Words for Women: Criticism
Constructive criticism. Mentorship. Well-meaning help. We’ve all faced some sort of criticism in our lives, regardless of the name it wears. Many times, we’ve asked for it. Sometimes, as in the case of writers, we accept it as part of the job. But how do you distinguish the good type of criticism–the kind meant to help us grow and change for the better–from the bad type, meant to tear us down?
I’ll share a story about something that happened to me recently. I work from home, and I schedule my writing around my children’s day. Sometimes, like this week, it means I get long stretches of time to write. Other times, it means that I’m stealing a half-hour here and there during the day and staying up late into the night after they’ve gone to bed. I have responsibilities to my publishers, but I have a greater responsibility to my family, and that’s something of which I’m very aware. But it doesn’t mean that I don’t struggle with making it work. There are days when it’s difficult and frustrating, and days where I feel like I’m not doing either thing particularly well.
So when someone I respected made an offhand comment telling me I needed to put my family first, after I’d just done a week of twenty-hour days, it hurt. It made me question everything I was doing. Was God trying to give me a wake-up call? Was I really being selfish and making my kids suffer? I went to bed wondering if I should finish out my contracts and not write anymore after that.
Some prayer and a discussion with my husband later, I realized that this was simply one person’s well-meaning opinion, and it had value. But it wasn’t a sign from God. I was reminded of this list going around the web:
I don’t believe that when God wants us to make a change, he does it through shame and condemnation. In my life, the leading of the Holy Spirit is far more gentle. It may convict and it may challenge, but it doesn’t crush. In this case, it wasn’t the advice that was bad, it was that I allowed it to steer me off course. I believe that God has given me the opportunity right now to write and to speak to people’s hearts in a way that I couldn’t do otherwise. If I prize other people’s opinions over what I feel I’m being called to do, I’m allowing that well-meaning advice to become destructive.
So I encourage you when facing criticism, especially that which diverts you from the course you feel God is leading you, to test it through prayer and reflection. Is it truly a message from God? Or is it simply well-meaning advice that arrives with bad timing?
How do you distinguish between God’s leading and man’s wisdom? How do you put aside criticism?
Tags: advice, criticism, God's leading, Holy Spirit, working from home, working mom, writing life
Comments
Add Your Thoughts
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Bonnie Doran says:
Thanks for the post, Carla. Since I got a rejection this morning for a magazine article, you helped me put it in perspective.
On July 10, 2013 at 10:12 am
Carla says:
I’m so glad that it could brighten your day a bit. Rejection and criticism is never fun, however it comes. You know I speak from experience!
On July 10, 2013 at 11:11 am
Heather Day Gilbert says:
Great post, and SO crucial for writers. We have to respect our internal voices enough to know when advice is constructive, moving our stories forward, or DEstructive, making us want to quit. The balance with mothering and writing definitely isn’t easy. But I think when God gives you the go-ahead on writing, you have to write. I couldn’t have written when my 3 kids were age 3 and under. It would’ve sent me straight to the looney bin. But now, I feel like God has given me this window of opportunity to be there for them, but to have more freedom to write those books on my heart. We have to always listen to GOD first…everything else is just someone’s opinion. Though God can certainly move others to speak truth into your life–but I find that when that happens, it’s usually not just one person, but many people and circumstances colliding to point me another direction.
On July 10, 2013 at 10:40 am
Carla says:
Truth! I couldn’t have said it better myself, Heather.
On July 10, 2013 at 11:11 am
Serena Chase says:
Wow, do I know where you’re coming from. Isn’t it amazing how we can take a comment and allow the enemy to turn it into condemnation? It’s so easy to forget that: “Therefore, there is no condemnation for all who are in Christ.”
Yes, we screw up our priorities, especially in seasons of busyness, but there is grace, even in our failures.
Thanks for sharing your heart, Carla.
On July 10, 2013 at 4:37 pm
Carla says:
I love that verse and remind myself of it often, Serena!
On July 11, 2013 at 11:01 pm
Ian says:
Carla
Wonderful wisdom. Conviction vs condemnation – hmmm… it’s fascinating though when we are confronted with fragility, whether it’s ours or another whom we love. Takes real discernment to know how to say (or receive) something out of love.
I’m reading Galatians this week and interesting how Paul admonishes Peter. Fascinating lesson.
Thanks for sharing, Carla.
On July 10, 2013 at 6:29 pm
Carla says:
Thanks for your thoughts, Ian! Sometimes the line between the two is thin but it is there and important nonetheless.
On July 11, 2013 at 11:02 pm