When God Calls You to Change Direction
Monday, July 7, 2025 by Melissa McLaughlin

Hello there,

I’m thrilled to have my friend, Jessica Brodie, write a guest post this week! Jessica’s passion for Christ flows like a mighty river through her writing. She recently released a new book, The Memory Garden. If you haven’t read this book yet, I hope you will! This story left a profound imprint on my heart. I know Jessica’s message will inspire you, too! ~Melissa McLaughlin

When God Calls You to Change Direction

By Jessica Brodie

I’ve been a writer since I was a kid—not a very good one back then, I’m certain. But still, I
scribbled novellas and poems and song lyrics to my heart’s content. I’ve always loved reading,
and my stories reflected my passions of those days. During my brief obsession with all things
King Arthur, I wrote stories about quests, complete with swords and long journeys.

When I was an over-the-top teen with over-the-top crushes, I wrote angst-filled (and pretty awful) poetry about unrequited love. That period I became enamored with psychological thrillers saw me writing tales about haunting nightmares and moody, evocative contemplation.

I wrote my first novel when I was 21—a coming of age, naturally—and my second around age
30, when a well-meaning literary agent advised that I needed to write genre fiction to see
success, so I wrote what I usually read: romantic suspense.

Neither of those novels saw publication. Today I call them my “practice novels,” but back then I
was frustrated and impatient. It hurt that my dreams kept passing me by. I’d been told I was a
good writer, I was working as a journalist and got plenty of practice, and I even had a literary
agent. Yet I couldn’t land a contract. I kept plugging away, certain my persistence would pay off.

One day, God urged me to step out in a different direction: writing Christian fiction. While I’d
grown up a believer, I hadn’t been living my life as a genuine Christ-follower. While I attended
church, believed in Jesus, and behaved as a “good person,” in truth, I had made myself lord of
my life, not Jesus. But by my mid-thirties, I became hungry for God’s Word in a way I’d never
experienced. I realized there was a difference between being a Christian in name and an
authentic Christian—a true follower of Jesus.

It was during this time that God spoke to me and steered me toward a new path, not only for
my daily life but for my writing.

At first, I was hesitant to make the switch to writing Christian fiction completely. I told myself
I’d write one book but still continue writing secular fiction as well. I straddled the fence,
thinking it didn’t hurt to keep my options open. I resisted in small ways, thinking I could retain
some of my old dreams.

But God is a jealous God, and he didn’t want his daughter to have a heart divided. No, he
wanted me as his. And as time passed, one day I realized I didn’t want to write secular fiction
anymore. My heart had changed. Indeed, my whole life had changed.

As Jesus taught his disciples in Matthew 9:16-17, “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old
garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people
pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the
wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved” (NIV).

God called me to change direction, and I finally listened. And today, as I celebrate the release of
my debut novel—a Christian contemporary novel titled The Memory Garden, which released in
May and has been doing incredibly well—I know I made the right decision.

God is the true author of my life, not me. He calls the shots, not me. And he creates and guides
my path, not me. It’s up to me to be obedient and to do his will in the very best way I possibly
can, whatever that looks like.

For me, that changed direction looked like devoting everything in my life entirely to him—my
writing, my marriage, my parenting style, everything.

Consider your own life and whether God is calling you to change direction in some way. Are you
resisting in small ways? Or are you surrendering entirely, knowing the King of the Universe
knows far better than you or me?

I’ve surrendered. And it’s made all the difference.

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing
coach. Her Christian contemporary novel, The Memory Garden, released this spring; book two in the series, Tangled Roots, releases this fall, and book three, Hidden Seeds, releases this spring.
Learn more about Jessica’s writing ministry and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com.
She has a YouTube devotional, and you can also connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and
more. She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When
You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Comments

Jessica Brodie From At 7/14/2025 9:58:14 AM

Thank you so much for featuring me on your blog this week, Melissa! I was honored to share and hope the message encourages someone. :-)

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Jessica, it was my pleasure and honor to feature you on my blog! I loved your book and can't wait for the next book in the series to be released! May God bless you in all your endeavors. May your wonderful book go far and wide to touch lives for Jesus!

Yvonne Morgan From Oklahoma At 7/12/2025 10:46:19 PM

Jessica’s book is wonderful and a must read. Thanks for highlighting about her wonderful work.

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

I agree, Yvonne! So well written and a powerful message. Thank you for helping me support Jessica and her awesome writing ministry!

Karen Friday From At 7/11/2025 6:01:59 PM

Jessica, I loved reading a little history here about your fiction writing and how the Lord changed your direction. I'm so glad He did. Your debut novel is excellent writing with a wonderful storyline. Christian fiction/romance is my favorite, especially when the author uses scripture.

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Jessica's book is absolutely wonderful! Thank you for your encouraging words, Karen. We're cheering you on, Jessica, as you write for Jesus!

Kristi From Troutdale, Oregon At 7/8/2025 8:45:08 PM

AM BIG AMEN IN JESUS YE ALL!!

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Yes and amen, Kristi! In Jesus' name!

Brian Anthony Johnso From Willits CA 95490 At 7/8/2025 4:17:18 PM

Beautiful, it takes a long journey marked with pitfalls before the road, to Life in Him, becomes straightened. Thank you dear sweet kind woman a true treasure of obedience given His will is applied in concourse with the Holy Spirits amazing discernment shown in His book, the Holy Bible.

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

Well said, Brian! Thank you for supporting Jessica's inspiring faith and writing ministry.

Melissa Henderson From Mount Plesant SC At 7/8/2025 8:31:32 AM

I pray that I am alert and listening and will obey when God calls me to change direction. :-) Blessings!

Reply by: Melissa McLaughlin

I join you in this prayer, Melissa! God bless you!

Spiritual Life

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