I never thought I would see a day where I would work for free. Most of my life I chose jobs with the highest salaries. I even decided on my course of study in college by what degree might pay more.
When I finally, at the age of 30, graduated with a Computer Science degree and took my first programming job, I immediately knew I made a mistake. It literally hurt to go into work each day. Writing programs to make computers work was not my calling. It is an incredibly important job for those of you who do it, but it is not where I am meant to be.
However, writing my stories feels right, exactly right. Blogging is a career path I stumbled upon. I never imagined I would put so much time and effort into something with no paycheck reward.
I was told at a young age a career in art would get me nowhere. Even as a child, I loved all things creative— drawing, writing, painting… I continued to hear, “There is no money in art. That’s why they are called starving artists.” This turned me away from my passion for creating and shut down that path for too many years.
I eventually left my programming job to stay home with my kids. As my children grew and needed less of me, I frantically searched for a career to throw myself into. I tried many home business sales companies, but writing my story continued to call me. I knew the pain of my past could only be healed through helping others still trapped in similar struggles.
I read other people’s stories of loss, joy, and daily operations. Stories of finding faith, overcoming obstacles, and sometimes struggling to get through the day…
Joining an online Bible study helped me take the first step. I wrote a couple of posts to share with our group. I was immediately hooked.
No money changed hands. No performance reviews from a satisfied boss raised my self-esteem. Yet, I found so much more than these things. I found freedom.
There is beautiful, unchaining freedom in our stories. Each time I share a moment of my past, present, or even possible future struggles, another chain is released.
God placed this passion for writing deep in my soul at birth. He knew the addictions I would fight, people I would tragically lose, and all of the other pain my newborn body would someday face. He planned for me to finally find freedom through worship, not work.
This blog is my way of worshiping Him. It tells my long path to finding His grace, hopefully leading others there as well.
You don’t have to work for free to worship in your job. There are definitely ways of making money as a blogger. I have recently added affiliates as a possibility for added income, but if they never bring in a dime, I’m more than okay with that.
Pastor Derwin Gray shares some ways to “worship as you work” in his book, Limitless Life (p.188):
- Be prayerful, watchful, and thankful.
- Be wise. Work with “passion, intelligence, and integrity because we are worshiping Jesus through our work.”
- Talk about grace.
- Remember you are God’s possession.
Whether you are new here or have been reading along for a while, I hope you will continue along this journey with me…
I too am in a job…where I have to do software engineering. Most of the time it’s data input to get our electrical substations running but there is moments where a client wants something different, add ons and when development can’t deliver, I have to perform. I love my job, most of the time it’s pretty stress free but there are moments when I want to crawl into a hole and escape the madness. What I really want is to be at home enjoying my kids before they are all grown up and have left the house…my greatest fear, to miss is all! 🙁 I understand your post, your need at first to accomplish and rise to the top, but it’s unfulfilling when you are there! Glad you do find something that makes your heart sing…sharing and encouraging others. Praying you reach your goals to become a full time blogger! And there is definitely worshipping in blogging, why…we giving God all the glory! Blessings!
It really does make my “heart sing” at times. Thank you for that beautiful visual, Sabrina! I left out the part about me leaving the programming job to be a stay at home mom. I updated the post :). I pray that you can reach your dream of being home with your kids. Don’t fear missing it all. You can be a working parent and still catch all those special childhood moments. I have been both a working and at home mom. There are definitely positives and negatives to each. It’s nice you have a fairly stress free job you love. That can be difficult to come by. Blessings to you as well!
Candace, your blogs always inspire me and I thank you for that. You are definitely an encouragement and I’m so happy to hear all that you’ve accomplished in blogging. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for your sweet, encouraging comment, Lisa. I’m glad to hear you can find inspiration here. That means so much to me :)! I’m thankful to have you along on this journey.
Candac, I have no doubt you are doing just what God wants you to be doing. You are touching so many lives & oh what a story you have to share. I think it is awesome that you heeded to the call God had for you! I constantly pray for His blessings on you sweet friend!
Thank you for the prayers, Tonya! You are a blessing and so appreciated, my friend.
Candace, love this. Because I retired from TVA after 27 years, volunteered at a non-profit here for 12 yrs, and now am helping them in ways God has gifted me in. Most fun I’ve ever had. Love sharing what I know to benefit others. You are a blessing!
I’m so happy to hear you are having fun sharing your gifts, Mary! That is such a blessing to be in a position to do not only what you are good at, but what you actually enjoy doing. Always great to see you here, my friend!
What a beautiful post! Thank you for proving that while courage isn’t always free of mess, the mess is certainly worth it when we are being led by God!
