“I awoke one morning with the usual perplexity of mind which accompanies the return of consciousness.” 

That is the opening line of a novel by an old Scottish minister. You may recognize it because his novels have long outlived him. They’ve endured through the years–some being over a century-and-a-half old. This man was truly a wordsmith, with a profound love of God and of literature. 

One night at Leatherhead Station in Surrey, England, a young man was waiting for his train. As he waited, he picked up a book by the old Scottish minister and began reading it on his train. He couldn’t put it down; he  was enthralled by this novel. The novel was Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women. That book, though it didn’t save the young man, set him on the trajectory of salvation. It was through Phantastes, that this man’s eyes were opened to the supernatural and a deep yearning for joy was answered. 

As you may have already guessed, the Scottish minister was George MacDonald. 

Now you may not have heard of him, but his books have lasted through the years. The young man, however, I’m certain you know of.

He was the great C.S. Lewis. 

George MacDonald, I’m sure, hoped his writing impacted people. But I don’t believe he knew how much it impacted the world. 

I think it’s safe to say, George MacDonald changed the future more than he could have ever imagined through the lives his writing impacted–one of whom (C.S. Lewis) would later become one of the most influential voices in the 20th century.

How did George MacDonald accomplish something we all desire as writers?

By simply being obedient to God’s calling on his life. 

You can do the same. 

Writing is more than just a hobby—it’s a calling. A calling that requires obedience and faithfulness. 

God can use your writing just like he did George MacDonald’s. Most likely, we’ll never know the extent of its impact, but God does. We can rest in that truth. God is sovereignly at work in your life–yes, even in your writing.

We live in a world saturated by violence, sexuality, vulgarity, etc. 

A postmodern  worldview has swept across the nation–truth has become relative. This idea first took root in the arts, including books and novels. It is a dangerous and deceptive worldview, which contradicts the Bible completely. How can we impact the culture we live in? By impacting the people around us. And what better way to do that than to use the gifts God has given us and the words he has breathed into us.

Don’t be deceived. 

Your words matter. 

They have the potential to shape culture and transform lives–for good or bad. 

That’s why we write–to bring glory to God, by pointing others to Him. 

Who knows, your writing might impact the next C.S. Lewis. We must be faithful to our calling and write for a better tomorrow. 

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