One of my favorite sayings is that you should never be afraid to ask someone for something because all they can do is tell you no. But how many of us know that hearing the word NO can sometimes be so detrimental to our self esteem that we often just avoid asking the question altogether to avoid being hurt or feeling that uncomfortable feeling of rejection. We often never look at the other side of the coin and think that maybe just maybe us getting that NO is setting us up for an even bigger YES from God or that maybe hearing that NO is just what we need to refocus on the things that are actually good for us.
Recently God revealed to me, through two simple (yet complicated) conversations I had with my mom and my sister-n-law, that I had been living in fear and that I have been afraid to do some things that I really wanted to do. The crazy thing is that I had no idea that my actions were actually a result of fear (or being afraid). As a child of God I know better than to fear anything but the Lord himself, but Jesus being who He is showed me that I was doing just the opposite. Here's the story....
I believe the conversation with my sister-n-law came first. She is one of the few people that I can go to and get spiritual advice regarding relationships so she is usually the first person I call when I need a Godly perspective on a situation often involving a person of the opposite sex. So I call her up and I start explaining the situation to her. Because I am letting go of my fears I will give you all a brief exert from the conversation......
Sis- So have you tried to call?One thing about God is that when he is trying to show you something He always sends you confirmation. The very next day my mom and I were having a conversation about me telling someone how I felt about them and she asked me the exact same question that my sister-n-law did the previous day. "Are you afraid?" And true to form she starting quoting scripture to me.
Me- I texted a couple of times but I have not called
Sis- WHY?
Me- Because
Sis- Because what? Are you scared?
Me- No (while giggling). I just don't want to get my feelings hurt.
Sis - So you are scared?
Me- No, I just don't like rejection.
Sis- So u a scaerdy cat?
Me- NOOOOOO
God and Sis - YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mom- The bible says I shall not fear what man can do to me. So you tell him how you feel and if he does not feel the same way OK, you get it out and then you can move on. What is there to be afraid of.From that day forward it was as if God was holding a fear mirror in front of me because he literally showed me throughout my normal day when I was afraid to do something through something as simple as asking someone a question or something a little more complicates like moving forward with my career plans. The crazy thing was He was talking to me just like my mom and sister-n-law would. It all hit home for me when He began to show me that it was fear that has been holding me back from trusting Him in some areas of my life. About half way through law school I realized that I did not want to live in Florida after graduation, but I did not know where I wanted to go. My heart was set on DC until they had that snow storm and I was like this Florida girl cannot deal with that. ATL came to mind (after I met someone there) but I was like I do not want to take two bars so I eventually went back to DC and had my heart set on moving there after graduation. Then came the devil with his little stumbling blocks (you have to know that when God puts something in your heart, the devil comes immediately to try and snatch the word away). The scripture tell us this in Mark 4 with the parable of the farmer scattering seed.....
Me- Speechless.
3 “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. 4 As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6 But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. 8 Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
14 The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15 The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16 The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17 But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18 The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20 And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”The seed was planted when God answered my prayer to lead me and guide to where He wanted me to be which was DC. At first the seed fell on the footpath and satan began to immediately whisper in my ear that it was too cold in DC saying that I would never survive there and the word went out the window when I agreed with him. But God being the merciful and loving God that He is replanted the seed again, but the next time it wasn't immediately taken away, nope this time it fell among thorns. You see it took root and began to grow, but I started experiencing financial hardships and I knew I would need money to make the move. I had no job and therfore no income so I came to the "logical" conclusion that I could not move without a job. You see I allowed the worries of life to get in the way so the seed it didn't produce any fruit. However, because I have learned to continue to pray despite how things look on the outside and because I have a praying mother Jesus once again being the loving and merciful Savior that he is began to show me that I let satan steal the seed that He planted in me but because He is God He tells us this in Isaiah 46:9-10.......
9 Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.
10 Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.
God showed me that every precaution that I was taking was actually being done out of fear. Every time I said I can't go to DC without a job or without any money I was actually doubting Him. God tells us in His word that for every vision that He has given us He has already made provision for us. Which means that if He has placed a purpose in our life whether it be to start a business, go to school (or go back to school), write a book, teach, move to an unfamiliar place, whatever it may be He has already placed the necessary people and things in place to accomplish His plan. Remember the story of Elijah and the widow in 1 Kings 17. Elijah did not hesitate once or make en excuse of why he could not go when God told him to go, he just went trusting God at His word, that God had already made provision for him.
You see God knew exactly what He was doing when He told Elijah to go, He already knew that the widow would be there to provide for Elijah. It was up to Elijah to act on the word that God had spoken to him. Not only did God make provision for Elijah He also provided for the widow and her son as well. I urge you all to follow Elijah's example and trust Jesus at His word. Believe that that vision He has given you, that purpose that He has placed in your heart He has already made provision for you. He is just waiting on you to step out and trust Him on His word. He tells us that His word WILL accomplish what it is set out to do and it WILL NOT return to Him void.Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” 11 As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” 12 “As surely as the LORD your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.”
13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD sends rain on the land.’”
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
We often think small, but God thinks big, He looks at the BIG picture. I do not know about you but I will not allow satan to steal another word that God has given me. I am constantly praying to not allow another day to go bye with me living in fear especially when it concerns purpose that God has placed in me. I am currently in the works of making my move to DC and I urge you all to step out too. I am determined to trust God no matter how things look around me. After all there is nothing Pretty about about being fearful!
Tune in next time to see what else lies Beyond The Pretty!!!.
