and more.