As a small business owner, I find it disheartening that my value and the value of the products and services I provide is so vulnerable to the whims of a culture that is extremely “squeaky wheel” oriented. In these days of profuse and gratuitous self-promotion, it literally doesn’t pay to be conservative in your marketing initiatives and to rely on the integrity and inherent value of the material you have created. Sadly, many of us do not have access to the resources needed to put on an extravagant promotional campaign. And in most cases, it doesn’t even fit our style to be so flamboyant and attention-seeking. We merely want to produce our books and let potential readers know that the books exist and can be helpful. It would be a tad degrading for us to have to parade around in costume or try to come up with some quirky or trendy way to raise awareness that our books exist. In some case, given the subject matter of what we write, it would be in downright poor taste to promote our work in this way. So, what do you do when you have something of great value that no one can see or wants to see because of all of the cheap distractions flooding their field of vision?

It’s a bit like trying to market a heaping dish of broccoli in a hot fudge sundae cafe. The stuff that heals isn’t always as attractive or alluring as the sweet and stylish options offered by others. In fact, given the option of indulging in things that aren’t good for us versus the option of getting into a deep, meaningful discussion about how to heal and grow, the majority tend to make a beeline for the “bad” stuff, thinking they’ll heal later. Slapping on the band-aid of bravado and hoping we’ll be numb to whatever is bothering us for just a little while longer, we dive headlong into distraction and forego the opportunity to become a better version of ourselves.

The church has been interesting in its approach to finding new ways to share God’s word. Some opting for the minimalist style, while others test the limits of God’s patience by reducing His word to funny memes or TikTok videos. For those of us who exist on the fringe (meaning outside of the formal church), it is a daily struggle to keep our work in front of people. Independent publishers and authors who look to publishing as a means of expressing their views and beliefs face no easy road in terms of creating visibility for the message they are trying to deliver. How can you compete with all of the mindless drivel that snags the attention of a population that is mentally and emotionally exhausted? In other words, how do we minister to a world that doesn’t want to be ministered to?

The obvious answer to that question would be, we don’t. We know that in cases where we are trying to accomplish what we feel God sent us to do, we may find ourselves in the unfortunate position of having to simply shake the dust off our feet and move on. If what we’ve been doing isn’t working, then we have to try something else. But that doesn’t mean we lay down our principles and try tactics that don’t fit our message. We can still have our integrity and still continue to carry the message God has given us to deliver without having to pervert it to fit the attention span of our intended audience. It’s frustrating at times, but the point is that we don’t have the power to make people see, hear, or do anything that they need to see, hear, or do. There are many instances where the only way a person will receive a message is from God Himself. And we need to learn when to step aside and let His word find its way in where we couldn’t accomplish contact.

I say all of this to get this point across to you. Our value isn’t connected to the number of likes or follows we have on social media. It isn’t connected to the amount of money we can bring into our pockets. It isn’t connected to the property we own or the vacations we take. Our value is connected to the power of our Creator and the idea that He has instilled in each of us, everything we need to carry out His plan for our lives. We may feel sometimes as though all of our efforts to be good disciples fall short, but we must understand that we aren’t tasked with getting results 100% of the time. His expectation of us is that we will understand, heed, and carry His word and guidance wherever we go. Even if we cannot fully deliver, our intent must always be to share what He has put on our hearts. The spotlight isn’t on us or on how popular we can be, but on how broadly and energetically we spread the word. So don’t be anxious because you feel like you’re spinning your wheels. If He is still telling you to take your message to others, then keep doing it even if they aren’t listening. It will get through where it needs to get through.

Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. …

Rebecca Benston is the owner of Higher Ground Books & Media and the author of over twenty titles currently available through Amazon and other outlets. Her books include a mystery series (The Rona Shively Stories), empowerment resources such as Wise Up to Rise Up, Don’t Be Stupid (And I Mean That in the Nicest Way), and From Judgment to Jubilee, children’s books including Grumble D. Grumble Learns to Smile, All the Scary Things, and See How Strong You Are. Benston lives in Springfield, Ohio with her awesome daughter, Mya and enjoys traveling, reading, writing, and telling it like it is. She enjoys being able to help other authors get their stories out there through Higher Ground and has recently expanded her freelance services to offer more extensive guidance as a writing coach and social media manager. For more information, you can contact Benston at highergroundbooksandmedia@gmail.com.

beliefs books business connections faith God Higher Ground Books & Media people society thinking Uncategorized values writer business faith motivation popularity purpose society writing