3 Steps to Finding the Grace to Chase a Dream | Guest Post by Cara Putman
Once there was a fourteen-year-old who quickly realized her favorite authors simply could not write books fast enough. Because she was young, she decided she could write books, too. Her mother smiled and allowed her to write as part of her English. Slowly two novels grew on an old computer, paragraph by paragraph, page by page. She loved creating ideas, research, writing. The process delighted her soul, and she wondered if she’d found what she was created to do.
Then life got busy. College, a career. A husband and a family. Writing was pressed to the perimeter of her life by the busyness of a full life.
Most days it was enough.
But some days, the whisper to write became a roaring ache to try. When this occurred, this girl-turned-woman would take the dream to God, hold it in open hands, and ask Him if this was His dream for her. If not, show her so she could kill the dream and focus on His will for her life.
In due time, He announced it was time to follow her dream. Nine years later she’s awaiting the publication of her eighteenth and nineteenth books later this year.
You may have already guessed: I am that girl. I know what it’s like to have a dream burning inside me and wonder if anything would ever come of it. I want to encourage you. If this is you. If you’re convinced your dreams have disappeared under a pile of laundry, dirty diapers, and grocery lists, that there are ways to live with grace until the appointed time for the dream to burst to life.
Here’s what I learned on the journey:
- Hold the dream loosely. Pry your tight grip from the dream and offer it to God. Ask Him for wisdom to know if this is the time or the dream. Seek Him first. A dream without Him at the center is simply not as fulfilling.
- Prepare when you can as you can. For me that meant continuing to read voraciously. Through that I had a core understanding of what made a story and characters work. I might not have known all the lingo, but I intuitively gained an education. It also meant I read how-to write novel books. Each time the itch would resurface, you’d find me in the stacks looking for another book, so I could get structural understanding.
- Be prepared to run when God gives you the go-ahead. The years since God told me it was time to test the dream have been a whirlwind of work. It has required immense discipline and stick-to-it-iveness. I’ve had to let go of things to make room for the dream. Are you willing to do the same?
Waiting for a dream is hard. But with God’s grace, the waiting can be a time of preparation and drawing closer to Him.
Steps You can Take
- Hold the dream loosely.
- Prepare when you can as you can.
- Be prepared to run when God gives you the go-ahead.
About Cara
Cara C. Putman graduated high school at 16, college at 20, and completed her law degree at 27. An award-winning author of seventeen books with more on the way, she is active in women’s ministry at her church and is a lecturer on business and employment law to graduate students at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Putman also practices law and is a second-generation homeschooling mom. Putman is currently pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration at Krannert. She serves on the executive board of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization she has served in various roles since 2007. She lives with her husband and four children in Indiana. You can connect with her online at her website.
About Shadowed by Grace and a Giveaway
Rachel Justice is desperate to save her dying mother. She doesn’t want to leave her, but she accepts her newspaper’s assignment to travel to Italy and photograph war images. No one knows her photography is a cover and that Rachel is really seeking to find the father she never knew, hopeful to get some help with her failing mother. Dedicated to her mission, Rachel is focused on completing it. Soon, though, she finds her priorities and plans changing when she is assigned to Lt. Scott Lindstrom, on mission as a Monument Man. Their meeting will have far-reaching consequences. Will this derail her plans? Will she ever find her father? Is her faith enough to carry her through?
You can read the first chapter here.
Cara is giving away THREE copies of Shadowed by Grace! Enter below. Only those in the U.S. are eligible to win.
I was just recently introduced to Cara C. Putman’s writings and was very impressed. I liked the interview about her and also loved the review of her new book, Shadowed by Grace. It sounds like a wonderful read. Thanks for the opportunity to enter the give away and I would be delighted to be among the three winners. I LIKE you on FB, follow you on Twitter and Pinterest.
Thanks for the kind words, Ruth!
I am still chasing my childhood dream of being a writer. I am a writer, but I still want to have published books. I know that my books are not just any books, they have to be books that please God – thats the dream I’m chasing!
That’s a dream worth chasing! Praying for you, Elizabeth.
