I remember sitting glued to the television set when I was a kid watching The Wizard of Oz. The moment when Dorothy is told by Glenda, the good witch, that she’s had the power all along to go back home and all Dorothy needed to do was to click together the heels of her ruby slippers and say, “There’s no place like home,” was a poignant moment for me as a child. Not only were the ruby slippers pretty and sparkly, but they were also magical!
As I sat at the Omega Writer’s Conference this weekend wearing my recently purchased bright, red shoes, I listened to the keynote speaker, Steve Laube, (pronounced Lobby) founder and president of The Steve Laube Agency, as he reminded us all that we needed to stop saying, “I am a nobody” because we are all children of God, and each and every one of us had everything we needed because we are in Christ.
YOU HAD THE POWER ALL ALONG.
I believe a lot of us went to the writer’s conference feeling like Dorothy, searching for a place to call home as we all try and follow the yellow brick road in the hope of getting published. Instead of resting in the fact that we have had the power all along to be good writers because God has given us the ability to write and the strength to overcome the obstacles, we strive and compare ourselves with the successful ones overseas who seemed to have found a real Wizard, rather than one who just pulls levers and shouts into a microphone from behind a curtain.
God showed me this weekend at the Omega’s writer’s conference that I didn’t need to click the heels of my bright, red shoes three times to go home. I was already home because I was with like-minded writers who shared a common goal.
So come on dear writer, don’t let the enemy steal your confidence. Don’t let his lies steal the power God gave you to write beautiful, life-changing words by telling you that you’re lacking something to be a good writer. There are people who need your words to not just change the world but to change their world.
Wendy xo
Great encouragement, thanks for sharing! Blessings xx
Thank you, Keona. X
Thank you for this encouragement. Maybe there is more in me that I haven’t yet discovered and I will move on past this discouragement.
Hi Robyn, yes, we all have seasons in our writing journey, and life, in general, when we feel discouraged. I encourage you to seek out inspiring books, blog posts, podcasts, videos that address your struggles. If you’re not sure where to look, please don’t hesitate to post in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group and ask the group to direct you to helpful resources. Hang in there. 🙂
Thank you so much for such inspirational words. God Bless you.
Pleasure, Alicia xx
Yes! So beautifully said, Wendy. I was also challenged by Steve saying we shouldn’t say ‘I am a nobody.’ I hadn’t considered how much thinking or saying such a thing must hurt God when He created us and then sacrificed His own son so that we can be His children. I am ‘somebody’ at such a cost, and the gifts He gave me are certainly not ‘nothing’ and should not be disqualified by my own doubt.
100% correct, Jenny! We were brought at a price, and God treasures us and loves us so much. As Steve said, “How dare we say that we are nobodies!” Keep sharing your gift Jenny of faith-filled, beautiful words xxx
Very encouraging words. As a new member of Australasian Christian Writers, I’m just discovering that besides my ‘every day life’ Christian family, I now have a whole new family who share my love of writing.
Thanks, Glennis. Yes, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, who have one common goal which is to share God’s love through our words. xx
Such beautiful words Wendy, and such a great affirmation of what we heard from Steve Laube at Omega Conference! What a wonderful message “ You’ve had the power all the time”
Thanks for sharing this Wendy 😍
Yes Kaye, you had the power all along! Keep writing. So glad you were in my host group. It was lovely to meet you xxxx
Thanks for the encouraging words Wendy. It was a great weekend and reminder.
You are welcome, Daniel. It was a great weekend indeed! Good to meet you and hear about your writing. Remember, we are NOT nobodies! Keep working on that children’s book! God Bless 🙂
Beautiful post, Wendy. A wonderful response to such an encouraging retreat.
It was so lovely to see you!
Happy writing. 🙏🙏🙏❤️
Thanks, Elaine. So glad I got to meet you too xxx
It was great to meet you, Wendy. Thank you for your inspiring take on Steve’s message, and for the reminder.
Great to finally meet you too, Iola! Such a blessing to ACW. Thanks for all your help and encouragement xoxo
Hi Wendy, it was lovely to finally meet you in person! Yes, what you’ve shared was one of my many takeaways from conference. 🙂
Loved meeting you too, Narelle. What a sweet, gentle soul you are, dear lady xx
And yes, what a powerful reminder Steve shot to us right between the eyeballs! “Stop saying you’re a nobody. How dare you say that to yourself!!” Noted Steve, noted. 🙂