Faith Trumps Fear (Step Out in Confidence)

Have you felt compelled to do something yet found it far easier to drag your feet than fully commit? I discovered my procrastination was driven by an underlying fear.

It began for me last September. I accepted a challenge to publish a blog post for 31 days straight. This was my first time in 5 years of blogging to take the 31-day writing challenge, and it was a big commitment.

But what began as a blogging exercise, God fanned into a greater vision: to create a product that will last beyond the time period of a blog post. Something that would become a bit more permanent. Something that would guide others to experience and develop the powerful daily habit of praising God.

Thus, 31 days of blogging became an Everyday Praise image-based devotional idea! 

So over the past 6 months I’ve messed around with making it happen. And, I’m sorry to say, I really did mess around, as in dabbling. Six months later, I finally have the images done, yet only 5 of the 31 devotions are written. 

When Fear Paralyzes

What’s wrong with this picture? 

God invited. I accepted.

All good so far.

But then I procrastinated. I let fear become an obstacle to fully committing to God’s invitation. 

Oh sure, I worked on the book from time to time. But my heart never completely engaged; thus, procrastination (doing anything but working on the book) became an easy default. 

I was able to get away with stalling because I’m self-publishing this devotional, meaning I can set my own timeline (or none at all). 

I allowed my limitations with technology, my fear of how it will look if no one likes it or what it may mean if people do like it, and the possibility of being spread too thin in my commitments to derail its completion.

Walk in Faith

It’s not the first time I let fear get in the way of fulfilling a God-ordained assignment. And I don’t think I’m alone in giving into fear-based procrastination. 

Yet, when we let fear win, when we put off what God has placed on our hearts to do, we’re letting others down. We withhold the encouragement and insight God has entrusted to us to share. 

 When we let fear win, we withhold the encouragement and insight God has entrusted to us to share. Click To Tweet

We can’t let fear derail God’s assignment for us. If we do, the enemy wins.

We need to trust that if God brings us to an assignment, He’ll see us through it as well.

Where we are weak, He’ll provide the strength. Where we lack the knowledge, He’ll provide guidance. 

Where we are weak, God provides the strength. Where we lack knowledge, He'll provide guidance. Click To Tweet

I’m Stepping Out in Faith with My Book

So, I’m done using procrastination as a way to avoid facing the fear of failure or success or technological breakdowns. Technology issues, lack of sales, wild success, whatever happens, let the book get published! 

And to keep me moving forward, I’m officially releasing the date of my first published book in this post. You’re the first to know that the release of Everyday Praise: Walking in Greater Peace as an eBook will be Monday, September 12!

I’d love your prayers. 

Trust God

Let’s stop allowing fear to paralyze the growth and ministry God has for each of us. God will provide a way for each mission to be fulfilled.

Let's stop allowing fear to paralyze the growth and ministry God has for each of us. Click To Tweet

It may be difficult and sometimes not even turn out the way we’d like, but in the process, we’ll experience incredible growth and refinement.

Trust Him!

Put your faith in the Most Faithful! And move forward in the confidence of His might. 

Put your faith in the Most Faithful, and move forward in the confidence of His might! Click To Tweet

 “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” Matthew 17:20

Reflections: Are you dragging your feet on something God laid on your heart to do? Could fear be at the root of your procrastination?  

Tomorrow will be 5 years of counting and I’ve well passed 5,000 gifts in Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare! What a blessing! Here are numbers #5210–5230. Read my entire list by clicking here.