Let My Heart Not Be Silent…

I have often been asked my purpose in writing this book and what I am hoping to accomplish with its publication. Honestly, there are layers of laboring that go into fully answering that question. My number-one purpose would simply be because God called me to write, and I don’t want to miss a single thing on this amazing journey that “He planned for [me] long ago” (Ephesians 2:10). Even though I must confess there are still so many days when I just wrestle with it all—encompassed in doubt, I spend so much of my time just trying to figure it out.

Why do I do this? When I know, all I need to do is trust and believe and follow wholeheartedly that still, small voice that speaks to me in those gentle whispers so deep inside. So why is trusting so hard sometimes? Why do we question ourselves? Why do we allow the enemy to get the better of us and lead us off into disbelief just as the Serpent did with Eve in the Garden of Eden when he poses the question in Genesis: “Did God actually say [that]?” (3:1 ESV).

Satan will stop at nothing to try to stop you from doing what you know God is calling you to. He is the voice of doubt, not the voice of truth; he wants us to question God and puts doubt in our hearts.

But Proverbs 3:5–6 clearly and simply tells us to, “Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track” (The Message). This message is so very true, and I can attest to this promise without a doubt.

Hebrews 12:1 reminds us that we must “strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”

So in these times, when the weight of doubt is so heavy, I am always faithfully reminded to just keep trusting, and to press on in obedience with reverence to God. This book is a testament to that trust and obedience, especially since He spoke Jeremiah 30:2 through a heaven-sent friend He knew I needed and to whom I would listen. She still cannot recall why she called me with that verse—only that God asked her to.

I am so thankful for her and for her obedience on that day. She is a living reminder that, “The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands” (Psalm 25:10).

My second purpose would simply be for the pure joy that spills out of me each given opportunity to share my encounters with Jesus, along with the stories that inspired the songs. By sharing my stories and songs, I pray the Holy Spirit moves others to crave what God has planned and not to settle for anything less than living life to satisfy the purpose He created for each of us to the fullest. “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us” (Ephesians 3:20 MSG).