From Scarcity to Abundance: A Biblical View of Time for Writers

God’s Eternal Perspective on Time for Writers

Why a biblical view of time matters for your writing journey

We live in a world obsessed with speed—faster publishing, faster growth, faster marketing results. Where you never catch a break because you’re always behind.

Those hustle and fast-paced mindsets are rhythms set by our world’s culture.

But when we open Scripture, we see something very different.

God is intentional. He doesn’t rush from a place of fear or scarcity. He’s focused, determined, and sacrificial regarding what He sets into motion.

And in our chat today, we’re continuing to flip the script on time scarcity mindsets that steal our peace, our focus, or derail our alignment with the Holy Spirit.

So if you’re feeling frazzled, worn out, or burned out, then scootch in close, my friend. This conversation is for you.

What the Bible Says About Time

I love the thought circling around that says, “God created time; He’s never rushed”. However, I’d like for us to unpack that a bit more.

Genesis explains, in beautiful detail, the creation of the universe and how God spoke the stars and planets into existence.

Talk about some powerful words!

Those stars and planets were designed to visually mark the passing of time. A way for mankind to know the day, weeks, seasons, etc.

When we view time from this perspective, we understand that time is intentional. It wasn’t created on a whim. There’s a divine purpose to the structure of time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 is a familiar verse, which reads:

Let that truth set it.

There’s a time to plant. A time to harvest.

A time to build. A time to tear down.

A time to labor. A time to rest.

A time to heal. A time to die to self.

Understanding seasons: pruning, growth, and rest

This understanding of God using time with intention hit me hard. Especially in a God-ordained season of being grown, pruned, nourished, or even demolished.

It may be hard to consider that our Good Father would send us through an intentional season to demolish everything we’ve worked so hard to build.

However, if what we’ve built is to our destruction. Then you better believe God will bust out a massive sledge hammer to knock us back onto the path leading toward His presence rather than away from it.

Lessons from Pain and God’s “No”

Now, I’m gonna detour our chat for a hot second to share what the Lord taught me about pain. So stay with me, I promise I have a point that connects …

A few years ago, my health took a scary downward spiral. Weird and uncomfortable things were happening in my body; I was utterly miserable, in so much pain, and to be honest, downright scared. We didn’t have health insurance, which made seeking medical assistance a major challenge.

In that season, I asked the Lord for healing. I begged. I pleaded. I stood on scripture, declaring that by His stripes I am healed—essentially using scripture to demand my healing.

Guess what God told me?

He flat-out said no.

I say that respectively, but the answer was still no.

However, that wasn’t all to the conversation.

The “no” had intention. It had purpose. It was given for a reason.

God pulled back the curtain, He revealed the hidden things, and called me out on how I was treating myself.

I didn’t realize how out of alignment my priorities were. I was prioritizing everyone else while disregarding my basic needs. And I had been doing it for years. I wasn’t completing what God was asking of me, and instead gave my time to serve and nourish everyone around me. Their dreams took precedence over my being obedient to the assignments asked of me.

God uses hard seasons with purpose

Listen, I’m all for loving and serving sacrificially. That’s the kind of love Jesus teaches us to give to others. But I was taking it too far, and my body was shutting down from the unresolved trauma and consistent neglect.

The pain from my affliction served a two-fold purpose.

God used it first as a wake-up call. I hadn’t been listening to the nudges of the Holy Spirit. I was disregarding the conviction and justifying the actions causing my self-neglect. So God had to use drastic measures to get my attention because I was a harm to myself.

God then used the pain as a motivator. If I wanted to have peace and healing in my body, then I needed to be willing to put in the work to structure lifestyle choices that would establish a healthier framework and foundation for the years to come.

God wasn’t mean in letting my pain persist. He was intentional to use it for not only my overall well-being but also for you. My wakeup call was for your good.

Yep. God had to use hard and painful things to get my stubborn self into position so that you and I could have this moment.

Personal struggles can prepare writers for greater impact

There are daughters of God who are stuck in endless cycles of bondage to expectations and society’s mandates. Modern-day Pharisees have put a yoke on these daughters, and God wants to see His chosen creatives set free so they can proclaim His heart to this broken world.

My friend, you and I were meant to have this conversation. I had to go through a season of heartache, sorrow, pain, and rejection to die to self in order to be found trustworthy with an anointing like I never imagined possible.

I say that to encourage you that God is not wasting your season. He’s using it for a purpose far greater than what you can see in this right now moment. If you are in a painful or challenging season, rejoice. Because God is shaping you for everything that He has prepared for you.

