What’s Stopping You?
Have you ever been called to do something, but you put it off or drag your feet because you are afraid. I have. I’m so close to finishing a project I’ve been working on for years, and I keep finding myself believing the excuses I’ve created for why it isn’t done yet.Â
Fear
I’m no punk, mind you. I’ve fought lots of battles, waged countless wars, but I am afraid. It’s not the concept that scares me; I’ve made peace with that. It’s not a fear of success or even failure. I think it is the one fear that has plagued me all of my life – the fear of making myself vulnerable.Â
What’s Wrong With Vulnerability?
As I’m writing this, I’m chuckling because I just gave my teenage daughters a lecture about how important it is to be true to yourself. Being who you are, regardless of whether you fit in with the crowd or not, is vitally important. Staying true to you keeps you on the path to success – cookie-cutter people are bland and can’t expect to soar. Embracing your weaknesses and strengths and being honest about them allows you to demonstrate that you are teachable. Being teachable facilitates success. “Don’t be afraid to be you,” I told them, “You are wonderful.”
Taking My Own Advice
It’s easy to give good advice and much harder to take it. The sermon yesterday was about letting your faith shine through. My project is based on my faith, and I was convicted when the pastor admonished us not to “die before you do it!” There were legitimate reasons why it went on the back burner, but now I realize I’ve been dragging my feet. I hit a snag, and I’ve let it stall my progress. It’s time for me to be a doer and not a “fearer.” I need to put my faith back where it belongs – not in me, but in God.Â
It’s time I got started!
James 1:22-25 NIV
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.Â
Agreed! I feel I can always give the advice I wish I could take, but have trouble doing so😅
So true!
[…] many times in your life have you been told, Don’t be afraid? I have no idea how many times I’ve heard it. But, I do know that the value of the advice was entirely dependent upon the quality of the source. […]
[…] the old version and the new. More than once. A particular line in the movie sticks out: “fear is the mind-killer.” It’s an interesting concept and almost biblical. At very least […]