It was mine. All mine.

As a ghost writer, I don’t get the byline in the publication. And I’m okay with that: I do the writing, but the client is the subject-matter expert without whom I couldn’t write the article. Last week, however, I had been offered the byline for an article to be published in a nationally recognized magazine whose publication reaches 40,000 people. This is an uncommon honor for a ghost writer, and I was tickled pink.

The editor asked for my headshot; I sent it. My bio was requested; I submitted it. The writing was done, shipped off for publication.

Then the email came: the byline was being reassigned to the subject matter expert. It was the reason for the change that wounded me most. The client had searched for my name online and found my website. This website. She deemed the subject matter contained in all these posts ‘controversial’ (her words, not mine) and pulled the byline back.

My purpose in writing this isn’t to condemn her decision; she’s entitled to it as the client/expert who supplies the article’s content. Sigh. Apparently I had something to learn here.

While I hardly count this as suffering compared to those of Christian martyrs, I do believe the principle of 1 Peter 3 bears out in this circumstance:

 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,  but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,  having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
— 1 Peter 3:13-17 ESV

At first, I was indignant, offended that she was offended. I felt disappointed, maligned and unjustly deprived. I mentally plotted my argument to retain the byline. And then God brought last year’s post on being a ghost writer hurtling back into my mind. For whom was I writing? Specifically, I was reminded that my (paid) job was to make the client look good, not myself. And that the writing I do here is meant to bring glory to God, not me.

If both were true, then the only rightful response was to confess my ambition to God, to graciously defer to the client’s wish, and to be consoled by the knowledge that when I write about the reason for my hope, it may bring offense.

Just as any glory is rightfully His, I can entrust my ‘suffering’ for His sake into His care as well.

Have you suffered for your faith?  Share with us how God met you in that circumstance in the comment section.
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