Taking a Year Off

This year I’m studying People of the Promised Land I with Bible Study Fellowship. It’s the beginning part of what used to be the Israel and the Minor Prophet study. We’ve been studying David’s life for the past few weeks.

Although I’ve studied David before, I noticed an important verse for the first time: It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel…But David remained at Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1 NIV.

The great warrior David stayed at home while other people fought his battles. He wasn’t where he was supposed to be, and we know what happened next with Bathsheba.

As I thought about this verse, my 2018 came to mind. I finished polishing my fourth manuscript and sent it to my agent, but other than blog posts, note cards to friends, and a few notes for my fifth manuscript, I did not write.

Now I had valid reasons that kept me busy: one son was in Army Ranger School for about six months; another Army son was deployed to Iraq for nine months; I became attorney-in-fact for a family member who had been scammed of two-thirds of his savings; a dear friend of the family passed away leaving my daughters, especially one, dealing with deep emotional trauma; the 32-year marriage of old friends exploded; we set up 12-hour care for my parents.

I’m leaving out other crises  to save space and because I’ve established that other things, important things, captured the front burner spot, including my health. The stress led to a violent case of shingles, a cracked molar, a root canal, and a crown.

To use a British term I’m fond of, I felt gobsmacked last year.

I wanted to write. I thought about writing. I prayed about writing, but I never sat in my desk chair to tap out any words on my laptop. My spirit mourned for writing, but God had other things for me to do.

In January, interesting things began to happen. I received invitations out of the blue to attend book clubs, to speak at our local college as part of an author series, to speak at a book store in Pittsburgh and at a public library in another county.

God seemed to be wooing me back into His writing plan.

Last week, I sat in front of my laptop, and although I didn’t have much more of an idea than I did last year, I began typing a few words every day about two different ideas. It felt great to be back in place.

Another verse came to mind: So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten. Joel 2:25 NKJV. I love this promise from God. Last year, the locusts of hardships and adultery and death ate my focus and time and energy, but God is restoring and redeeming and renewing.

But God.

Praise God!