Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt.

MATTHEW 2:13-14

A few years ago when I was writing my first book, a fiction, middle grade, mystery novel, I knew with certainty by the Holy Spirit that I was to write it under a pen name because of the abuse God delivered me and my son from and my son was still a minor.

I’m working on another book now, a non-fiction prayer book, and was talking to the Lord about it and said, “Maybe it’s time to publish this book under my given name,” and I immediately sensed a strong warning in my spirit about it. So I sought the Lord and prayed for James 1 wisdom expecting to hear from Him on the matter to confirm if I or He was the source of the dread-like feeling.

Within 24 hours, I was walking and praying and He gave me Matthew 2:13-14 (above) on the matter as the answer which gave me a sudden knowing by the Holy Spirit how I was to proceed on the matter. Using those verses, I knew that I was to continue to publish my current work in progress under a pen name because God was showing me that it was for the protection of my son in some way. Not sure if it was to do with our abusive past from my ex-husband / his father or because my son is currently disabled, but I am 100% certain of how the Lord directed me on the matter.

Then within a few days of the Matthew 2:13-14 word of confirmation and direction, He gave me another real world example to yet again confirm it. I was reading something about C.S. Lewis then saw that he too published a non-fiction book about grief under a pen name regarding all he went through when his wife died.

God knew I would obey Him and follow His guidance from the first word He gave me, but He also knew there was some sadness connected to still having to use a pen name because I didn’t like that we were still required to be in hiding in a sense. But God even required it of His own Son, and it was all out of love and for His protection and to fulfill prophecy. But seeing this example further comforted me. God is good.

Soon after the second confirmation, I was reading a woman’s testimonies on how God used her, a simple woman who cleaned homes and businesses, to lay hands on the sick and see them healed. The very first testimony I read that the woman she laid hands on whom God raised up from a wheelchair asked her, “What is your name?” And the woman said, “It doesn’t matter what my name is? Jesus healed you.” Wow! Her words blew me away and deeply impacted me because I am not writing, serving, working, or doing anything to make a name for myself, so it doesn’t really matter what name I publish under but that anything I do, I do for the glory of the Lord and unto the Lord.

Reading the Word of course is simply doing just that. This testimony is an example of God using His Word to speak to me through it and give me a knowing of wisdom. He is faithful, and when we really care to do His will and obey Him, we can count on hearing from Him for direction when we ask. I pray this testimony blessed you and helps you the next time you need wisdom from the Lord.