Are you stuck in a cycle of starting and quitting something you know God has called you to pursue? That is my story over the last nine or so years. As I have shared with you my life experiences with the Lord and His Word through this platform, some seasons I have shown up for you, and others I withdrew. The “Faith Over Fear” sticker on my water bottle recently caught my attention. Pondering this phrase, I remembered that my first published blog title in 2015 began with this exact claim. I recall feeling incapable and ill-equipped to write, much less articulate the things I had in my heart and mind in a way that made sense. Honestly, that is still a challenge for me to this day. I have doubted my worthiness to show up in your inbox. I have felt like an imposter at times. Occasionally, I have also asked God to release me from what He has called me to. The narrative of inadequacy I have wrestled with over the years has hindered me from flourishing at times.

What narrative are you speaking to yourself? The one that is causing you to remain in a cycle of highs and lows as you pursue what God has called you to do? Might you be saying to yourself:

  • I have no real value to offer anyone, so why am I doing this again?
  • This has gotten too hard and takes too much time. I don’t know if I am built for this.
  • The emotional cost to pursue this is too high. Am I sure God called me to this?

The narrative we speak to ourselves is the narrative we live out. For instance, if I constantly tell myself I will never succeed or am not good enough, this negative self-talk can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, causing me to doubt my abilities. On the other hand, if I change the narrative and tell myself that I am capable of achieving what God has called me to accomplish and that, with His help, I will grow through the process, I am more likely to take action and achieve my desired outcome. I must constantly remind myself of this truth to persevere on the path the Lord has mapped out for my life.

As Christ-followers, we know that all things work together for good for those who love God and who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

Be encouraged that you have a calling according to His purpose! His purpose is to save us from sin and death and to share in His glory, but it also includes joining Him in His work through Christ to restore brokenness in the lives of people He brings us in contact with. If we were once living in darkness, broken, blinded by our sins but now are children of Light (Ephesians 5:8), we are to bear the practical fruit through our good deeds. Matthew 5:14-16 clarifies this purpose by saying, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

You are a light that changes the darkness of this world. Light speaks of life, while darkness speaks of death. Light speaks of the fullness of God, and darkness speaks of emptiness. The light of Christ in you should shine in such a way that offers hope to the hopeless, peace to chaos, and guidance to the wandering. Don’t allow fear and doubt to overshadow your light. Your calling is about the Lord, and you have the privilege to team up with Him! Allow the presence of Christ in you to shine through you so others will be drawn to want to know the hope of Christ. Your life matters. Your calling matters. Whether you focus more on witnessing while in the grocery store, at your book club, building a business, or writing a blog or book, God wants you to be a willing vessel to accomplish His purpose. Don’t quit on Him or yourself. You are capable. God equips you (Philippians 1:6) for what He calls you to.

I have been showing up here imperfectly for nearly nine years, which has not been in vain. As I have prepared to be a brighter light, God has and continues to deepen my relationship with Him, and I am richer in spirit for it. I want to live out of His abundance and my poverty, declaring that my faith is bigger than my fears! When I am tempted to allow myself to be pulled back into my old cycle, I choose God’s control over my life rather than being dragged back by my fears.

Keep moving forward, my friend. Others need to hear from you and know they, too, can have hope in a trustworthy God. Be the light that offers them a perspective shift that diminishes the shadows of darkness in this world.

 

Ask Yourself:

What past experiences have prepared me for my current calling?

What is one step I can take this month to move forward in accomplishing what I know God has called me to do?

 

BOOK UPDATE!

I received the edits back from my editor! Ya’ll, this is getting real! Yikes! Once I complete this phase and submit the final manuscript, the process will speed up. Stay tuned for further updates. Thank you so much for your support. I appreciate you!

 

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