A dream from childhood that I would like to pick up again would be to travel the world.
That’s one of mine, too, Steph. I’ve seen pieces, but there’s so much left to explore!
write a book.
My dream is the same as Elizabeth’s above. I first knew I wanted to write novels in the fourth grade. I’m 31 now, and that’s still my dream. For now, my love for writing is being used elsewhere, but I won’t give up on my dream to write books!
When I was growing up I always wanted to be a teacher. If I had the money or the time I would try to become a teacher again.
I always want to visit foreign places. But at 70 years old that’s not going to physically happen so I do virtual tours on line. You can visit almost any country, museums, customs etc. I am learning so much about the world we live in and enjoying it.
I love Cara’s writing and would love to have her book to read. I’ve always had a dream of going to Greece and just enjoying the sun and the water. Thanks for this opportunity.
Since I am a much older reader, I can’t really say that I have any dreams left from childhood that have not been fulfilled, except maybe one or two where God said “No.” (Never became a princess or an “airline stewardess”).
I enjoyed the great post. Very good advice!
My, Cara, you are one busy lady! Thank you for this giveaway. I really enjoy meeting new authors and their books. Especially ones who are likeminded in the Lord. My dream has always been to be a speaker and maybe an author. Now that I’m 62, I have had many opportunities to speak yet feel my dream still has not come true. You are so right about the three criteria in finding your dream. I am in another waiting period so I am asking God, reading, and doing what I can do to be prepared when the time comes. I appreciate your encouragement.
Thank you for these words of wisdom. As a mom of three, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and that there is no way to find or chase my dreams, and I feel it quite often. I appreciate the giveaway that you are doing as well. I am homeschooling my children as well, so it always warms my heart to see and hear about the accomplishments of homeschooling families. May the Lord continue to use you to impact many more lives.
As a child, I dreamed of being a writer as well. I wrote the firs chapter of my book on the back of attendance cards at church one Sunday morning. My mom gave me a journal to use as soon as we got home. I have written here and there over the years, but not consistently or anything published.
I would love to be around horses.. That’s my dream! Is to work on a farm or something..
My dreams include publishing a book (or more than one) and a CD. I play piano and sing and used to write music. I’m just getting back into music now but have been blogging for a few years. This year I got paid to write for the first time ever and have a regular writing “gig” so I’m one step closer!
What an amazing woman! I wish I had not abandoned so many dreams, believing instead the lies of the enemy. If there was one dream that there was still a chance to be realized, it would be to be a writer. With one modification, to write for God’s glory. The last year has brought many changes, so maybe writing will one day be the fruit of the trials, but only if it is God’s will. Blessings to both of you, Cara and Tricia!
A childhood dream of mine was to get married and raise children. I got married and have 2 sons, 2 step grandsons, and 1 grandbaby on the way. I’m thinking my dream came true! sm
Is it too late to become a mermaid? That was my dream in Kindergarten (and before) because The Little Mermaid was my favorite movie. Still is my fave Disney movie of all time, even with Frozen trying to push it out.
I’m currently working on my writing dream, and I see God in it. It’s not as fully fledged as your 18-19 book career yet, but (if it be God’s will) I’ll get my turn in the sun.
Blessings,
Andrea
Proofreader/Writer
writingtoinspire.blogspot.com
andrearenee2004@yahoo.com
I don’t know if my dream is just a dream and not reality or if God is calling me to it. The rest of my life keeps me so busy I don’t make time to pursue it. Thanks for your encouragement. I will hold it loosely before God and ask Him again what I should do with it.
Thank you for your inspiring words. For the past few years I have been debating going to grad school to become a librarian. I was very unsure what God wanted me to do, but a few months ago, I felt like God was giving me the go-ahead to start researching colleges and programs. My problem now is deciding whether I should apply for this fall or not. (There are several reasons for and against attending this fall, including my current job commitments.) This is one dream, though, that I really would like to see fulfilled. Two others I have are becoming a wife/mother and returning to Senegal, West Africa, where I lived for three months during college. I don’t know if the latter dream will ever be fulfilled, but I know in my heart that the first will be, someday.