Regardless of how much I’ve accomplished and achieved in my writing over the years, I choose to never forget all those first tentative, wobbly steps toward getting my work published. Currently I’m writing my third book, a continuation of my first two books, Wounded And On The Run’ and ‘A Song Is Rising’  which will be released sometime next year. Looking back on my journey in getting published, I recall feeling the sting of another publishing house deciding not to go with my book proposal. Receiving rejection after rejection led me to a quote by Barbara Kingsolver. She said, “This manuscript of yours that has just come back from another editor is a precious package. Don’t consider it rejected, consider that you’ve addressed it ‘to the editor who can appreciate my work’ and it has simply come back stamped ‘not at this address’. Just keep looking for the right address.” 

It was this quote that helped me in my early years of writing, It stopped my over-sensitive, over-thinking, creative mind from spiralling down an anxiety-induced black hole that found me battling once again with thoughts of feeling I was out of my depth, not enough, or worse…thoughts of giving up this writing business altogether. The hesitancy that not only fuelled my self-doubt but reminded me that I am hopelessly unqualified for what God had called me to do and God must have chosen the wrong person.

Have you ever felt like that when the calling God has placed on your life seems impossible?

Believe me, Satan knows it’s this kind of thinking that can shake fragile-hearted believers to their core and land them in territory behind enemy lines. He takes great delight in crushing those tiny fragments of confidence we’ve carefully collected along the winding and perilous path towards becoming all God called us to be, as he points his finger with the accusation of ‘who do you think you are?’ And it’s in those moments when self-doubt wants to sabotage our calling that I’m reminded of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she searched for a room in Bethlehem to have her baby. 

Mary just kept looking for the right address.

This mother of the Messiah to be, must have battled with feelings of discouragement at every single door she was faced with, as her husband, Joseph, knocked and knocked and knocked so many doors to find a room. And yet, each one was shut in their faces saying, ‘Not at this address’.

Mary would have needed to fight off the lies swirling around in her head when every innkeeper told them, ‘Not at this address’ as she felt each painful birth pang build to a crescendo that wanted so desperately push out her baby somewhere…anywhere… just, for goodness sake, find an address!

And yet despite all the ‘not at this address’ moments, Mary knew she had to keep going, she had to keep believing she was going to find the right address. ‘…the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger because there was no room in the hostel.’ Luke 2:6-7 (MSG) 

Mary’s precious package of a son. The One who when grown would be rejected and unappreciated by many. A precious package that was addressed, ‘to the follower who can appreciate the work My Father has sent Me to do’ was born in a humble stable.

Want to know a secret?

God isn’t looking for the most qualified or the most talented, He’s looking for the most available. The disciple who sits at His feet and learns His ways. The one who tells Him, “You’ve been looking for the right address? Well, you’ve found it…it’s me!’  

And while we’re on the subject of creative process, Brit Eaton points out, “Time spent with God is even more important than what you’re creating together”. Amen to that sister!

When I said, ‘yes‘ to God’s dangerous but exciting proposal and decided I was going to write for Him, I can honestly say that I have had the most wonderful, deeply moving moments over the years with God since He proposed the idea to start co-creating books that will help others move toward His heart.

Time spent with God. I mean, real, honest, get on your knees posture, time spent with God, has helped me to finally understand that the path He carved out for me from all the stones that littered those dead-end roads I’ve been down over the years was exactly where God wanted me to be.

Along this newly paved path, I have understood that it’s ok to learn from other creatives but not to compare myself to them. As my friend keeps reminding me, “you do you” which is good advice when you have a habit of measuring and comparing yourself to others, believing what God called them to do is far more important and impressive that what I have been called to do. 

If you have believed that lie then let me share another little secret…

God isn’t looking for superstars, He’s looking for the ready, willing, and able.  The Ones who through rejection, disappointments, and setbacks, keep on looking for the right address.   

So, dear friend, if you’re a writer, painter, creative artist, and your precious package has come back from yet another person who has rejected your work, don’t consider it a failure, consider that you’ve addressed it ‘to the one who can appreciate my work’ and it has simply come back stamped ‘not at this address’ because it’s moments like these that we choose to remember, Mary, the mother of Jesus, who received rejection after rejection before she gave birth to her promise.

A precious package that found the right address and changed the world forever.

Wendy xo 

God isn’t looking for the most qualified or the most talented, He’s looking for the most available. How do you let God know He’s found the right address with you?