Do Not Fear

Hi again, lovelies.

I hope your week is off to a great start.

I wanted to share a little bit of encouragement with all of you in the hopes that if you are facing something big, (like I am right now) you can feel a bit more at ease.

I won't sugar-coat it: Being in-between jobs can be tough, but then facing a job interview/potential career you feel is too big for you can be even more debilitating. Fear and insecurity are crippling. Change is not always easy and leaving comfort zones is scary. And while comfort zones are nice, they do not allow us to grow and mature. I was praying to God about my worries and I told him that I don't feel 100% ready to step into this new dream that God has placed in my life right now. It's a wonderful vision the Lord has placed on my heart, but I still feel like I don't have all the right skills, experiences, and qualifications yet. If I'm being honest, I was sort of expecting God to be like "Oh, okay. Then maybe you can stay in your comfort zone just a bit longer. It's fine." But instead God gave me a different type of reassurance... scripture and a few wise God-loving people.

I found a Christian YouTuber named Allyson Rowe. She is one of those people who has a gift for speaking truth and light into others' lives and filling them with so much encouragement. It's like getting a pep talk from an older sister. In a few of her videos, she mentioned a few quotes that really stuck out to me.
 1.) "If God called you to it, He will see you through it."
God is not looking to humiliate me or make me feel defeated. If this dream I have is really from God, then that means God has already worked out every single detail and I have no reason to be afraid. When things come from God, they work out seamlessly and drama-free. I don't have to chase things or put in extra effort. Resumes, job qualifications, degrees, and interviews are all good to have but those things are made up by people, not God. God is ultimately the one who decides what is going to work for me, not other people.

2.) "The chances of God calling me into something I can already do on my own is probably zero."
God uses challenging situations to make me more humble, strengthen my faith in Him, and to bring me to a deeper level of worship and admiration for Him. Here's the reality: On my own, I am weak, incapable, and will fail. I make many mistakes on a daily basis and the moment I think I don't need anyone to help me, I lose out on many blessings. Arrogance, pride, and cockiness are things God hates. God desires my full devotion and trust in Him, even when I think I can manage. When I told God about my concerns of not feeling ready enough for this new chapter, I felt like God smiled at me and asked me, "Since when did you think I'd let you face a battle all by yourself. I am with you, daughter. We are a team and victory is already yours. Do not have any more fears."

In the end, I will most likely be laughing at myself for thinking this was so scary and daunting when I had Jesus by my side the entire time. Jesus makes things easy, smooth, and enjoyable. Stress, anxiety, fears, insecurities, and drama exist because we refuse to acknowledge the God is watching out for us, helping us, and providing every single thing we need. And on the flip side, new careers, promotions, joy, and celebrations exist because God is trying to tell us how much He adores us. We are precious to Him and He wants to pour out every good thing on us. All we need to do is trust Him 100% and believe the every battle is already won because Jesus is always with us.

We must surrender our feeling of inability to God's capability. God is in the business of doing really big things. Life with Him is so awesome and sometimes He gives us dreams and visions and callings that seem a few sizes too big for us, because He wants to prove to us (once again) that He is King, Savior, and Lord. We don't need to choose to do things all by ourselves. We have an advocate and hero if we just call upon Him.

Scripture:

Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
 (Just because we can't clearly see what God has in store for us, that doesn't mean He isn't working on our behalf.)

Deuteronomy 31: 6
"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD who goes before you. He will not leave you or forsake you." (God has already gone before you to prepare the way. If you choose to walk alongside Him, He will be the best tour guide and traveling companion.)

Isaiah 12:2
"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." (Bottom line: God is so awesome!)

John 16: 33
"I have said these things to you, that you may have peace. In this world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (God never promises us that we won't go through trials. The world is a tough place to live in, but God has won our battles and he promises to give us peace and courage. These gifts are God's way of showing us that he really loves us.)

Joshua 1:9
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." (God repeats the "Do not be afraid" a lot in scripture. Typically when he repeats things, it means it is important. Courage > Fear)

I hope this encouraged you and helped you feel more at peace. Cling tight to God and great things will happen. It may not happen exactly how you think it should, but if it's from God, then it will always be worth it and it will always feel smooth. Stay strong in the faith. God is ready to do big things in your life and it's going to be fun.

Peace and Love,
Chloe