I Keep Picking Up the Pen
Can I be honest with you this morning? I have a bad habit. I keep trying to grab the pen out of God’s hand.
You know what I mean. He’s writing my story, and I’m hovering over His shoulder going, “Okay, but what if we skipped this chapter?” Or, “Could we move the good part up a little?” Or my personal favorite: “Lord, I’ve got this one. I’ll take it from here.”
And every single time I take over the writing, the story gets messier. Not better. Messier.
He Was Writing Before You Ever Picked It Up
Here’s what I have to keep reminding myself. My story was written before I ever showed up to edit it.
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16)
Every day. Already written. Already seen. Already held in His hands.
Hebrews 12:2 calls Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Not the co-author. Not the editor I check in with when I get stuck. The Author. The one who started it, and the one who’s going to finish it.
And Proverbs 16:9 says it plain: we can plan our course, but the Lord establishes our steps. I can make all the outlines I want. He’s still the one holding the pen.
How We Sneak the Pen Back
Most of us don’t snatch it outright. We slide it over a little at a time. Here’s what that looks like in my life, and maybe in yours:
- We rush the chapter. We want the healing, the breakthrough, the answered prayer right now, so we force doors God hasn’t opened yet.
- We rewrite the past. We replay old chapters over and over, trying to edit what already happened instead of trusting Him to redeem it.
- We write the ending in fear. We decide how it’s all going to turn out, and it’s usually the worst-case version.
- We copy someone else’s story. We look at her marriage, her business, her ministry, and wonder why our pages don’t look like hers.
- We stop praying and start planning. The to-do list gets longer and the quiet time gets shorter.
None of that makes us bad believers. It makes us human. But it does make us tired. Because carrying a story you were never meant to write is exhausting.
What Setting It Down Actually Looks Like
Surrender sounds pretty on a coffee mug. In real life, it’s a daily choice. Here’s how I’m practicing it:
- Say it out loud. Some mornings I literally open my hand and pray, “Lord, I’m putting the pen down. You write today.” It sounds simple. It changes my whole posture.
- Trust the chapter you’re in. If you’re in a waiting season, a hard season, or a boring season, it’s still part of the story. God doesn’t waste pages.
- Do the next faithful thing. Setting down the pen doesn’t mean sitting on the couch. It means showing up, doing what’s in front of you, and letting Him handle the plot.
- Get quiet enough to hear Him. We can’t follow the Author if we never sit still long enough to listen. Philippians 1:6 promises He’ll finish what He started. Let Him.
- Notice when you’ve picked it back up. You will. I do, usually by lunchtime. No shame. Just set it down again.
Your Story Is in Good Hands
Here’s the good news. You don’t have to write the perfect story. You just have to trust the One who already is.
He knows how the chapters connect. He knows why that page hurt. He knows the ending, and Jeremiah 29:11 tells us it’s a future full of hope.
Sit with this today: Where have I been grabbing the pen? What would it look like to hand that part back to God?
Let’s pray: Lord, I confess I’ve been trying to write my own story. I’ve rushed You, second-guessed You, and tried to edit what You already called good. Today I’m setting the pen down. Write my steps, Lord. Help me trust the chapter I’m in, and help me rest in knowing You finish what You start. In Jesus’ name, amen.
If you want a little help getting quiet enough to hear Him, my ebook Still, Small Voice walks you through it. And if you’re ready to sit with His Word every day this year, Grace Unfolding is my Bible-in-a-year journal. Use code GRACE20 at checkout.
Come hang out with me on Instagram too: @mommajscozycottage.
With so much love,
Momma J 🤍
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