Have you ever had a dream you wanted so badly, but you were too afraid to chase after it? Every time you thought of pursuing your dreams, your palms became sweaty, and your heart beat rapidly.
Fear.
It keeps us from chasing what we genuinely want.
A year ago when my daughter Charity suggested I make a blog to help drive traffic to my book, Beauty from Ashes, I thought it was a great idea! But then that inner voice took over, ‘Who’s going to want to read what you have to say?’
Self-doubt.
Questioning ourselves is usually a cop-out. We list a thousand reasons why we shouldn’t chase our hopes. We think we are somehow unworthy of the abundant life or happiness. You’ve felt this way too, maybe you thought you were the only woman who didn’t exude confidence.
Stepping out in faith.
I stuffed the voice down and took a step of faith. I wrote my first post and pressed Publish, with a whole lot of fear and trembling. At the time I was using my kitchen table for writing and blogging. Sometimes I would sneak into my husband’s office and use his space for quiet when he was out.
I began to dream about creating beautiful posts and becoming an eloquent writer. I wanted to reach a broad audience and share my faith, and my family’s journey with autism and cancer.
But I needed a quiet space to have my dreams come true. The nest emptied out, and I had a few empty bedrooms. I quickly moved into the room overlooking our beautiful front yard.
*The picture at the top is my new office.
I created my happy place.
My fingers would flow over my keyboard, my mind would light up, and I would give a sigh after each post. My heart was utterly content with my new fantasy of being a writer and blogger.
One night I couldn’t sleep, and I rolled out of bed at midnight to write. I happened to see an ad for a blogging course, an extensive one. I really wanted to take the course, but what if I fail?
I hummed and hawed and prayed. It wasn’t cheap. If I paid for the course, I had to commit one hundred percent. That scared me even more. I haven’t been in school for thirty years. This will be my first class, since high school.
When my husband woke up, I shared with him what I had found. I had been praying for a few weeks about finding a blogging course. This one was only opened every February for a week for registration. We talked about it. He told me to go for it if I really wanted it.
I felt a bit excited and panicked at the same time. Can I do this, can I go back to school? Self-doubt crept in…again.
Another leap of faith.
If you have been one of my followers the past year, you will have noticed my website was overhauled the prior few weeks entirely and turned into something very pretty and organized. I learned how to transform my site, through my new blogging course.
I am overjoyed and filled with happiness. I am so glad I took that leap of faith and ignored my doubts and fears.
I dared to dream!
Can we sit for a minute while you tell me your hopes? Pretend you, and I are having a cup of coffee together, and you trust me completely. What is your BIG dream?
💗To own your own business
💗Go back to school
💗Be a stay-at-home mom
💗Become a doctor
💗Have a baby
💗Travel the world
💗Buy a house
💗Write a book
I could list a thousand dreams that you could possibly want. But, do you have the courage to pursue them, or are you letting the fear of failing, hinder you from trying?
My daughter Aryanna was a physiotherapy assistant in a nursing home. She had been in her new job for a few weeks when the nursing home she worked for stopped subcontracting through the agency that had sent Aryanna to that home. She and another young woman both lost their job.
Aryanna was devastated.Â
The nursing home promised her an excellent reference since they were quite pleased with her work. But it still didn’t take the sting out of having her dreams squashed. She decided to work in our family’s maple syrup business and fell into a slump for a year of working a job she didn’t love.
Finally, a few months ago, she began to dream again. She found a job-listing for a nursing home and applied for the job, and they pretty much hired her on the spot.
I saw her joy return.
Aryanna loves working and being with elderly people, and they find her charming and adorable…and she is. But Aryanna said fear had kept her from chasing her dreams. My daughter is content and thriving in her new workplace which happens to be a lovely nursing home.
I know you’re a dreamer…we all are. We were created to have hope and chase our dreams. God delights in seeing his children using the talents and gifts he has given them. He more than anyone, wants to see you filled with joy and doing what you love.
Christian women, especially, can end up sacrificing their dreams for those they love. We can be deceived into thinking we aren’t supposed to chase dreams, but instead be martyrs. God has a lovely way of making our dreams come true when we want to honour and glorify him through our desires.
Will you come dream with me and take a step of faith, and believe that something beautiful is waiting for you. The only thing holding you back is fear.
Take that leap and see where the wings of courage can take you💗
