Delia Latham
July 2026
I was
tired. Seriously exhausted...and not only physically. I had reached a point of
utter depletion where writing is concerned. So I was throwing myself a final
pity party and planning a quiet exit afterward.
Then my
pastor called. He's the last person I expected to be interested in my writing
career. But he said, "You know, I really feel like you need to get back
into your writing."
Huh?
"I have
been writing." Oh, so quick to defend myself!
"Have
you?" he said quietly.
I nearly
stopped breathing, because in that moment, I realized something. Yes, I released a novella as
part of a Christmas collection with two other amazing authors late last year.
And yes, I've been tiptoeing around another story. But I hadn't seriously dived
in...not really. Not headfirst, to the point of total immersion.
So I had a
problem. You see, I've always been taught that you shouldn’t say "no"
when the man of God asks you to do something that will help the church, or
further your walk with God. Given that mindset, I couldn't just tell him I
didn't want to talk about it because I was very busy having a
farewell-to-writing pity party.
Instead, I almost grudgingly promised to pray about it. And since I'd promised, I did. I got serious with God about my writing.
In fact, I just outright admitted the worst: “Lord, I'm tired. Tired of writing
book after book, and seeing far too little response. Tired of the vast
imbalance between the amount of time I spend writing (and performing
writing-related tasks) and the amount of sales and reader response I see in
return. Tired of sinking heart and soul into penning books I truly feel You
directly inspired and intended to help others in some way, only to watch them
sit on the Amazon ‘shelves’…unread.”
I was a
mess. With my 69th birthday looming over me like a dark, ominous cloud, I was
well aware that the best part of my life was behind me. So yes, I was
wallowing. But I had promised my pastor, so I told God that if HE still wanted
me to be writing, if HE still had words He needed ME to pen, then I needed
confirmation. Because, you know...I was TIRED!
I laid it on the line, wiping
tears and blowing my nose into a dozen tissues while I talked to God. Then I
got up and went about my day. My promise to my pastor was taken care of, and
besides, it always comforts me to talk to the Lord, even in those times when I’m
moody, cranky, and behaving like a spoiled child.
No more
than a few hours later, my phone rang. The call was from the powers-that-be
within the Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writer's organization. I attended their
Phoenix conference last year and was immensely blessed. But I didn't plan to go again because...in addition to a shortage of funds...I was TIRED! Too few sales, too little income, too many
years of service with too little return.
Having
just prayed my little prayer of semi-surrender (but mostly just a whiny “I quit” speech to God), I was stunned to learn that I had won the annual “scholarship,” meaning
my registration fee for the 2026 conference was paid in full.
I’d asked
for confirmation, and for at least half a second, I thought I had it. (How
quickly we let Satan talk us out of our victories!) Until I remembered that I
still had to get to Phoenix from Texas. Plus, there remained the matter
of hotel room fees—not inexpensive, despite the generous room discount provided
to conference attendees by the hotel. So I quickly wrote it off…again. “Thank
You,” I told my heavenly Father. “I appreciate the tremendous blessing…and the
confirmation (of sorts, since I wouldn't be using it).” But ultimately... Thanks but no
thanks, God. Ouch.
But if you
know God, you know He doesn’t give up that easily.
A week
later, I received an email from the same FHLCW conference organizers. Apparently,
the hotel awards two free nights to one conference attendee each year. And no,
I didn’t win it. But… the sweet author who did win the free room turned it down
because she believed God meant it to go to someone else. And guess who God
blessed with the room?
Uh-huh,
you’re right. That would be me.
Needless
to say, I was starting to get super excited. A dear, sweet friend who lives in
California offered to buy my plane ticket, but I was almost sick with anxiety just
thinking about trying to navigate not only JFK Airport, but also Denver, since
there’s no direct flight into Phoenix—which also is less-than-fun to navigate.
Still, by now I was thinking maybe I should be listening a little more closely
to the strong sounds of confirmation fairly booming from the throne room.
So…my
husband took the reins. “You know, we haven’t been to California in a few
years. Maybe we should just drive out there. I’ll take you to the conference
and go visit my family (an easy drive from Phoenix) while you’re there, then
pick you up when the conference is over. After that, we’ll just go on to California
and see your family.”
All sewn
up. Taken care of. A complete, unexpected, unbelievable confirmation blessing!
Because, let me just get this out of the way right up front, y’all: I am NOT
one of those people who win whatever is available to be won. I’m just not.
Never have been. I know people who are, but it’s never been me. So believe me when
I say I remain in utter shock and awe that this wonderful blessing happened to
ME.
Because
God knew I was not simply tired, I was soul-weary. And He wanted me to know
that He’s not quite finished with me yet.
Maybe by
the time I arrive at the conference I can pick my chin up off the floor.
Funny
thing. Once it all came together, I found my writing energy restored, as well
as my love of putting together words to make sentences that become paragraphs
that become chapters that become books. When God does something, He does it all
the way.
I am
blessed, and so very, very grateful!
