Remember Your Why by Lesley Crawford

 

As a writer, it’s easy to become discouraged. 

     Maybe the book sales or blog views aren’t what we hoped for. Maybe negative feedback has knocked our confidence. Or maybe we’re simply tired. 

     It can be just as easy to feel discouraged as a Christian. 

     We face difficult circumstances, prayers seem to go unanswered, and the joy or peace we once knew feels distant. Pressure and opposition creep in, and we start to question everything. 

     In both writing and faith, discouragement whispers the same question: Is this still worth it? 

     I’ve asked myself that many times, and I’ve learned that moments like these invite us to pause and remember our “why”: 

     Why did we start, and what were we hoping to achieve? 

     Why did we begin writing, and why did we choose to follow Jesus? Both were intentional decisions. Remembering what stirred us at the beginning can steady us when weariness sets in. 

     Our goals may shift over time — and that’s healthy — but revisiting our original hopes can refresh our vision. Sometimes it calls us back to what we’ve drifted from; sometimes it helps us reshape our direction with clarity. 

     But remembering our beginnings is only part of the picture. We also need to ask: 

     Why do we keep going now? 

     Understanding the purpose behind what we do helps us persevere with passion, even when the path feels uphill. 

     When I look back on my own writing journey, the decision to start felt like a calling from God. I had always written privately, but increasingly I sensed God nudging me to share my words, so I hit “post” on that first blog entry. 

     My “why” was simple: to share hope and truth, and to point people to the healing found in Jesus. 

     Ten years on, my writing has grown and opened doors I never expected — contributing to websites, Bible reading guides, devotionals, and books. These opportunities have been a gift, but they’ve also required me to shape my writing to fit others’ expectations. And sometimes I miss the raw passion and vulnerability of those early posts. 

     Reflecting on this reminds me that the heart of my “why” hasn’t changed. I still want to offer hope. I still want to point people to Jesus. And when discouragement creeps in, returning to that simple truth steadies me. 

     Maybe you need that reminder too. 

     If you’re feeling weary in your writing or in your walk with God, pause for a moment. Go back to the beginning. Remember the spark, the calling, the quiet nudge that set you on this path. Let God bring to mind the reasons you started — and the reasons you’re still here. 

     Your “why” doesn’t need to be impressive. It just needs to be true. 

     And as you hold it before God again, may you find fresh courage to keep going, one faithful word at a time.