I am linking up for the Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Find.” Write for five minutes; unedited.
I heard the word prompt tonight and I immediately knew where I was going to go with this word. This post is dedicated to those who feel like they have lost their voice, thought they never had it or just simply can’t find it at the moment.
As a writer, I think it is so easy for us to get caught up in the comparison game and to think we don’t have anything important to say. But the truth is we all have something to say. We all have different gifts. We all have a story worth sharing. There is power in hearing those words “me too!” Yet fear has a way of creeping in–fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of—and giving us laryngitis.
Though God has a way of giving us our voice even when we think we have nothing worth sharing. I am reminded of how in Scripture we hear the words: “Ask and it will be given to you; Seek, and you shall find; Knock, and the door will be opened onto you.” God has a way of giving our voices back to us especially when we ask for God to give us the words we need to speak.
Yet there are also going to be times when we think we cannot find our voice at all. It is especially during those times that I believe we will need to trust each other. We will have to give words to each other’s stories as we speak for each other. The truth is that God sent Jesus to be a voice for the voiceless…to speak for the downtrodden, the lost, and the vulnerable. And in our own vulnerability, God calls us to give voice to each other’s voicelessness.
“In life, finding a voice is speaking and living the truth. Each of you is an original. Each of you has a distinctive voice. When you find it, your story will be told. You will be heard.”–John Grisham
Oh, what a really beautiful response to the prompt this week. Loved reading it. Loved your idea of there being power in 'me too'…loved it all the way through and the final quote was just the icing on the cake! Thank you. {A FMF friend} [iwillbloom.wordpress.com]
Thank You so much!
I love this, Tara – e have to give words to each others' stories, in particular.
Writing is getting hard for me; physically, but also as I go further down this dark path, the witness cuts to the bone.
The comments I receive are, frankly, what keep me going, and let me bridge the gap from today's post to the one that will go live Monday. The interpretation of my words, the act of placing them in a broader context…I could not go on without that grace, so freely extended, by my friends.
Andrew, thank you. I am sorry that writing is getting hard for you physically. I am so glad that our comments are what keep you going. I am so glad that we can freely extend that grace to you friend!
Great post, Tara! I loved the simplicity of asking God for our voice; for what we need. James goes on to say later that we don't get because we don't ask. Thanks for this timely reminder that if my voice is missing, I can ask God and He will find it for me.
Thank You,Sabrina! I had forgotten those words in James. If we don't ask, how can we get what we want? Yes God will find your voice for you. It is so easy to forget that, isn't it?
Great post, Tara. As a writer, sometimes I forget to involve God in the process of finding my unique voice. Thank you for reminding me that He is an intrinsic part of the process, and He wants me to ask Him to come alongside me in this journey. Loved this!
Thank you so much Jeanne!
I am happy to have stopped by to hear your voice. Looking at the number of years you have been blogging tells me you know something about sharing your voice. Not that I am comparing or anything. Ha! Ha!
There are days I question if I know what I am doing here in this space. But your words remind me that I do have a story and a voice to share too. And nope no comparing here.
So good, Tara! I'm geeky-thrilled at your John Grisham quote too. He was one of my favorite authors to read in high school!
I mentioned you in my post this week. I'm bringing up the caboose at #62.
Love,
Tammy
(tammysincerity)
I used to like John Grisham too. Thanks for the shout-out in your post. Love you too!
Hey Tara!
Thanks for stopping by today (and last week – I never did get back to you and I'm so sorry. Man was I swamped!)
A voice for the voiceless. YES. And the John G. quote – good stuff.
I once heard someone say that only YOU can say it the way you can say it. Nobody else can do that but you.
Keep writing, sister! Comparison is the thief of joy and God has a word He wants only YOU to share! 🙂 Oh – and if it's scrapbooking online, I'll think about it!")
No worries. I understand how crazy life can get sometimes. That is so true. Only YOU can say it the way you can say it. Scrapbooking online is so much easier!
hello sweet friend.
I was unable to write about my time at the retreat because it was all so precious to me I didn't know where to begin. But there were two comments made by people that week that struck deep when they so vulnerably shared, because it was a me too moment and while I didnt' say me too….it changed things to know that other people felt that same way and had experienced a similar time. Thank you for sharing about finding your voice and using it. That is a huge thing for me. I'm a huge proponent of helping people to find their voice and encouraging them to use it. Love you girl.
I am so glad that you are a huge proponent of helping people to find their voice and encouraging them to use it. I am also so glad you had that moment at the retreat even though you didn't verbalize it. Love you too girl!
Oh yes! 'Me, too' is one of the most powerful things we can give to others. We need to use our voice and help others finding theirs. Thanks for the reminder!
Katha, you are welcome. I needed the reminder too!
such a wonderful post, bless you.
Thanks Denise!
God did make each of us unique and beautiful. I love the direction you went about finding our voice. It doesn't even matter if you write about writers because everyone needs to find their voice, their unique gift, their calling and God is the one who will show the way.
Yes, Mary, everyone does need to find their voice. And yes God did indeed make each of us unique and beautiful. "Fearfully and wonderfully made."
Hands down awesome! We each have a story to tell. I love the fact we live in a day and age where we can share our stories online. The FMF community has proven time and again that no matter our skill level, we each have a story to write about. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Samantha. I too love that we live in a day and age where we can share our stories online too. I love the FMF community for the exact reason you stated above.
Tara, thanks for stopping by my blog, I love what you wrote and that you encourage me also. I love what you said, "when we can't find our voice we need to trust one another, and that Jesus was sent to be the voice for the voiceless. Blessings Diana
Thanks Diana! That is one of my favorite lines in this post as well.
so fun we both thought of the same scripture! thanks for reminding us we each have a unique voice—I LOVE your graphics, too!
Thanks Leah! I love that I can create my own graphics now too. That course was so much fun!
Lisa-Jo Baker often writes about the power of "me too." I am thankful for the encouragement of this community of writers. God gave us each of us our stories so that we can bless and comfort each other.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 1 Corinthians 1:3-4
I am thankful for this community of writers too. That 1 Corinthians verse is so great too. Thanks for stopping by, Jo!
Yes-we're each called to give voice to the voiceless. I love this!! It can be so scary to be a writer, but sometimes the most rewarding callings are the most difficult. Beautiful post!
Thank you, Marcy!
Tara, this is beautiful. I especially like the idea of us as the body of Christ being a voice for eachother when we can't find our own. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Thank you so much, Katy!
Great post, Tara. It's true- we all have a story worth sharing. I love the John Grisham quote too.
Thank you, Carly!
There is something happening to me here… God is speaking to me here… right now. I was just over at Tammy's (#62) and realized that not only did she mention me in her post, she referenced the title of a book that I had written (and been putting off publishing for three years). I had actually forgotten about my book until I read her post… and NOW that I am here, I see "comparison game", "we all have different gifts", "finding our voice" and I am in awe at how passionately and persistently God is willing to be in order to help ME find me. (#49)
WOW! God has this amazing way of speaking to us in the most wonderful unexpected ways, doesn't he? God is indeed passionate and persistent. I am so glad that my words and Tammy's words spoke to you this week friend.