So, I have twins … well, triplets actually. Though not in the way that you may think. I’ll explain. Let’s see, where do I start? From conception, I suppose? This isn’t an X-rated article; I can assure you. Just lend me a little of your time and perhaps God can bless you through this reading.
Around this time last year, God told me to do something that I didn’t agree with. He led me on a series of fasting and He kept telling me through scripture that He was doing a new thing. “Great! I thought to myself.” I bided my time and waited for Him to reveal what was on the horizon.
And then, finally, He told me. And I, as I said, didn’t agree. Or rather I didn’t understand. So, I sat on His instructions for days, weeks even, confused as to how to go forward. But as I sat on it, I knew He also sat from on high watching me, waiting for me to start on what He had asked.
God had asked me to write fiction … and that didn’t make an ounce of sense to me. You see, I’m too realistic, too analytical, too structured in my thinking to compose fiction. “Fiction is for those free-thinkers,” I thought, “People with great imaginations. People who are creative. I’m not one of those people and that’s not how my mind works.”
This is what I said to God internally as I was walked down a stairway at work. Then mid-step, God posed the question within my spirit, “Who created your mind? Who created you?” Bashful and ashamed of my opposition against His instructions, I consented. I admitted that He obviously knew more about me than I knew about myself.
Yet, I was still apprehensive about writing fiction. I wasn’t completely sold on the idea that my mind could create a story, characters, a plot… let alone an interesting story, characters, and plot. So, God sent me a little reassurance. I remember stumbling across an article, a Christian article, that talked about fictional work. I distinctively remember the writer saying something to the effect of “Your imagination is needed”.
The author put an emphasis on your. I knew God was telling me by way of that article that He didn’t make a mistake in asking me to write fiction. He wanted my imagination, not anyone else’s. God knew I was thinking that there were more talented, inventive people than me to do this for Him.
But nope.
God made it clear that He chose me and my imagination for this assignment. At this point, I must admit, I was still thinking to myself “What imagination?” I just couldn’t see it. “What was God seeing in me that I couldn’t see in myself?” I wondered.
So, I said, “Okay, God. If you really want me to do this, I need you to show me how. I don’t have a clue as to how to do this or where to begin.” And God must’ve smiled and said, “Okay” ...
because by the following week, I received an email from a writing blog on how to create characters. It included a detailed template on how to build characters. Mind you, I’d never received that sort of email from this particular writing subscription before.
“You’re serious, huh?” is all I could think. “You really want me to write fiction.” So, I began building characters from this divinely given outline. But then, I came to a standstill. After I created my main protagonist(s), I still was unclear of how to actually compose a story… a good story. Again, I turn to God. “I don’t know where to start…” I pray. And again, God must’ve smiled and said, “Okay!'” because by the next week, I received another email from the same blog informing me of how to structure a story.
“Oh, God is dead serious about me writing fiction.” I thought. So, I educated myself on what’s called the 3 Act Structure, a popular storytelling guide used by many authors and movie directors. So, there I was. God had given me all the tools. He’d given me all the confirmation and direction I needed… yet I still put off writing the story because I was apprehensive and somewhat doubting myself.
I remember staring at a blank word document, strapped with all the tools God gave me, but still unsure of how to start. “Just start…” I could feel God guiding me, urging me, “Just start…”
So, I started.
And I didn’t stop until the entire story was told. I discovered my imagination and let it spill out into those pages. I faced many trials in my personal life on my journey to fiction. Some things slowed me down. Some things made me cry. But I knew I had an assignment, a story to tell. And I would not stop until it was published, until that 6x9 printed baby was in my hands.
The story I spilled out on those blank pages is now my first fictional work, my baby, entitled, “According to the Power”. But can I take you back just a little? Because before “According to the Power” was born another work was conceived. I wrote my second non-fictional work entitled “A Spacious Place: Moving into a Broader Home with God” before the concept of fiction was presented to me.
I sat on “A Spacious Place” after I wrote it, waiting for God to give me directives to publish it. I was done with it at the beginning of this year. I was ready to push, to deliver my baby to the world. But God kept urging me to be still. He never gave me the signal to release it.
So, I didn’t deliver it. I remained pregnant with “A Spacious Place” for months, waiting for God to tell me to push. After I’d been waddling around with my non-fictional work for a while, God finally revealed that I was pregnant with multiples. We don’t have time for me to discuss how God consistently confirmed this spiritual multiple pregnancy. But after His confirmation, I understood why I couldn’t deliver “A Spacious Place” at that time. My twins had to be birthed at the same time.
But you know… God likes to show out. Spiritual twins weren’t enough for Him. So, to add a little razzle dazzle to the situation, God arranged it so that I became physically pregnant with my second child in the midst of me being pregnant with my spiritual twins. God told me “multiples” and He did not lie!
And so, I reckon you can say I have triplets. One physical baby that will be birthed before the end of this year, and fraternal spiritual twins that God finally signaled me deliver to the world last month. I wanted to give you this account because it’s feasible that you are pregnant… pregnant with an assignment or assignment(s).
I wanted to let you know that it’s possible to be pregnant and in disbelief at what God is telling you that you’re pregnant with. I followed in Moses’ footsteps in terms of doubting my assignment initially, and maybe you’re doubting yourself too. Recall God told Moses to be the leader of the people, but Moses doubted his abilities.
Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue. ” So, the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”
(Exodus 4:10-12 NKJV)
You may be in doubt, but if you’re chosen to do an assignment, you’re just chosen. But if you insist on not completing the assignment, God can give your baby to someone else. He’s not going to beg you to be fruitful. He’ll simply bless someone else with what should have been your harvest.
I’m asking you to not let doubt hinder you. Rather go be fruitful. Go multiply! If you are unsure if the assignment is from God, ask Him to confirm it. I am a witness, multiple times over, that not only will He confirm it, but He’ll give you the tools to complete it.
Reader, I could go on and on. I mean I really could because God is just… He’s just amazing! How He leads, how He guides, how He reveals… mercy! It’s incredible. But I want to leave you today as a witness that God can show you some beautiful things within you, even if they are beautifully unfamiliar. Be willing to step into the unknown and carry your baby to full-term.
Be willing to labor over your assignment and deliver it, regardless of the hardships you may face. Since when has pregnancy, labor, and deliver been easy? Being uncomfortable laden with sickness and aches of all kinds come with the territory of birthing. But when that baby is delivered, it’s worth it. It's always worth it. Always.
That’s all I have for you today. I pray this article has blessed you. Have a wonderful day and week! Lord’s willing, I’ll see you next week.
Quin Arrington’s books are available on Amazon. Simply click the link below.
Happy Reading!
Congratulations ❤️ on everything 👏🏽 God is awesome and will have you doing things that you never thought you were capable of doing Amen! Heading to Amazon