why I write publicly

Maya Angelou said “there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

I read this a few days ago, and thought: I think this is the ‘why’ behind my public writing, a.k.a this blog.

I’m not a formal writer. I can be rambly and too-casually-conversational some might say.

Have you noticed the wonder in how Holy Spirit connects dots for us throughout our lives? For me, oftentimes as I read others’ words, He gives me new phrases to help describe inner happenings in my heart and mind. It’s sweet to share shimmers of the gospel throughout our seasons, or our processing externally how God uniquely wired us, or how Scripture awakens and challenges us to surrender more of ourselves or enjoy Him more deeply. Right?

My husband said something a few weeks ago, when I was sharing a few honest observations about my pain. After he righted the lies I was believing, and after he affirmed God’s truth to my tired frame, he said, ‘I hope you feel His love in mine.’

Yes. Yes. Yes.

As Christians, the Bible refers to us as children of God, adopted into His family.

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29

We’re like conduits of His love, peace, and truth to each other!

I write privately for honesty time with God, for walking through the messy and confusion and mundane to find Glory. Paul said follow me as I follow Christ.

With this blog, I’m saying: read along with me if you want, through the great, quirky, work-in-progress, sanctifying, imperfect life of Chelsea…. and see God.

The story inside me is the story of Him. 

He is the Grand Weaver, as Ravi Zacharias wrote. He is in every detail of our lives, fashioning and connecting us together in a way that He deems good.  We live open-handed, surrendering ourselves to faithfully accept Someone far greater and wonderful, and He transforms, restores, satisfies, and loves us.

You don’t need to know all the things I think, or do, or enjoy, or read. I don’t have to write for God to capture your heart. He is powerful and gracious enough to do that without us.

But…

We all joyfully bear a story and Person so fascinating and mighty and glorious it naturally comes out of us.

Hence this blog. Although, this is usually in the back of my mind: “there are already so many [better] blogs and authors out there, why add to the pile?”

But I think of Maya Angelou’s words, and I acknowledge the reality of God, by the grace of God, is embedded into who I am. 

Why else do Christians write blogs and books? To borrow a phrase of John Piper’s, it’s like having a family of ‘shared illumination’ about the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Frankly, I enjoy writing about life with God; and if it causes someone else to gaze a little longer at Him than before, then I will be thankful and full of joy.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

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If you are also passionate about writing but have felt insecure or afraid or discouraged, I am a serious amateur but would like to encourage you if I can. Or email me (eubankchels@gmail.com) and you can guest post on this blog. Let’s agree about the marvelous, breathtaking, powerful glory of God, and share it how we know best.