Trust and obey… by Claire Musters

‘Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.’

Our previous pastor used to say these lines from the old hymn time and time again – it became a bit of a running joke when we heard ‘Trust and obey’ in his sermons. 

 

And yet I’ve been reminded of the importance of trust and obedience again since our kids have gone back to school (one starting secondary school for the first time).

 

I think, like many working parents, I had probably pinned far too many expectations onto the moment the door shut and I was left in peace to write for the first time. I had been swinging like a giant pendulum between longing for that time (then feeling guilty about that longing) and not wanting to let them go back out into the big wide world where Covid is still at large.

 

Things haven’t quite worked out like I imagined…which is pretty much a summary of the whole year isn’t it?!

 

Firstly, I had forgotten quite how much effort it takes for the whole household to settle a child into a new school. New routines, involving much earlier starts to our days, and new journeys, mean that I feel like I’ve already done a whole day’s work before settling down at my desk around 9. And after school right up to bedtime has been a marathon of helping one or other child, or both at the same time, deal with homework and other tasks (schools are certainly taking the responsibility of getting kids back up to speed academically very seriously!) 

 

I spent the first couple of days amazed at how much work I got done in what ended up being a fairly short period of time. Then I got so tired my productivity really tailed off. I began to panic – then got too tired to do even that! 

 

Now we are over a week in, one thing I have realised afresh is that everything is down to trust. I have to trust that God is looking after my kids, now that they are interacting with so many more people (and even though one whole year group was shut down within the space of five days). He is the one who is with my son, as he copes with all the challenges of making new friends at a school where he knows no one, and with my daughter as she daily overcomes anxiety and faces a huge GCSE workload, and yet has been cut off from many of her friends due to timetabling.

 

And I have to trust that God is in my writing too. In what I am being commissioned to do at this time, and in the actual writing processes. Even when my head feels like cotton wool, and inspiration seems so far away, taking the time to stop and acknowledge my trust in him, and to ask what next step he wants me to take, makes such a difference to my day – and to my writing. 

 

I may look with slight irritation and more than a little envy at those writers that are simply able to write when the mood takes them, rather than juggling answering questions from one child, calling the other one to get on with their homework and trying to rush to my desk to write down the sentence/idea that has just unhelpfully dropped itself into my brain, and which I know will disappear if I wait until I have peace to do anything about it. 

I may wish to be a bestselling author who can pick and choose the projects that I do and leave myself plenty of leisure time. 

 

I may struggle with those reactions and longings, and admit to them too in my more honest moments, but, actually, I am so thankful that God has given me my own path to take, and the people I have surrounding me on a daily basis. Yes, there are huge challenges, but I choose to trust his purposes, and obey his callings in my life, even if it means I have to don blinkers at times so that I don’t get sidetracked…

 

In what ways do you trust and obey God with your own writing? 

Claire is a freelance writer, speaker and editor, mum to two gorgeous children, pastor’s wife and worship leader. Her books include Taking off the mask: daring to be the person God created you to be, Cover to Cover: Ezekiel A prophet for all times, Cover to Cover: 1–3 John Walking in the truth, Cover to Cover: David: A man after God's own heart, Insight Into Managing Conflict, Insight Into Self-acceptance and Insight Into Burnout. Her latest addition to the Insight Guides series, An Insight into Shame, was published in May 2019 and her latest Cover to Cover: Exodus God’s epic rescue was published in April 2020. She has also written a devotional on disappointment and loss (available as an eBook or physical book) and is writing a book on marriage alongside her husband (due to be published May 2021). She also writes Bible study notes and magazine articles. To find out more about her, please visit www.clairemusters.com  and @CMusters on Twitter.