It has taken me the better part of two days to figure out how to write this post. Sometimes words do escape me.
But let me start with this…
Seventeen years ago I told someone in a hushed tone I was feeling a tug to speak and write messages that seemed to be coming from Jesus. The gal listening smiled, took my hand, and in all sincerity said, “That will never happen.”
Thirteen years ago, I pitched a simple attempt at a book proposal to 15 different publishers. Every day for six months I ran to the mailbox with a Pollyanna smile and a thump in my chest. I’d close my eyes, reach inside, and whisper, “Today could be the day.” Fifteen rejection letters later, my heart no longer thumped when I walked to the mailbox.
Seven years ago I showed up at what was supposed to be the biggest speaking event of my life. The arena was big enough to hold thousands. I had all my friends back home praying. I paid for an assistant to go with me. We shipped hundreds of books and I worked for weeks on my message.
The day of the big event, 11 people showed up. The coordinator of the event was stressed about the microphones not working properly. I assured him I didn’t need a microphone to speak to 11 people and walked down to the floor to spend a day loving on these precious women.
Then during the 2 1/2 hour drive back to the airport, the coordinator’s car broke down. When the tow truck finally arrived, my assistant and I realized there was no back up plan to get us to the airport. We wound up having to hitch hike to the airport several hours away.
I got home and cried.
I could go on for days telling you the hard stories. The flops and failures and fragile insecurities that begged me to stop.
I’ve wanted to quit so many times.
And honestly, I can’t explain why I haven’t except I never felt released. I love Jesus and I love connecting women to Him in deeper and more authentic ways. So, I learned to measure effectiveness in different ways than what the world does.
In God’s economy when a heart truly loves, serves and gives there is no such thing as a small act.
Sometimes reaching out to wipe one woman’s tear does more for the Kingdom of God than delivering a message to a crowd who stands and cheers afterwards. And there will be many days of quiet work where no one but you and Lord knows how much you want to make a difference in this broken world.
Sometimes, as my pastor reminded me this weekend, you have to dig a lot of ditches before the Lord sends an unexplainable rush of water to fill those blister worked places.
Please always remember that.
Please don’t ever diminish one thing you do in the name of our sweet Jesus.
Because one day the water will rush forth in one way or another. “This is what the Lord says, make this valley full of ditches. For this is what the Lord says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet the valley will be filled with water…this is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord,” (2 Kings 3: 16-17).
In other words, our job is obedience in the daily ways of life. God’s job is results. When the water comes, we won’t see it coming, we won’t be able to explain it, and it really doesn’t have anything to do with us at all.
Sweet sisters, I’ve never recognized that more clearly than now. Two days ago, my publisher called to tell me on January 23rd, “Made to Crave” will be listed on the New York Times Best Seller list.
And suddenly the words escaped me.
Lysa,
Thanks. This was beautiful. It was a good reminder that everyone struggles. The book is never handed to you on a silver platter with a cheering crowd encircling you. Sometimes it’s just a crowd of one, Him.
Lysa,
Thank you for not giving up! This brought tears to my eyes. I am so happy for you!
CONGRATULATIONS! am so glad you didn’t give up! This brought tears to my eyes.
Congratulations, Lysa. What a wonderful God we have! I have been struggling with what God wants me to do recently and am waiting for Him to tell me.
This brought tears to my eyes!
I’m so happy for you and how God has blessed you and your book! Thank you so much for sharing this message. It couldn’t have come at a better time for me!
Blessings!
xo
PS I learned about you from my friend Jeanette@ jvw home
Oh…..the start of great Things!
Wahooo!!!!!! That would be a great response to that call! Congrats sister! When God moves, HE MOVES!!!
Lysa,
Tears filled my eyes as I read your words!
So happy for you!
So thankful that you were able to “stay the course!”
Congratulations, and I love you deeply. I still remember your precious efforts to pray for my sweet Nick and to send your readers to my blog to share their prayers when he was in his last months of life after his long and brave battle with cancer.
Thank you again for lifting Nick to the throne where he now waits for me!
