Finding Inspiration

Sometimes I simmer around ideas for several days, weeks or months before I'm ready to put into words what I've been thinking about.

Sometimes an idea will just pop into my head and I'll write about it.

Sometimes when I'm trying to figure out what to write I draw a complete blank.

I try to feel inspired when I'm writing and I said out loud today to my husband, "why shouldn't I be able to get inspiration about things to write about?"

His response, "because you always get whatever you want?"

Did you know that just because I want something bad enough, even if it is a good thing, doesn't mean I will always get it?

Duh.

I like to think that the Lord will bless me with needed inspiration whenever I want it, but the truth is that He works on His timing, not mine.

Here's an example: 

This summer I kept seeking inspiration on our job search.  I had already told the Lord that I would go wherever we were needed. 

But couldn't I just get a little inspiration on where that was. 

Or even more importantly, when that was? 

If I just knew how long it was going to take, then I would be able to deal with it so much better.  I would have some kind of deadline to work towards.

Looking back now,  I think if I had known how long it would take to get a job I probably would not have started homeschooling.

And I know that I would not have grown closer to the Lord through my pleadings. 

I would not have had the same gratitude and humility from knowing how many people were praying for us.

In other words, I would not have had the experiences that I needed to grow. (I wish that growing was easier.)

Now I can say that I feel extremely grateful for that time.

I recognize that a lot of my growth has come from other times when I've been searching for inspiration and I have felt like I was on my own.

When I say on my own, I don't mean alone.

I know that the Lord is always with me.  

If inspiration doesn't come it's not because the Lord is too busy to help me out.

And it's not because I am not showing enough obedience to get what I want.

Sometimes it is just. hard. work.
  
And the inspiration that I think I need, will actually be recognizing what I have learned from that hard work.