And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. ~ 2 Cor. 12: 9, 10

The moment we begin writing for our own self-promotion and advantage, we lose our opportunity for the greatest impact on the world. No matter what skillful wordsmiths we become, or how many high-paying book contracts we sign, our worth as writers and influence as communicators does not lie in anything within ourselves. Only in the power of God will our gifts truly shine.

If there is one truth to be shared with and embraced by Christian writers, it is that our articles and books do not belong to us at all: they are God’s alone from the first word to the concluding paragraph. Every time we grow distracted in “getting our name out,” in amassing royalties, and in creating a best-seller, our focus shifts off our Lord. When our eyes are not on Him, our hands holding our work open to His plans, we miss our chance for the greatest adventure in writing possible: being His tool to transform lives for eternity.

The passage in 2 Corinthians is a favorite of mine because it is an oft-needed reminder that we can glory even in our limitations and flaws. Not glory in ourselves—but in the power of God that will be displayed through those flaws. Instead of being puffed up with ourselves and our accomplishments as writers, a proper view of ourselves is like a heavy curtain riddled with holes: it allows the sunshine to shine through. We should desire that others see God’s power through us, rather than noticing our own feeble successes.

In my writing, I strive to be transparent and let my readers see some of my struggles. This is, to me, just one of my sacrifices as God's servant. It is a sacrifice I would prefer not to make—I would rather not tell anyone some of the things I have experienced. Some trials are personal and intimate and agonizing. They serve as a simple reminder to me of the truth that we will never be fully whole on this earth. We were never meant to be. So instead of seeking to prop up our own reputations and trumpet our strengths, why not try to pouring out our lives for the sake of others? I challenge you to invest in something that will last on into the eternal place where we will be whole and healed and pure.

Without fail, God uses our meager talents to touch the most readers when we feel ineffective. In our weakness and finite vision, God displays His strength and does things in our hearts and our readers’ hearts that we could never have imagined. When He is glorified instead of the author, the impact of our words can continue forever.


Lady Writing a Letter
by Jan Vermeer

Natalie Nyquist (22) is the author of Quest for the High Places and director of the Young Ladies Christian Fellowship. She also regularly contributes articles to LAF.

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