Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: A Writer’s Devotional

Writing Inspirational Fiction and Poetry

Some days, I sit down committed to writing a page and feel small, wondering if my words matter at all. Writing short stories and poetry can seem like whispering in a very loud world.

When I write a poem or a story, I resist asking, Who am I to write? Who will listen? So, I remind myself to write for myself first, trusting the process more than recognition.

And then I am reminded of this verse: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well" (Psalm 139:14).

Each of us writers, with words, imagination, and a unique way of seeing the world, is God’s planned scribe. Our Creator has entrusted us with the gift of expression, reflection, and empathy.

My words may feel clumsy, but I write because I believe God made me to write. Then, are my stories and poems carrying the fingerprints of His beauty, hope, and truth? When I put words on a page, do I join God in showing His love and presence to others?

The prophet Isaiah reminds me: "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me" (Isaiah 49:16). Even when I doubt, God sees me, and He definitely sees my words.

Writing Devotionals; Meditation on the Bible

How can my words capture what God has revealed to me? Our language is often imperfect, our understanding incomplete, and sometimes we fear misunderstanding.

Yet, writing devotionals is a way to shape hearts and minds. It is a practice of joining God’s work, one net to reach souls if we are to be fishers of people. "Follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19).

Sitting with the Bible and reflecting on how the Word speaks to my life is an exercise in the unique way God has made me as a writer. The writer of Proverbs reminds me, ‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans’ (Proverbs 16:3). Through my struggles and failures, through these hands, mind, and heart reaching for wisdom, each prayer and meditation becomes a response to this calling.

Testimonies, Calling, and Presence: Writing as God’s Handiwork

Our life stories are messy, broken, and fragmented. Yet in His fearful and wonderful plan, our testimonies participate in God’s work of redemption. "We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

My experiences, pain, joy, failures, learning, can become vessels of presence and encouragement. God touches lives through the lives He forms, and we testify to these touches with our words.

As God’s handiwork, I often wrestle with doubt and unbelief. Yet as a writer, I am called to see, hear, and relay. I may stumble, grow impatient, or feel unworthy, but God has made me to bear burdens through words, to offer grace, and to reflect His love. I am a messy paragraph, imperfect, yet fully known and cherished. ‘The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth’ (Psalm 145:18).

We see, we feel, and we are present with the stories we tell, attentive to lives that touch other lives, participating in God’s work of redemption. ‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:2).

To See You, To Feel You, To Say I'm Here, present

A Prayer for Writers

Lord,
Let us see You, let us feel You, let us be here.

Thank You for making us fearfully and wonderfully, for shaping our minds, hearts, and spirits to write. Teach us to see that our fiction, poetry, devotionals, or testimonies, are part of Your plan. Let our writing reflect Your presence, love, and care, even when we doubt ourselves.

Remind us that writing is ministry, to write is to feed Your sheep, as Peter was called. "Feed my lambs…Take care of my sheep" (John 21:15-17).

Let our words not be performative, but instead bear burdens, encourage those at the margins, comfort the weary, and reflect the joys and pains of life as You have made us to see them. Teach us to forgive ourselves when our words falter, to tell each story, each testimony, each devotional with grace, humility, and attentiveness, remembering that You have made us capable of this work. Help us to be present, patient, empathetic, and encouraging.

May our writing reflect how You are near to all who call on You in truth (Psalm 145:18). Lord, let every line we write remind us that we are Your creation. Help us remember that You have designed us so our words may tell of Your love and reflect Your plan.

May our devotionals, inspirations, and testimonies be an offering, sustained by Your presence. Teach us to write with courage and faith, with kindness and compassion, so that those who read may feel, hear, see, and be embraced by Your love.

Help us to see You, feel You, and remain present in the work of writing.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Writing Inspirational Poetry

Paghahabi ng Lambat

Oda sa Scarborough

Kinukulambuan ng lambat ang nakadaong na bangka
may manaka-nakang pigtal sa mga buhol-
buhol ng lambat, pang-igting sa layunin

Pamamalakaya pagdapit-hapon

hanggang sa pagsilip ng araw sa mga mata ng habi

bago isalya sa mataas na alon, pangkaon

Dati-rati’y pangkat, ngayo’y patlang ang mga kaliskis
hindi nag-iinis ang sinsin ng tansi, matibay ang paghabi

tulad ng pagsisid, pag-ahon, muling pagpalaot

Pagkat higante ang mga alon

bagyo, delubyo, ipo-ipo

dulot ng paglalayag ng dayuhang barko

Napakaigting ng buhol ng pisi

Pambuwag sa gaan, karunungan ng lambat

Laban sa daluyong

Hilbana ang panalangin sa pagsuot-paglabas ng kawayang karayom
hibing nawa’y mapayapa ang kailaliman

tahing wala nawang lambat na masukol.

Weaving the Net

Ode to Scarborough

The net sprawls across the moored boat
its broken knots and loosened loops
woven back together, tightening intention

They venture out from dusk
until the sun’s rays pierce the eyes of the weave
before the net is cast into waves, readied for the sea’s taking

Once a cluster, now the scales are mostly gone
the trembling woven mesh drifts against the surge
like a needle diving, rising, returning again to open water

Through giant waves
storms, deluges, whirlwinds
and the passage of foreign ships

Tense knots are fierce
all softness gone, net’s wisdom
against oncoming tidal swells

Prayer is basted into a bamboo needle’s entry and exit
a plea for the depths to remain at peace
a final stitch hoping no net is caught in their wake.

“The concentration of Chinese vessels at Scarborough Shoal, at least 12 vessels monitored in total, is one of the largest recent deployments at the shoal, which lies 124 nautical miles off Zambales and well within the Philippines' EEZ.” https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/11/25/2489796/30-chinese-vessels-swarm-west-philippine-sea