Oh those messes, Stephanie :). They are unavoidable, aren’t they? I completely agree though, they are well worth it when He is leading us.
Love this post and that you’ve found your true calling. Never too late. The world is so messed up in that it measures success by how much money you can generate. When you work a job only for money you sure do earn every penny – in a way that can very well destroy your soul. God gave us gifts so we would use them for His purposes. How wonderful that you’re doing that now. He is well pleased, I’m sure.
Thank you, Laura. It really does seem to be my calling. I certainly hope “He is well pleased.” That is actually something I pray for every night. We are a money driven society unfortunately. I feel very blessed to be in a position to do something I love.
I’m so glad you followed the call to start this blog! I know many times I have found inspiration and encouragement here…including today. Thanks, Candace! 🙂
Thank you for your always loving encouragement, my awesome friend :)! I’m so happy you find inspiration here and to have you on this journey with me, Kim.
Candace, I’m so glad you made the decision to share your story here! 🙂 xo
Thank you so much, Shelly! I greatly appreciate you and the rest of the P31 team for helping lead me here :).
I completely agree. I made the decision to start a blog and write then I started to get anxious because I was too worried about followers etc.. But when I decided to write for an Audience of One, the anxiety left and I started to enjoy it all. It is an act of worship, you’re right. We may never get a dime but we’ll be following a calling and I think that is worth it. Thanks for the post!
I love the thought of an “Audience of One,” Katie. It gets stressful when we get caught up in followers, visits… I had to release all that too. It has taken a lot of prayer and focus, but I enjoy it much more today than when I first started :).
The neat thing is is God’s creativity and calling and it’s fun, besides. Thanks for sharing your journey. (I didn’t know I could make money blogging…who knew? Obviously, not me. (:) I feel that same calling to give what God gives me – usually in speaking but blogging has been a great outlet – loved what Chambers said in Utmost for His Highest – we aren’t called to save people (God’s job) but to make disciples. I got right out of my chair to blog – it’s one way to do just that. Be encouraged! And, now I’ll see it as an act of worship besides. Thanks for this.
There are actually several ways to make money blogging, Sue. Pinterest is a great resource for posts discussing avenues for blog income. I haven’t researched it, but have pinned many articles on it. I might even read and implement them some day :). Speaking is definitely not my calling. It scares me to death! I’m always so impressed with people like you who are gifted in that area.
Love your post. Glad you found your passion in writing.
Thank you, Cheryl Lynn! I feel very blessed to be able to pursue writing at this point in my life. So glad to have you here :).
Thank you Candace – I too am a writer I have just stumbled upon blogging- I Love it!! Not real versed in it yet, but I am enjoying the journey. God has called us to worship – and He gives us the passions of our heart to serve and worship Him! Thank you for sharing your passion so eloquently. Keep on Encouraging with your Love for the Lord in blogging.
Blessings, Teresa
Welcome to the blogging world, Teresa! It will be a year for me in August. Time has really flown. I’m not always the best about sticking to things, so I have been pleasantly surprised :). I would love to know the name of your blog to visit you. Blessings to you and your blogging endeavor!
https://tdm4him.wordpress.com/
I have been a writer most of my life…but the past 2 years have been actively trying to write encouraging pieces for submission. Would love your input, and any tips you may have on blogging. I am very new to it, and really have not publicized it yet…just learning. Thanks for your interest. God Bless, enjoy your day
Teresa
I will definitely be over for a visit this afternoon, Teresa! One quick piece of advice: when you comment on other blog posts, enter your blog URL in the spot after your name and email. That way people can find you! You may already know this, but thought I would offer just in case. I’m looking forward to reading and getting to know you better :)!
Hey Candace, I love your posts and I think you have an important story to tell. I love blogging to even though I have not made very much money. However, I love it when someone else is able to get a great deal from a sale I’ve shared.
Thanks, Sonya! I have gotten some great things through your blog :). My husband just wore his funny t-shirt yesterday (I LOVE when MY WIFE lets me go to the range). Everyone stops him to laugh and comment every time he has it on. I’m so glad we found each other on our blogging journeys!
I just finished this study too 🙂 Blogging entered my life in a similar way. I was a teacher until I stayed home with my girls. I guess I still am a teacher of sorts but I really always waned to write and like you, as my girls get older, I’m finding it’s a good place in this season, and hopefully many seasons to come!
It was a great study! I really got so much out of this book. I’m glad to hear you too have found a good place to fulfill your dream of writing. I’m looking forward to getting to know you, Emily. Thanks for visiting!
