Remember that important choir try-out? The choir teacher sent me a personal email today to caution me I may have a disappointed daughter. She didn’t make it this year. Ugh. The worst part: Manda doesn’t know yet. Will you join me in praying for wisdom, the right words, & understanding? My heart is breaking over here for my girl.
Hey Friends –
It started over Christmas break.
Rather than sleeping through the night, I would toss and turn and meditate on all the “worst case scenarios.”
My mind was pelted with horrible fears, discomforting worry, and extreme anxiety. My lack of self-confidence and insecurities were at an all-time high.
I shared my concerns with a close girlfriend. After hearing the intense fear and lack of courage oozing from her normally upbeat, sparkly, encouraging friend – my friend finally declared,
“Cindy, maybe you’re not ready. I’ve just not seen this side of you before.”
I agreed. My apprehensions were “through the roof,” so to speak, and I didn’t know what to do.
My only solution, I sensed, was to step back and quit. I just couldn’t do it.
Have you ever been there before?
Have you wanted to throw in the towel on a new opportunity, project, relationship, or dream?
Did it seem easier to step back into the safe, familiar and comfortable rather than step out by faith into the new and the unknown?
When was the last time you wanted to quit?
Thankfully I didn’t let fear and anxiety get the best of me — yet.
As terrifying as it’s been to step out into the new world of publication, I turned in my Red Hot Faith manuscript. In addition to the video teachings, I have officially written a Bible study/participant’s guide.
The release date is coming, and quickly. May 30, 2014.
Thank You, God and please help me!
It’s true that I still hear the voices of doubt and discouragement…
- “What if people write letters and say mean things to you?”
- “What if people think it’s not fill in the blank enough”
- “What if people mock your hair, your writing style, your speech, your you name it.”
It’s true that the lies still taunt me, but the Truth is — In Christ I am an overcomer, not a quitter.
In my next post I’ll share with you more specifically how I was able to keep going and not give up, and I’ll share how you can keep going too!
How about for you, friend? When was the last time you wanted to quit, and what helped you keep going? How did you overcome your current challenges? I’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*. Have a wonderful, joy-filled week!
…repost from the archives
So glad you hung in there Cindy! I’m so excited for you. I know what it feels like to quit. It was not that long ago that I wanted to quit too. And to be quite honest, some days I still do. Especially knowing, my road isn’t really going to get any easier. If anything we’ll be facing new challenges as time goes on. What kept me going? Lots of prayer from people, and mainly following through on God’s call of obedience. Not wanting to disappoint God, or go a different way than He has planned for me. And that is truly the only thing that kept me going.
hugs to you! Hoping to give you a real life hug this week! 🙂
I so appreciate your transparency! I have been a paid writer for 16 years and yet I hesitate to call myself a writer or creative. I believe God has directed me to write a particular book (the idea formed more than 6 years ago) but I always “feel” like I’m not capable. One morning in my journal I asked God why do I deny that I’m creative or can write. God convicted me with this thought: “When you deny the gifts I’ve given you, you are in essence denying me.” Yikes I don’t want to do that anymore. It’s been my motivation to keep going on my book.
May God meet all your needs! Phil 4:19
I have wanted to quit MANY times, and almost did more times than I can count. Then there was one day where I heard God speak so clearly to me. He said, “Paulette, I’m not the one tempting you to quit.” Whoa. That. Changed. Everything. Now every time I feel the temptation to quit when things get really tough, I remember that it’s the enemy of my soul tempting me to quit, not my God who promises to equip me and empower me.Yep. That changed everything. Sweet Cindy, keep going. God wants to show off in you and through you. He already is. 🙂
I had unexpected discouragement in the most surprising of places recently. I was granted permission from those in authority to post events on Freedom Ministry, Dunamis teachings on the Holy Spirit, and Prayer training. My discouragement came in the form of opposition through power and control from one and possibly two sisters within the church. So, I am waiting for direction from those in authority and the Holy Spirit as to the next steps to take.
The enemy would like nothing better than to stifle your joy and the release of your study on growing faith and encouraging others. Do not give him any ground! You are growing the Kingdom and changing lives! You are a Red Hot, Victorious Woman in Christ!
My temptation to quit came when my oldest daughter moved home with an unplanned pregnancy out of wedlock in April 2012. I had been writing for about six years at that point. I viewed my writing as a ministry. When that happened, I wondered where I had failed as a parent that this should happen in our family. I wondered what on earth I could ever have to offer anyone again. Even though I wanted to give up, I went to a writer’s conference in June. There I found new friends who supported me and encouraged me that through everything, God would still be glorified. Within a couple of months after that conference, I had my first stories published that were outside of the journalism realm, including two devotionals. Our family now loves on a precious 15 month old girl. SHE is not a mistake, even though her mother made a poor choice. And through it, we are all learning new lessons about the redemptive love of our Heavenly Father.
Cindy…had to swing by and tell you that God already used that little clip from your Bible Study that you posted in someone’s life. I had breakfast with a new believer recently. She was lamenting over the fact that she felt unworthy of getting baptized, etc. etc …..your session on labels hit me and I shared it with her. Great stuff. Can’t wait for the Bible Study release date!!!!!!