by Dr. Dwight David Croy
There is a very common story told about a four-year-old girl who was concentrating on
drawing a picture of God. Very intense, very serious, putting her all into an important
project in her mind. An adult teacher, thinking to help instruct the little girl in correct
theology, said to her, “You know, according to the Bible, no one has seen God at any
time.” The little girl without missing a beat said, “They will when I am done with my
picture.”
Sometimes when I write, I feel like a little boy with my fingers grasping a fat crayon the wrong way. Concentration and intensity showing on my face that blocks out all other distractions. Whether a sermon or writing, I have this feeling of walking the plank when I am trying to express truth about God. Psalm 139:5-6 says, “You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it.” The truth about God did not discourage David the created to express by the Holy Spirit wonderful expressions of the character of God.
As Christian writers, we are given the wonderful task of artfully expressing the character of God in our unfolding stories. This feeling of being inadequate is to be normal when serving an eternal, sovereign, and transcendent God. As a Christian, blood bought saints of God, this feeling should be a norm in our stewardship of the overflowing grace of God.
In my minds eye, I see God put his great hand upon me as I serve Him in writing. 1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Can we do what we do without an audience or readers. Are you convinced that what
you write helps grow your relationship with God almighty regardless of outcome? Writing (and Sermonizing) speaks more to me, the messenger, than those intended hearers. The measurement of our outcome should be what God thinks rather than those who listen to us in spoken word or writing.
So, my word of encouragement is to write like a four-year-old. Intently, face of concentration, tongue between lips, determination to express what no other has done
before you, God standing behind you with His great and mighty hand. He looks at your effort without qualification, He sees your expression of your creator and smiles. The Holy Spirit is guiding you, “for such a time as this.”
Dr. Dwight David Croy, US Army Chaplain Retired, DMIN George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Spiritual Leadership and Formation, MDIV Denver Seminary with an emphasis in hristian Education, BRE Multnomah University is a Pastor, Teacher, an Author of “God’s Focus on the Fatherless;” “God’s Gracious Killer;” and “God’s Illuminating Blindness;” contributes to the body of Christ by writing, teaching, and speaking to promote Jesus Christ our one and only Savior.
Destiny Boyd, Leighton (4-year-old) shared, “Having God in your boat doesn’t mean that you’ll not face any storms. It means that no storm can sink your boat.” (2023)