I was thrilled a couple of weeks ago when I saw that a major industry publication had reviewed my recently released biography about Martin Luther and his wife, Katharina. Getting a book reviewed in this publication is a big deal and something I’d aspired to for a long time. Neither of my first two books had been reviewed by this particular journal, so I was delighted to hear my third book had made the cut.
Then I read the review. By the time I finished the last sentence, my eyes brimmed with tears. The reviewer had criticized my book. It wasn’t merely a lukewarm review; it was flat-out negative.
As the day went on and I read the review over and over, my sorrow and disappointment turned to anger and bitterness. I’d worked nearly every day for more than 8 months researching and writing that book, I huffed to myself. I’d stepped out of my comfort zone and into an unfamiliar, intimidating literary genre. I’d answered God’s call with obedience and faith, and for what? Embarrassment, disappointment, and regret.
I finally stopped crying later that afternoon, but only because I had to prepare for a talk I was scheduled to give at a local church that night. As I practiced aloud in my kitchen, I read these words from Paul to his friend, Archippus:
“Do your very best in the job you received from the Master. Do your very best.” In the marginal notes of my presentation I’d also jotted the New Living Version translation of the same verse: “Carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”
You might miss this verse, which is tucked at the very end of Paul’s letter to the Colossians, and Archippus himself, who is only mentioned twice briefly in the entire New Testament, but Paul’s advice to his friend is critically important. As I stood at the kitchen counter I read both translations aloud again more slowly, this time noticing what wasn’t said in Paul’s brief command.
Paul didn’t tell his friend, “Do your very best, and you’ll be rewarded and praised.”
He didn’t say, “Do your very best, and you’ll be successful.”
He simply said, “Do your very best in the work you’ve been assigned,” and left it at that.
Paul’s emphasis was on doing the work, rather than on the outcomes or results.
This goes against what we’ve been taught in our “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” capitalist culture, which values achievement, success, and results at the expense of everything else. We are taught from our youngest days to produce, and we are typically rewarded for our efforts and accomplishments with promotions, praise, and accolades.
We are so immersed in this work-for-reward ethic, we forget that God doesn’t operate this way. We forget that God never promised us success. We forget that God never guaranteed we won’t fail.
God asks that we live obediently and faithfully. He asks that we discern and answer his call to the best of our ability, regardless of outcomes and results. And he asks that we trust his goodness and love for us, even when the result of our work isn’t what we’d hoped for or wished.
God never promised us success. What he did promise is that he will be with us always, in the joy of success, as well as in the disappointment of defeat.
This post originally ran in the Lincoln Journal Star on February 25, 2017.
Michelle, I’m sorry about the review. I feel that anytime we put our creative endeavors out there for others to see and critique, it is like we are showing them our newborn child. We feel protective of it and we put so much effort, time, and love into them. But THANK YOU for writing this. Your vulnerability is powerful. I’m also glad that you are determined to “carry on” in spite of the difficulties you have encountered and will perhaps encounter in the future. I’m a new reader to your blog and I am enjoying it. I hope you will “carry on” and write some more!
Thank you so much, Barbara – your encouragement and enthusiasm are a great gift to me!
Michelle: This reminds me of a documentary I saw on Maurice Sendak, author of “Where the Wild Things are”. A Psychiatrist who criticized his work as way too scary for children, harmful to their emotional well-being, he later shared the stage with him at an event. The criticism probably gave him extra publicity. He had been writing children’s books for awhile before that, but had little attention given to them. “Where the Wild Things Are” became wildly popular. As a writer, getting a critical review is better for you than getting ignored – it piques people’s interest and they may check it out for themselves. All reviews and rejections from publishers or critics are subjective, there are some kernels of truth in the criticism, but people have their own emotional history that comes into their perspective.
This is also about trusting and listening to your inner voice,having faith that you have done what you felt was right, communicated in the best way your could and to not get sidetracked by others criticism.
GREAT advice, Christine – and I hadn’t heard that about Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are – interesting! Your last point is spot-on, friend – we are to listen to the Holy Spirit and heed him as best we can. Amen to that. Thank you!
You are absolutely correct, Michelle. God does not promise success, but He does expect us to do the very best with the gifts He’s given us.
I’m so sorry about the negative review, and I do hope you can let it go. Your book is the next one on my reading list for Lent, and I’m truly looking forward to the read, my friend.
Blessings!
Thank you for always being a strong and steady voice of encouragement to me, Martha – I appreciate you so much!
I absolutely loved the book: Katharina and Martin Luther! I just finished it on Saturday. Thank you for all the time and effort that you put into that task that had been given to you by God. It related historical information with an engaging story of two very different people. It also was a beautiful lesson about marriage that reflected God’s design.
Thank you!!!
Thank you, Dianne – I am so glad you enjoyed the book!
Thank you Michelle for this post. I’m sad for you to experience the sting of criticism because it hurts. But, your point rings true – He doesn’t promise a perfect outcome when He asks us to be obedient. We have to release the outcome to Him and simply be obedient to what He’s called us to do…much easier said, than done!
Being ignored may feel lonely, but being criticized can sting! Being ignored is probably safer, but do any of us really want to be ignored? Of course we would prefer praise, but at least your book was noticed, and read. Critics do not always reflect what the public thinks. Even F. Scott Fitzgerald’s first novel was widely criticized, yet now it is still a classic, and he is considered to be a great writer. Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts on 1 negative review, and how it affects a writer who worked so hard to write the book and make it good. Yes, I think your book is really good. I enjoyed it!
Oh, dear one, my tears have been with you. I loved my ministry as a health care chaplain. I am so grateful for the many years, even though I was nearly 60 years old when certified. Alas, I was fired twice! and “it wasn’t my fault…” Now 75 years old, I remember what a blessing my vocation really was for me, even with the challenging lessons. I was able to help so many hospitalized patients and share God’s healing love. I’ve kept their sweet thank-you notes. Please read the reviews on Amazon! You have done well. God’s peace, Michelle
Wow, Virginia, thank you so much for sharing this story – you have blessed me today!
Michelle, I was just standing at my kitchen sink thinking about my ‘little’ invisible contributions to the world of writing, much of what goes unseen as I work with a couple people to bring their words to light.
I want MY name in lights :-)….. and then it came to me (almost your very words)–‘don’t worry about everybody else’s work and words. What are you doing with what I have YOU to do?”
If we each do our own part with the gifts God has given us, and in turn give them away to use (or not) we’d be a lot more at peace, I think.
It’s the giving away with out any strings attached part that gets us.
Our worth is not in what we write but in who we are, huh?
sending a virtual {{hug}}
So true. God tells us to do our very best , but he doesn’t guarantee our success in this arena. Great reminder, because we are often expecting accolades now and here. Sorry about your bad review. Remember that is only one opinion it and does not determine your worth or the worth of the book! We serve a God who can turn it into something good.
Thank you, Michelle, for sharing this painful part of your story. My own writer’s heart goes out to you.
As I read, I recalled a quote often attributed to Mother Teresa: “God has not called me to be successful. He has called me to be faithful.” This sentiment is much easier to say than to believe. Your willingness, however, to share this story indicates a deep faith, if a lack of understanding, in God’s plan for you and the work of your hands. Blessings.
i feel your heartbreak. I would be too. But finding that verse and sharing it with us means so much and gives me hope. I loved your book. One persons opinion that is all that was….love you, Michelle
This was very encouraging to me. We get hung up on success, don’t we? But God never promised success in the same way the world sees it.
Encouraged by this post.