I love you,
Tammy
Thank you, Lysa. You will not believe how I needed this message today! My heart aches for those that seem to keep rejecting the fullness of His lifegiving blood. I know it has nothing to do with me, and it has to come from the genuine depths of their own hearts……I guess I’m impatient to see results. I need to not give up, just back off and let His Spirit work…….perhaps I’m dishing up “meat” where “milk” is needed.
Lysa, You have taken my feelings and spoke them exactly. I just finished pouring my heart out to my husband regarding these feelings lastnight. And as always he is my best cheerleader, encouraging me that the time is coming. Congrats on Made To Crave. It is on my priority list to buy. Blessings Sister
Whoo Hoo!!!!
I’m not at all surprised. In fact, after reading it last week I told my husband over and over that it was going to land on the NY Times bestseller list. It’s that good, Lysa. It’s that needed.
It’s your best work yet in my humble opinion.
May this be only a beginning, not the pinnacle, of your success.
I enjoyed reading about your experiences. How cool that your book is doing well, and that means you are being blessed as you are being a blessing to others.
I love your message on Encouragement For Today. I’ve struggled with a lack of self confidence all of my life. I’m 58, and God has helped me quit beating up on myself for beating up on myself. When I am with others who are struggling I ask if they are doing that, too, or else say, now remember not to… I like the way you worded it more descriptively.
My struggle these days is making time for my Bible reading. I have been back into it for a week now, but have missed the last two days. I plan on getting back to it today, without beating myself up over it.
Also, I have a room in our house that is my space, but it’s full of clutter. I plan to spend the day working to get it to be a nice space, but it’s a big struggle letting things go. I have to handle everything, and it’s very slow going.
God’s blessings as you walk your path!
Lysa, God delivered this word to me today through you. I sit here with tears running down my face. A friend I just met (and who knows only that I do “some writing”) just emailed me the link to this post because she felt that it applied to me in some way.
I can’t tell you how perfect the timing is. I’m feeling so discouraged … I’ve been blogging, getting some articles published, going to expensive writing conferences (including She Speaks), making great contacts, but then it just seems like “what’s the point?” Will I ever get a book published? Is this really God’s purpose for my life? Will the timing ever be right? Will I ever be ready? But when I just want to throw in the towel, like you, I just don’t feel “released.” God has put a longing in my heart to minister to mommas that just won’t let me go. Thank you for writing this today. I cannot tell you how it ministered to my weary spirit.
(I also loved your talks at She Speaks this past June. I took your breakout seminar on Writing A Book. I’ve told many that your session alone was worth the price of admission.
I am literally sitting here weeping OUT LOUD after reading this post. What an incredible testimony and journey the Lord is taking you on. Reading that last sentence actually shocked and encouraged my heart all at the same time. What an glorious testimony to the power of obedience. I pray God will continue to use you to touch the lives of women all over the world.
Way to go girl! Keep your eyes on the PRIZE!
A W E S O M E
Thank you – Lysa, for being obedient.
Congrats on “Made to Crave”, I am waiting on my copy. Now I have a question that has been eating at me for a few days and I hope you can give me some advice.
How do you respond to someone who says, “they hate me because I am a Christian.” This person was talking about her sister and her sisters family. I don’t believe it and I won’t believe it. Perhaps she is saying that to make herself feel better since they don’t get along. But I just felt that was a severe statement to make about your family member. Granted I know longer speak with my mother, I don’t hate her, I will always love her because she gave me life. It is just better for me not to have her in my life.
I love the words you send to us everyday and I am closer to Christ because of you.
CJ
Lysa, that is so tremendously encouraging. I feel the same tug and yet, I am afraid to share that with anyone. ANYONE. Okay, I just did quite publicly. Still, I have always had this feeling that God has some kind of ministry for me involving speaking (even to small groups) and writing. My pains in life will be used for His glory. I know this. Congrats! You deserve it and thank you for the message of perseverance.
Blessings,
Mel
I am currently reading Made To Crave there is a reason it is on the best sellers list it is the first book of this type is really speaking to me. It is amazing thank you for being obedient and writing it!
Congratulations Lysa! I keep giving God a big high five for this movement MTC has started. I am honored to say I am even a small part of this having prayed and followed your journey. Thank you for your obedience and the way you encourage every woman with a call to be bold and go for it!
