David Knott's Blog - Posts Tagged "doubt"

I'm new to writing. I'm a mechanical engineer with a long career in the aerospace industry. I've been accused, quite fairly, of being very analytical.

I first felt that there might be value in turning my series of Bible teachings on Psalm 23 into a book some four years ago. After years of slow but steady writing, the first draft was finished. But what now? There came a period of analysis paralysis, of doubt, has not the world got enough Christian books?

Then, one day I was at a quiz night talking to a complete stranger. I just happened to mention that I was writing a book, but I wasn't sure what to do next, or even if I should try to get it published. What the stranger said next stopped me in my tracks:

He said, "Will it help people?"

What a good question! Of course, that was the question I should be asking myself. I realized that my focus had been on me, "Will people like what I have written? Should I try to get it published?

As I thought about his oh so simple and yet profound question, I realized that pride is like a seesaw. At one end of the seesaw is the kind of pride that seeks to exult and boast, to look good in front of others. And at the other end, is the kind of pride that belittles yourself and what you can do. This is where I was, and I realized that this end of the seesaw is just as prideful as the other end, because at both ends the focus is on me.

So did I believe that this book would, or could, help people? Well yes I did. It helped people when I taught it, and I had this conviction inside, which I took to be from God, that he would use it to help people. So I pushed ahead and published the book:

"The Psalm 23 Life: Experiencing the Love of God Every Day".

It now feels like I have planted a seed. I need to water it, but it is God who will make it grow and bear fruit. Let all the glory go to him.