✍️ Agape Love Publishing – Author Devotional Tuesday, September 29, 2026💜 You Don't Have to See the Whole Story to Write the Next Page

Sarah Skaggs

4 days ago

6 min read

💜 You Don't Have to See the Whole Story to Write the Next Page

📖 Today's Scripture — KJV

"For we walk by faith, not by sight:"— 2 Corinthians 5:7

Good Tuesday morning, authors, writers, and future authors! ☕📖✍️

Have you ever sat down to write and thought:

“I know where this story begins... but I have absolutely no idea where it's going!” 😊

Maybe you're halfway through your manuscript and suddenly you're stuck.

Maybe God placed an idea on your heart, but you don't know how to turn it into an entire book.

Maybe you've finished writing but don't know anything about editing, ISBNs, formatting, covers, publishing, or marketing.

Or maybe you're standing at the very beginning thinking:

“How in the world am I supposed to do all of this?”

Here's today's encouragement:

You don't have to see the whole journey to take the next step.

Sometimes we become so overwhelmed by everything ahead of us that we never do what is directly in front of us.

🌿 God Often Gives Direction One Step at a Time

Think about how often this happens in life.

We want God to show us the whole plan.

We want Step 1 through Step 25.

We want to know how everything will work out before we're willing to begin.

But faith doesn't always work that way.

Sometimes God gives enough light for the next step.

Then, after we take it, He shows us another.

Writing can be the same way.

You don't have to know exactly what Chapter Twenty will say while you're writing Chapter Three.

Write Chapter Three.

You don't need to understand every part of publishing while you're still working on your first draft.

Finish the manuscript.

You don't need to know exactly how many books you'll sell before you publish the first one.

Be faithful with what's in your hands today.

💜 Stop Letting the Size of the Dream Scare You Away From the First Step

Writing a book sounds enormous.

And honestly?

It is a big project!

But a book isn't written all at once.

It's written:

One idea at a time.

One sentence at a time.

One paragraph at a time.

One page at a time.

One chapter at a time.

Think about this.

If you write just 300 words a day, you'll have 9,000 words in 30 days.

That's how big dreams become manageable.

We stop staring at the mountain and start taking steps.

Maybe today's step is only 300 words.

That's okay.

Write them.

✍️ You Are Allowed to Learn Along the Way

I especially want our future authors to hear this.

You do NOT have to know how to publish a book before you begin writing one!

Sometimes people never start because they have too many questions.

How do I get an ISBN?

How do I copyright it?

How do I format it?

Where do I publish it?

How much will it cost?

How do I create the cover?

How do I market it?

Those are good questions.

And you'll need answers eventually.

But don't allow tomorrow's questions to stop today's writing.

There are people who can help you.

There are resources you can learn from.

That's also one reason communities like our Authors Hub are important.

Someone else may already know the answer to the question keeping you stuck.

You don't have to know everything. You just have to remain willing to learn.

🌸 Sometimes the Story Changes—and That's Okay

Maybe you began writing one story and somewhere along the way it started becoming something different.

That's not always a bad thing.

Characters develop.

Ideas grow.

Research changes our understanding.

Life experiences deepen our perspective.

And sometimes, after prayer and reflection, we realize the story needs to go in another direction.

Don't be afraid to adjust.

Your original outline is a tool.

It isn't a prison. 😊

Sometimes the story we end up writing is better because we allowed ourselves room to grow while writing it.

💜 Faith Doesn't Mean We Never Feel Uncertain

Walking by faith doesn't mean we always feel confident.

There may be days when you wonder:

“Can I really do this?”

There may be days when the words aren't flowing.

There may be times when you make mistakes.

You may have to rewrite an entire chapter.

You may discover you misunderstood something about publishing.

You may need help.

That's okay.

Needing direction doesn't mean you've failed.

Pray.

Ask questions.

Learn.

Correct the mistake.

And take another step.

🙏 Tuesday Author Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this beautiful Tuesday and another opportunity to use the gifts You have placed within us.

Today I pray for the writer who feels overwhelmed by everything ahead.

For the future author who doesn't know where to begin.

For the writer who is stuck in the middle.

For the published author wondering what comes next.

Lord, remind us that we don't have to understand the entire journey today.

Give us wisdom for the step in front of us.

Help us walk by faith rather than fear.

Give us courage to ask questions when we don't know something.

Give us humility to learn.

Give us patience when progress seems slow.

And give us discernment when our plans need to change.

Help us become faithful with today's page instead of worrying about tomorrow's chapter.

May our words encourage, inspire, teach, comfort, entertain, and bring hope.

And above everything else, may the gifts You've given us bring honor and glory to You.

In Jesus' precious name,

Amen.

✍️ TODAY'S AUTHOR CHALLENGE

What's Your NEXT Step?

Forget the entire book for a moment.

Forget everything you need to accomplish before publishing.

Today, answer one question:

What is the NEXT thing I need to do?

Maybe it's:

✍️ Write 300 words.

📖 Finish Chapter Five.

📝 Edit three pages.

🔎 Research something for your story.

📚 Learn about publishing.

🎨 Work on your cover.

💻 Format your manuscript.

📣 Create a book announcement.

🙏 Pray about the direction of your story.

Or maybe...

Open a blank document and finally type the first sentence.

Choose ONE.

Do it today.

Then tomorrow, choose the next thing.

💜 TUESDAY AUTHORS HUB — LET'S HELP EACH OTHER!

Today I want our Authors Hub to become a place where writers can actually ask for help.

📚 PUBLISHED AUTHORS

Share your book links and tell us:

What is ONE thing you wish someone had explained to you before you published your first book?

Your experience could save another author a lot of frustration!

✍️ CURRENT WRITERS

Tell us what you're working on and answer:

What is your NEXT step?

Maybe putting it in writing will help you commit to doing it.

💡 FUTURE AUTHORS

This one's especially for you.

What is the ONE thing about writing or publishing that you don't understand?

Ask your question!

Don't be embarrassed.

Every published author once knew absolutely nothing about publishing.

Someone in this community may know exactly what you need.

❤️ EVERYONE

If you see a question you know how to answer...

Help somebody.

If you've made a mistake another author can learn from...

Share it.

If someone's discouraged...

Encourage them.

If you see a book that interests you...

Visit their link.

Let's build a community where writers don't just advertise their books.

Let's help one another become better authors.

🌷 TODAY'S ENCOURAGEMENT

“God doesn't always show us the entire road. Sometimes He simply gives us enough light to take the next faithful step.”

Author, you don't need all the answers today.

You don't need the entire story figured out.

You don't need to understand every part of publishing.

You don't need to know exactly where this journey will take you.

You just need to take the next step.

Write the sentence.

Finish the page.

Ask the question.

Learn the lesson.