Absolutely!! I’ve never been the type to be all up in people’s faces about what I believe when I think they’re wrong, and some people in my life have interpreted that as cowardice. But the thing is, I’ve seen too much of this militant preachiness, both from my own “side” and from people not on my “side.” I don’t want to be like that. I want to be different. It’s encouraging to be reminded that sometimes a quieter way forward is the most effective way forward.

Thanks for this article Josiah! I love it. It creates a beautiful picture, especially with the creation and garden imagery. A part of the purpose of story is awakening people to deeper truths.
I think what you’re talking also describes a greater level of the concept of ‘show’ don’t tell’ doesn’t it? In our writing and in our lives. Not that we shouldn’t tell the truth, but we should show it with it’s lifestyle, patterns, and themes more than we tell it, or the telling lacks impact.

Wonderful guidance on applying our craft to His glory, attracting readers His way. The brutal culture wars exhaust & frustrate me. You call us to act like Jesus, who used parables to reach the hearts of sinners. Which, of course, we all are. I love reading books that gently mirror what I most need to learn or be reminded to honor.

Nothing speaks like a good garden metaphor! Loved what you said about the Spirit’s power being greater than our worries regarding subtlety. Wonderful article and a great reminder to crack open my Bible and read some Genesis.

Thanks for reading and commenting, Katherine! Really glad you appreciated this article.

Great point about Wodehouse vs. Tolkien. 🙂 While both offer great experiences, they are definitely quite distinct from each other! I certainly wholeheartedly agree as well with the notion that meaningful experiences also teach us how to live life well.

What a great article! So thankful for these posts (and I order my copy of Coral because of it).
I’m glad Christian literature has been more open to tackle “grittier” content. This has been my main struggle with my WIP, I want it to be God-honoring, but I don’t want to whitewash the realities of life. I’ve been a Christian my entire life and have been in the depths of despair countless times myself (sometimes because of my own wrong choices, sometimes because tragedies, and sometimes because of things out of my control). I don’t know how to write anything else but what I see as the reality of (Christian) life here on Earth: broken people in a broken world looking for redemption. But I feel like walking a thin line when writing about hard and dark themes (my MC has premarital sex and ends up pregnant and later on deals with postpartum depression. She does find God by the end of the story, but her life isn’t magically resolved because of it). I don’t want to water down the message, but I also don’t want to pretend it doesn’t happen.
I haven’t been able to find the right balance just yet.

This is incredibly helpful and insightful! As someone who has gone through depression multiple times, I really appreciate books like Sara Ella’s that honestly yet hopefully portray mental illness. Thank you for addressing these important topics!

Thank you for this very real and relatable article. As a Christian who struggles with depression and anxiety, I have received some well-meaning but unhelpful comments when I do venture to share my struggles, and I just really appreciate the compassionate, multi-faceted approach you took to the whole topic.