What If You Gave Up…

Everyone’s had the thought.

Whether you’re a high school football player, a doctor, a writer, or anyone else on this earth. You’ve had the thought.

What if I just threw in the towel and gave up? I did my best. Wasn’t that good enough?

Sure it is, if you’re a quitter.

But, personally, I’m not. However, I’m still plagued by the same doubt time and time again. That voice in the back of my mind whispers those ominous words, “what if you gave up?”. But what if you truly did give up? Have you thought of that?

You might think no one would notice. I mean, who cares whether or not you spend hours of your day writing? No one will even notice if you quit.

But someone will.

Did you know that Jane Austen stopped writing for a whole decade? She even put Pride and Prejudice in a drawer for a time. Can you imagine if she never pulled that novel back out? One of the most popular works of fiction. . .was almost not finished.

(If you’ve read the book, you know that would have been a tragedy indeed.)

“But this doesn’t apply to me because my book isn’t going to amount to anything!” Is probably what you’re thinking right now. But the truth is, it doesn’t have to amount to anything to be valuable. All it has to do is matter to one individual. One human being. And suddenly, it’s the most treasured book on earth.

I want you to do something. First, what is your favorite book? It might be several, that’s okay, just pick one or two that have meant something to you. They’ve changed you since reading them. Now. Imagine if those authors had never finished writing them.

What if they had given up?

What if they had stuck that book in a drawer or thrown it in the trash and never taken it back out?

If your favorite book means anything to you like my favorite book does to me, then I know you are horrified right now.

But let the reality of that sink in. Because right now, in your own little corner of the earth, you think that no one cares about your writing and maybe, at the moment, not a lot of people do. But someday they will. Someday, someone is going to pick up your book and suddenly all other books will pale in comparison to it. Just like your favorite book did to you.

I know it’s hard. Writing is hard. But, my friend, that doesn’t give you any right to give up. God has given you this talent, this gift, to use wisely and for Him. He didn’t ask you to give up, He asked you to press on.

So, the question is, what are you going to do?

Your turn!

Have you ever been tempted to quit? What did you do in that instance? Do you believe that one day your book will be loved?

Blessings, Allyson

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