Sorry for the double post…didn’t think the first one made it as my toddler ran away with my phone 😉
How funny! Little ones love our phones :). No problem, I deleted the 2nd one. Thanks for making sure it went through!
Hi Candace, thanks for writing this post to give us a window into your soul and a peek into your writing process. I could identify with so much here. Love the name from worker to worshipper! Bless you xo
I wish I could take credit for the title. I love it too! It’s the name of a chapter in the Limitless Life book :). Blessings to you as well, Sybil!
Thanks for this post! Ever since I was little, I’ve loved to write! Sometimes though I get caught up in how many views, comments etc I get on my blog! I need to remember this is a free space to worship God and share my thoughts! I look forward to reading more of your blog!
It is hard sometimes to break away from the numbers game- page views, followers… I completely understand, Tara. It takes effort sometimes for me to refocus properly, but blogging is so much more enjoyable when I have it in the proper perspective. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better!
Candace, I’m taking a week to reflect, re-evaluate, and reorder some things in my life. Thank you for the reminder that I need to find something to pour my heart and soul into. I don’t think it always has to be your job. You can have just a job, something that you go to on a daily basis that you don’t love, but are okay with. However, as I’m floating through life right now without any firm passion or mission, I’m coming to the realization that I need something–something to bond myself to–something to give me purpose. Thank you for opening my eyes a little further and directing me down a road that I have yet to see the end of.
I have been there many times, Crystal! It is difficult when we feel like we are “floating through life” without purpose. Blogging has helped me a great deal with this. As you said, it doesn’t have to be in your job. Sometimes a job is just to pay the bills. There are so many other avenues to find a mission in- volunteering, neighbors, our families… Praying for you to find your passion!
Really enjoyed this glimpse into your story and this slice of your testimony .. Keep writing for His glory! Stopping by from The High Calling link-up .. Enjoy the rest of your week!
Thanks for stopping by, Kate! I have only recently found The High Calling. I’m loving the fun topics and linkups there :).
Telling your stories (for free) brought freedom! That’s an incredible self-discovery that offered you insight into your future. Thanks for sharing your experience with The High Calling community.
It has been an incredibly surprising self-discovery, Ann :). I started this to help others. My freedom has been the icing on the cake. It’s always my pleasure to join the High Calling community!
GREAT testimony and can lift us up. It’s so awesome to see it work out, through the trials we are given.
Thanks, Alexis! It is beautiful to watch it all come together. Looking back on trials really helps them make more sense than when we are caught in the middle of them.
Thank you for the blog. I am in a transition for my journey. Ten years ago God made a way for me to complete my Aesthetics license and serve Him in the treatment room. He has blessed it every step of the way with clients, safe treatment rooms and the ability to minister to people in a very personal way. Now I want to write. This desire is new for me. I am raising boys as my joyous life’s work. My schedule is flexible, but I want more time to pour God’s love into these precious lives. I want time the only commodity that can’t be bought. God’s time to express His love, His world and His direction for the lives of the little live I am in charge of at present. Blogging seems like a great avenue to free myself even more to “train up my guys in the way they should go.” If you have suggestions please send them to me. My blog at present is https://joyousskinbytanya.wordpress.com/
Hi Tanya, It’s so nice to meet you. It sounds like you are in an exciting transition. Blogging is a wonderful avenue for us new writers. It’s a great way to get your thoughts out and to find community. Prayers for your new journey! I know many bloggers who have multiple sites on different topics. Keep me posted :)!
I was just poking around and found yet another thing we have in common.
“There is no money in art. That’s why they are called starving artists.”
I was told this by my dad when I told him I wanted to become an art major. He had always been very supportive of me wanting to go into web design, but I think he assumed it was more coding than design, and he thought I was doomed to have a degree that wouldn’t look good on a resume.
I’m happy to say that because I graduated with a B.A. in Graphic Design, I bring a lot of value to my employer–which they greatly appreciate–because I not only design and code for the web, but I’m also a graphic designer and photographer.
And I’m far from starving! (Although I do work in education! LOL But the great environment is worth the lack of a design studio paycheck.)
I’m so jealous of you, Terri! Great career choice. I honestly thought getting a degree in Computer Science would allow me to do digital graphics. I was very naive back then :). Your degree choice is what I should have gone after.
I’m sorry it has taken me so long to respond. I’m having a tough time getting back to blogging these days. I miss it though, so that’s a good sign :)!
That’s very good that the desire to blog is still there! You may just not have the capacity at this very moment. I told myself as I got back into blogging that I was going to post EVERY DAY, but in reality, I post when I’m inspired by something and I get a better writing piece out of it. So don’t be afraid to take your time. 🙂 I hope you’re on the mend…I know it’s a struggle.