Publish Your Book

Gina Stockdall
Jan 30
3 min read

From Calling to Commission: How to Know When God is Asking You to Build the Thing

There is a quiet moment many believers experience...often in prayer, sometimes while folding laundry, driving the kids to practice, or sitting with a cup of coffee and an open Bible.

A thought rises again.

You should write this down.

Not as a journal entry. Not as a passing idea. But as a book.

And then, almost immediately, the questions rush in:

Who am I to write a book?

Where would I event start?

What if I get it wrong?

What if no one reads it?

If this sounds familiar, take a breath. You're not behind. You're not disqualified. And you're certainly not imagining things.

Calling Comes Before Commission

In Scripture, God rarely gives the full assignment all at once.

He calls first. Then He prepares. Then...when the time is right...He commissions.

"Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it." -1 Thessalonians 5:24 KJV

This of Moses. David. Esther. Paul.

None of them started with a platform, a plan, or a step-by-step guide. They started with a burden...a holy unrest that wouldn't go away.

For many Christian authors, that burden looks like:

A testimony that keeps resurfacing
A lesson God taught you through pain, healing, or obedience
A message you wish you had years ago
A calling to help others walk with God more deeply

That is not random inspiration. That is calling.

How Do You Know It's Time to Build the Thing?

Here's the gentle truth: God doesn't rush, but He also doesn't waste time.

You may be moving from calling to commission if:

The idea keeps returning, even when you ignore it
Scripture keeps confirming the same theme
You feel both excitement and fear (they often travel together)
You sense peace when you imagine obedience...even if you don't know the steps

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." -Philippians 2:13 KJV

God doesn't just give the vision. He gives the desire to act on it.

The fear doesn't mean stop. It usually means this matters.

The Myth: "I'll Start When I Have It All Figured Out"

One of the biggest lies Christian authors believe is that they need:

A perfectly written manuscript
A big audience
Publishing knowledge
Confidence they don't yet have

Before they take the first step.

But obedience rarely works that way.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." -Psalm 119:105 KJV

A lamp shows the next step, not the whole road.

God often asks us to move while still asking questions.

This is Where Support Matters

Here's what many aspiring authors don't realize:

You don't need to figure out publishing on your own. You don't need to become an expert overnight. And you don't need to carry the weight of the process alone.

At Marilyn Jeanne Designs, we walk with Christian authors who feel called...but are also overwhelmed.

Some come with:

A finished manuscript
Half a book and a lot of notes
Or just the message God won't let go of

Our role is to help bring clarity, structure, and excellence to what God has already placed on your heart...through professional self-publishing support rooted in faith, integrity, and stewardship.

If God Gave You the Vision, He Will Provide the Way

"Write the vision, and make it plain..." -Habakkuk 2:2 KJV

Writing and publishing your book isn't about striving. It's about obedience.

And obedience doesn't mean doing everything at once. It means taking the next faithful step.

Let's Discern the Next Step...Together

If you feel God stirring something in you...but you're unsure where to begin...I would love to talk with you.

I offer a free 30-minute Exploration Call where we can: