Finish Faithfully: A Christmas Call to Writers

By Jeffrey Friedel @JeffersonRiede

December is a funny month for writers.

You start with good intentions—maybe even a spreadsheet, a new candle, and a Christmas
playlist that doesn’t distract you too much. But then come the gift lists, the travel plans, the
church rehearsals, the cookies (so many cookies), and before you know it, your manuscript is
buried under tinsel, to-do lists, and a well-meaning elf on a shelf who now looks slightly
judgmental.

Let me offer you a gentle reminder: It’s not too late to finish this year faithfully.

The Word Became Flesh—Now Give Your Story Life on the Page

John 1:14 tells us, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”

This is the miracle of Christmas—that the eternal Word took on form. He didn’t just proclaim
truth from heaven. He entered our world. Our mess. Our waiting. Our human story.

For writers, this isn’t just theology—it’s inspiration. Because we’re not merely typing stories.
We’re embodying truth in fiction. We’re crafting characters that echo redemption. We’re turning
prayers into plotlines and parables. Our words, shaped in faith, may be the very stories someone
else needs next year.

So don’t let December silence your calling. Let it shape it.

Write a page. Pray over a scene. Reopen the document with a heart of expectation. Even small
acts of faithfulness matter.

Galatians 6:9 in a Season of Glitter and Grit

December is also the season when weariness creeps in. After a long year of revisions, rejections,
and possibly conference fatigue, you might be tempted to shelve your story and promise yourself
you’ll start fresh in January.

But Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:9:

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

Friend, writing is doing good. Especially when it’s hard. Especially when no one sees it but God.
Especially when you’re typing in a dark house at midnight, surrounded by wrapping paper, half-
finished sentences, and half-eaten cookies.

The fruit may not come on your timeline. But it will come. In God’s season. So don’t give up.

Jesus came full of grace and truth. Extend both to yourself.

You don’t need to finish the novel this month. But you can finish the year faithfully.

Grace, Linus, and the Heart of the Season

If your manuscript currently looks like a cross between a systematic theology textbook and a
Hallmark movie, you’re doing fine.

If your main character hasn’t had a plot twist since October, maybe it’s time for a surprise
snowstorm.

And if your word count is lower than your Christmas cookie count—grace upon grace.

But in the middle of the distraction and exhaustion, I want to offer a simple reminder from an
unlikely place.

In A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), there’s a scene where Charlie Brown, frustrated with the
commercialism and chaos around him, cries out:

“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

Then Linus—sweet, blanket-clutching Linus—steps onto a quiet stage and does something
unexpected:

He quotes Scripture.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
(Luke 2:10–11, KJV)

It’s a surprisingly moving moment of spiritual clarity in a children’s cartoon—and for many of
us, Linus’s monologue has become a beloved summary of the true Christmas message.

So if your writing feels weak or unfinished or unsure, don’t panic.

Sometimes the simplest, most heartfelt truths—especially at Christmas—have already been
beautifully said. And that’s okay.

So light a candle. Turn on the carols. Laugh a little. Pray. Write.

The Word became flesh—now give your story life on the page.

Because the story isn’t over—and neither is yours.

Jeffrey Friedel (writing as Jefferson Riede) is an Atlanta-based author with a passion for high-stakes, faith-infused storytelling. His debut novel, STRONGHOLD, was a semi-finalist in the 2024 ACFW Genesis Contest and is currently seeking representation. His second thriller, TWELVE WORDS (A Bitcoin Legacy), has just been completed.