God uses time and seasons intentionally.

And we can learn much by His example.

So let’s shift our heart posture to look at our time and current season of life from a higher perspective.

Breaking Free from the Time Scarcity Mindset

Like others, I’ve made the “I don’t have enough time” statement more times than I’d care to admit.

When God would invite me to partner with Him, I’d look the project over and then scoff, saying, “There’s no way I can do that. I don’t have the capacity. My time is so limited.”

Hmm, whose time?

Remember from our last chat—we don’t own time. It’s a resource that we’re entrusted to steward.

Are your eyes stuck on what appears impossible?

Does the size of the mountain immobilize you, trapping you in a cycle of doubt and fear?

Do you have the bad habit of only seeing the limitations or failures?

No shame, I had been there too. Praise Jesus for victory.

My friend, we are not meant to do the impossible.

We are not the miracle workers. Jesus is.

We are vessels of His glory for His glory. We pour Him out.

His anointing.

His power.

His Spirit.

His words.

His light.

Why are we still stuck leaning upon our own strength and understanding when we weren’t designed to?

Jesus as Our Example of God’s Timing

Something interesting I’d love for you to take note of.

Jesus’s earthly ministry lasted ~3 1/2 years.

And in that time, He did more than just heal the sick and broken-hearted.

He did more than raise the dead to life.

More than establishing the apostles to carry on after Him.

More than face off with religious leaders.

More than walk on water.

More than calm the raging sea.

He brought salvation for all of humanity. He became the door to eternal life.

Jesus did so much while He walked on this earth. In such a short period of time, He made an eternal impact that changed the world.

How did He do what seemed impossible?

Jesus did the impossible because He walked in oneness with the Father.

Let’s take a look at a few verses:

• John 14:10 says, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”
• John 5:19 says, “Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”
• And John 10:30 reads, “I and My Father are one.”

What Christian writers can learn from His surrender to the Father

Do we think any less of Jesus for such a deep surrender to the Father? Do we see Jesus as weak, unwise, or not being a good steward because He prioritized the Father’s will over His own in order to bring about a greater victory for all rather than for self?

No! We see Jesus for the wonder that He truly is.

And He set the example for us to follow.

In John 14:12, Jesus said we would do greater things / greater works than Him. Not that we would do things more epically than Him. But that we would participate in magnifying the impact of the great commission through the empowering of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus could only do so much while He walked on this earth.

We’re taking up the commission to continue His work.

Jesus did the impossible because He unapologetically remained connected to the Father.

He didn’t look at the masses and question whether or not He had enough time or capacity.

He saw the hurting and broken hearted and was moved with compassion to meet their need.

As His hands and feet, that’s how were invited to thrive and serve and create.

Fruit that has an eternal impact doesn’t come from hurry but from staying rooted and aligned with the Father.

Abundance flows from abiding, not striving.

Writing as Worship and Obedience

And when our writing is done as an act of obedience, our writing becomes an act of worship.

Then from that heart posture of worship, we’ll exalt His name rather than wanting to build up our own.

We’ll bear fruit that glorifies Him and points to where Jesus can be found.

Our obedience prompts us to lean into His pace—even if it means waiting on His timing.

Our worship and obedience directs our focus off of limitations, fear, failure, and time scarcity, and it lifts our eyes onto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

So, as you soak up those downloads from the Holy Spirit today, I would love for you to ponder this reflection question.

Reflection question: How should I view my time in light of God’s perspective on time?

It’s a deep question, so please don’t rush through the moment. Truly give it an honest sit-down.

Because it is my heart that you start to see that yes, you do have time. Even if God has to redeem it.

Closing Encouragement:

Beloved, before we close our time today, I want to leave you with one last encouragement.

Fear, Doubt, and Intimidation have stolen enough from you. Today—right now—is the time to stop listening to the lies saying you can’t, and it’s time for you to believe God at His word.

Has God spoken a word over you and over your writing? Then trust Him. Believe in Him.

And if you’re staring off wondering if God has even spoken a word over you and your writing, then sitting with Him is the best place to start.

Take heart because God is with you.

Simply trust and believe.

Want to continue the conversation?

I hope today’s chat blessed, inspired, and deeply encouraged you.

If you know a fellow writer who’d benefit from this chat, please send them a link to this post. I’d appreciate it, and I’m confident they will too.

If you want encouragement just like today’s chat send directly to your inbox, here’s an invite for the newsletter community.

You are on my heart and in my prayers. Be strong and courageous.