The year 2024 was coming to an end and I had not heard God “speak” to me. 

At the end of every year, I reflect and I pray about a “word-of -the-year” that will guide my New Year. This is either a word that the Holy Spirit shows me as an area of growth or something new that will manifest in my walk, and I usually have a very clear understanding of what my word is well before the end of December. But here it was, days before the new year and I felt anxious as I had not “heard” from God what direction my 2025 was to have.

While kneeling before Mass on New Year’s day, I begged God to speak to me so that I might have my word before the Mass was over. 

I heard a word in my spirit: Light. 

But was that right? Did I hear him correctly? What did “light” mean?

Over the next week, I began praying and seeking the direction of this word. It was very different from words I’d been given in the past that seemed more obvious:  shalom, courage, intentional… but “light”?

Weeks into January, without any more clarity than on New Years Day, I sat in my office and read Isaiah 61:1-3 that hangs framed on my office wall: 

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me
    because the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me to announce good news to the oppressed,
    to strengthen the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom to those held in captivity
    and release to those who have been imprisoned,
2 to proclaim a year of the Lord’s favor
    and a day of vengeance for our God,
    to comfort all who mourn,
3 to give to all those who mourn in Zion
    a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    a glorious mantle instead of a spirit of despair.
And they will be called oaks of righteousness
    planted by the Lord to show forth his glory.”

It hung there because I am a therapist, and I always looked to those verses as words to guide my practice and my call to lead others to healing through Christ. But in that moment, I realized that up until that point, I had made them all about me. The Holy Spirit opened my eyes: These are Jesus’ words! These are the words He proclaimed at the beginning of His ministry, in a Jubilee year. And then I further understood: Jesus alone is the Light. Jesus has come to share the good news, to encourage the brokenhearted, to set the captives free, to comfort those who mourn and to trade despair for Hope! Jesus is the LIGHT and I was HIS vessel. 

I knew then that I was to use this year to boldly share Jesus, the Light of the World, to let the Holy Spirit use me in a wider sense, to participate in the work and words of the Light Himself. 

I had always had a dream to write that began in high school. I dabbled with some short stories and poetry but never had any real plans for it, just a far off dream. I have always kept a little blog on my business website, unsure if anyone ever read it, and in past jobs I had taken it upon myself to write newsletters or encouraging emails to the clients. But going into 2025 writing was definitely NOT in MY plans or thoughts in any serious way.

But all of that began to shift as I let myself be led by the Light of the World.

I began writing weekly email studies for clients who felt stuck in their healing journey, telling them of Jesus as light and healer, and His desire for relationship with them. As I went through those first few months of the year, more and more people–other than my clients– would share that they were “seeking something” and I asked if I could send them the lessons too. 

I realized that I was writing a book one weekly lesson at a time–the book I had always felt like a vague, far-off dream was taking shape. I had a growing sense that I should publish it, but also an awareness that I didn’t know how to do that–or even if I could really call myself a writer.  

I had discovered Write These Words through the the Called to Communicate conference last fall. As I continued to write this year, I visited the Write these Words website many times before I got the courage to reach out. I met for a private session with Mike Fontecchio, the co-founder and director of operations, my hands shaking through the entire phone call. 

Mike prayed, he listened, and he encouraged. And by the time I was off that call “I was writing a book.” I am now a part of PraiseWriters, a beautiful community of writers who support and encourage each other to follow the call to reveal “light” to the world through words.

When we set out to do something new, we can face fear, doubt, insecurity….a whole host of emotions.  As a therapist, I know this better than most. As a writer, I know this personally. 

When faced with what feels insurmountable, when overcome with paralysis around our calling, one of the most powerful things we can do is reach out to others and get clarity and courage around our calling. 

For me, I have claimed for myself the truth that God’s voice is bigger than my fear. I want to be used as a vessel for the Holy Spirit to shine through me and show the Light of Christ to a lost and broken world and to bring “the good news to the brokenhearted.”

I want to encourage not only the lost and brokenhearted, but also those with a call to write, to know that if you are called, you can do the hard work of writing–God has given you what you need.  Have the courage to reach out to others to support you in the journey. He is the light–but He uses others to bring His light into the world, and into our call to use words for His glory.  

Who can you reach out to today to be your support as you bring words of light to a darkened world?
 

Kellie Gallegos is a Wife, Mom, Stepmom, and G-ma. She values honesty, authenticity, transparency and most of all God's unbelievable grace! She loves warm weather, cats, sour patch kids, reading, theatre, creativity and spending time boating on the lake. You can get to know more about the work she is doing and connect with Kellie at unbelievablegrace.com. She would love to hear from you and to support you on your journey!