Step Out of Your Comfort Zone & Step Out on Faith

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]. (2 Timothy 1:7, AMP).

One thing about having a business is being able to market yourself through advertisement and getting out there. As a school psychologist, I spend more than half of my career sitting in meetings with lawyers/attorneys, advocates, supervisors, family members, and friends. I have been in meetings where it has been recorded. And can I tell you that that does not scare me? I go in with confidence, not because of my abilities but because I know that God is within me and because of that, I will not fall (Psalms 46:5). God gives me the words to speak when I need them. He gives me the grace to hold my tongue when I disagree with something and sometimes even the wisdom to speak up if needed. The same energy that I have as a school psychologist is not the same energy I have when it comes to my business. Well not until now. I love the creative side of my business. I enjoy creating journals, planners, workbooks, booklets, and so much more. The writing comes natural to me. It truly is a gift from God.

The part that I struggle with when it comes to my business is not really the advertisement but going to events. I am in that space where I am truly trying to figure out why I have such fear going to events with my business and selling. Every event that I have gone to thus far, I have always made a profit. I have handed out so many business cards. I even had my sisters come with me to help support and continue the marketing by going to different booths to buy but also to share my business with others. My products are always aesthetically pleasing so when people would come to my table, my products did all of the talking and that is how I always made purchase after purchase. 

God has been with me every step of the way and yet I still walk with fear. I have missed out on so many business opportunities to showcase my stationery line because of this fear. 

We cannot go back and rewrite history but we can go forward and create a new story. Fear does not have to be a part of it. For you or for me. Life will continue to pass you by and that is something that I am learning to realize. Certain things are scary to do. It is scary to be bold. It is scary to promote your craft. It is scary to talk about your ministry. It is scary to apply to that job or go back to school. Even with a job, it is scary to change your job after being at your current job for more than 5 years. It is scary to be in a position of leadership. It is scary to take on a new role in your life whether it is being a wife, husband, mother, or father. All of it is scary because you do not know the outcome. Only God does. However, we cannot continue to live our lives walking on scary. We have to walk it on faith knowing that God is with us and if He has opened the door for us, we have to be courageous enough to walk through it. We cannot worry about what other people may say, think, or feel. We do not need people to endorse what we were already called to even before we were formed in our mother’s womb. We should not allow the lack of something to cause us to retreat backwards. We have to stand up with boldness and not be afraid. 

My encouragement for you as well as for me today is to not allow fear to have its hold on us any longer. Do it, even if you have to do it afraid. So many people look back and do not regret what they did do but regret what they did not do. Do not let that be you. My plan for the rest of this year is to sign up for more events for my business [as long as it does not conflict with my schedule] and not let it pass me by. It was not by accident that God gave you that vision, dream, and goal. It was not coincidental. It was by divine appointment. 

Being comfortable is safe. Being comfortable is where fear lives. Get uncomfortable and step out on faith!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NIV).

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