Put a Pin in it.

My apologies to those who read last week’s blog on creativity and believed I never get stuck in my writing. On the contrary, I often get stuck. My writer’s block just usually doesn’t happen on the first page. Typically, the muddy middle is where my doubts creep in. Is this any good? Does this scene feel dull? Is that character too similar? Will the story come together?
 
The muddy middle is when cleaning the grout in my shower suddenly seems appealing. I know I’m stalling when cleaning out the attic in summer starts to hold appeal. However, I’ve learned to muster through and keep my fingers on the keyboard with the power of a placeholder. In the middle of my writing, a placeholder will look something like this:

XXX insert enthralling scene here.

And then I move to write the next scene that catches my fancy. (The XXX is so that I can do a quick find to take me to the missing scene later.)

Placeholders sound simple, but at first I wondered if I’d be left with a bunch of tedious scenes. Turns out that’s not what happened. In the meantime, my subconscious continued to work on the scene, creating new inspiration while I made dinner, drove, and even while I slept.

Sometimes we need placeholders for our faith. There will be times when doubts creep in. I wish I could say I’ve never experienced doubt, but as I've grown older, I've experienced them less. Overcoming trials that can’t be explained, but only by God’s grace, becomes a means to return fire when doubts attack. But if you struggle with doubt on occasion, you’re in good company. Even John the Baptist experienced doubt.

Matthew 11:2-3 says, “When John the Baptist was in prison, he heard what Jesus was doing. He sent his followers. They asked, ‘Are You the One Who was to come, or should we look for another?’” John the Baptist is the same person who leapt as a baby in his mother’s womb as the pregnant Mary approached. John was the same man who fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy proclaiming, “Make the way ready for the Lord. Make the road straight for Him!” (Mark 3:3). When Jesus asked John to baptize Him, John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” (Mark 3:14.) John was all in for Jesus, but when in prison, doubts came and rattled his jail cell.

Jesus sends John’s followers back with a message to shore up John’s faith. “Go and tell John what you see and hear. The blind are made to see. Those who could not walk are walking. Those who have had bad skin diseases are healed. Those who could not hear are hearing. The dead are raised up to life, and the Good News is preached to poor people. He is happy who is not ashamed of Me and does not turn away because of Me.” (Matthew 11:4-6.)

When doubts come knocking, sometimes we need to insert a placeholder. Instead of letting doubt clear the room, start running things, and disrupt our lives, ask those doubts to wait. In the meantime, the Holy Spirit will reveal things to help us overcome those doubts and strengthen our faith.

A placeholder doesn’t mean ignoring our doubts. Unaddressed issues can fester. Jesus confronted the father's unbelief, whose son was plagued by spirits. The father asked Jesus, “But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” (Mark 9:21-22) After Jesus confronted him on the ‘if You can’ part, the father cried out, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24.)

Sometimes doubt is a road we must journey with God to deepen our relationship with Him and our faith. Doubts will come—it’s just not healthy when they stay.