The Ink in the Pen

There’s a new song by Nick Jonas and Brandon Lake that has been playing on repeat in my head for the last few days. The first thing that surprised me was the pairing itself. Nick Jonas and Brandon Lake come from completely different musical worlds, so seeing them collaborate wasn’t something I expected.

The more I listened, the more I appreciated not only the song but also hearing how much these two men have in common despite their different music genres. It reminded me that God has a way of bringing together people, ideas, and paths that don’t seem like they belong together at first.

One line from the song especially grabbed my attention. It talks about being the ink in the pen of the Author.

I can’t seem to shake that image. Lately, that’s exactly how I’ve felt.

Many of you know that in January 2025, I made the decision to begin openly sharing my faith in these newsletters. It wasn’t something I planned years in advance. It simply felt like God was asking me to stop hiding such an important part of my life and let it naturally flow into my writing.

Since then, that small step of obedience has continued to grow. The ​Morning Brew reflections​ became a regular part of the newsletter. Then they found their way onto the ​EatPlant-Based​ website. Then I felt God leading me to completely rewrite my cookbook to include the same kinds of faith-filled reflections you’ve been reading here each week. The new name of the book is The Plant-Based Table: Nourishing Recipes and Devotionals That Heal Body & Soul.

If I’m honest, it’s been a little scary. The plant-based (vegan) world and the faith world don’t always overlap. I knew some people might not like the change. And sure enough, we’ve lost a few subscribers along the way. But we’ve gained many more. More importantly, I’ve gained peace.

For years, I felt called to help people improve their health through ​plant-based nutrition​. I still feel that calling just as strongly today. But now it feels as though God is taking all of the pieces of my story—health, food, faith, writing, teaching, and encouragement—and weaving them together into something I never could have planned on my own.

The cookbook is still waiting for a publisher. The future is still uncertain. There are plenty of questions I can’t answer. But perhaps that’s the point.

The ink doesn’t tell the story. The Author does.

The ink doesn’t decide where the page is going. The Author does.

The ink simply stays connected to the pen and trusts the hand that’s writing.

As I listened to that song again this morning, I realized that’s exactly where I want to be. I don’t need to know every chapter before it’s written. I don’t need to see the whole plan before I take the next step.

I simply want to remain willing and available in the hands of the One who is writing a far better story than I could ever write for myself.

And maybe that’s where you find yourself today, too. If so, take heart. The Author isn’t finished with your story yet. Watch the video (with lyrics) for the new song “The Author” by Brandon Lake and Nick Jonas below.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

June 28, 2026 Morning Brew