May the waters rush over you as you enjoy this moment!! And I pray that because of your faithfulness, example, leadership and encouragement I never get tired of digging.
Love you sweet friend,
lisa
Tears have filled my eyes. I am beyond happy for you and blessed to know you. Thank you for being such an encouragement to me to take down my high places in my life and loving me through becoming a Grandma twice in 14 months. You allow yourself to be every women’s friend and that is such a gift. We can relate to you and feel encouraged by you to keep going.
I love you friend, I do.
NY Times bestseller list…just has no idea the door God just opened.
To Him be all the glory!!
Love,
L
Congratulations Lysa!
The work your doing is fantastic
Your words of Jesus reach all the way to a snowy frezing Sweden(and probebly further). Encouragement to a mrs nobody with all her belives and love for Jesus tucked inside and not being able to share it with anyone. Please pray that the Lord oppenes me and uses me to share and bless others (sorry if my spelling sucks).
tons of hugs! Elisabeth G
I am so thankful I read this last week. I recently decided to start a Mom’s Prayer Group at my house. I invited several women. This is something that I have known God has wanted me to do for a loonnng time I just never got up enough nerve to do it. I’m a very shy person and do not like to lead or pray in front of others. Anyway, I had several women that responded to my email and said they wanted to come. However, I only had one person show up on Sunday afternoon. I would have been so discouraged if I had not read your post. Thank you so much for sharing
Lysa, your blog so touched me this morning — I was just thinking the other day about how GREAT things are going for you — with your new book, your webcast, everybody talking about the new book and how great it was……..I had no idea what you had gone through to get to this point but…….the point is you were FAITHFUL and God blessed that. I see now that it hasn’t always been sweetness and light for you (even though I knew that), but your sharing the early, hard times…..well, it just made me realize that all I am called to do is be faithful, follow Jesus, every day seek after Him and His will. I pray God’s blessings upon you and your sweet family!
I wished i could say ive seen the program but not yet been able to watch. I did however bought made to crave book and dvd. I cant wait to get started to see what God has instore for me. I like reading the other comments to excite me to what is coming. Praise the lord you did not give up with your desires to right and teach. You are a great asset to women.
I just ordered the book for my Kindle. Thank you for digging those ditches.
Thank you for this post. I heart your work. You are truly a light in the darkness. I am going to buy Made to Crave today!
Persistence is the key point in any success.
Faith based or otherwise. Eventually things will work out if you’re willing to keep at it.
Good for you for spreading a message of positivity and of encouragement.
I so needed this today.
I love this post. It is amazing to watch how God works. I have my first book out with Harvest House “31 Days to a Younger You: No Surgery, No Diets, No Kidding” and it’s so congruent with “Made to Crave.” As a newer author, thank you so much for this post which gives me hope and perspective. I will remember it when the auditorium is full…or empty!
And you moved up on the list for Jan 30th! I just checked. God does MARVELOUS things!! I was just at the conference you spoke at this weekend, and was so touched. I hope to start a Made to Crave Bible study in my home. Thank you so much!
I am finding that God does His best work when I reach the end of myself and He takes over.
I know there are nearly 400 comments already, so I almost skipped this. But I have to chime in and let one more voice tell you, I NEEDED this today. Thank you for your obedience, you have blessed many
Thank you. God bless for digging your ditch because the water that is flowing for you is drenching me with inspiration to dig my own. “Iron sharpens iron” and water washes away the dirt of fear and self-doubt, so that faith and trust and love and passion can hold to the surface and make one’s life shine for God , His Glory and His Kingdom through that work/purpose/passion she feels called to pursue.
God bless you Lysa.
Lysa, I am speaking tomorrow night and I came here for some words from God to inspire me through your journey.
I cried reading this verse you served up:
(2 Kings 3: 16-17)
I have been digging for a long time and I heard my Father in heaven say, “I see you. And I am pleased with you.”
No matter what happens, on my drive there or back — esp. if “something” breaks down while I’m there — I will remember your words.
Thank you again for making that speedy mailing to me last month. I used it, like a friend who just came over with a cup of sugar. And I trust God will be pleased with what comes out of the oven.
Love and hugs…
Bonnie