Inspiration

It’s Time to Deliver!

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For so many of us, 2019 is the start of a season of fruitfulness and productivity, bringing to life the hopes and dreams that have been incubating for days, months, and even years in some cases. Yet so often, our delivery is delayed because we refuse to be real, transparent, or vulnerable.

When I was in labor with each of our sons, ready to give birth and experiencing some of the greatest pain and discomfort I’ve ever felt, I was keenly aware of the need to be honest about what I was experiencing and what I needed to get my babies here safely. If I wasn’t quick to let my husband know that my water broke or my contractions were coming much closer together, it would have delayed my access to the help I needed at the hospital. If I wasn’t honest about the pain I felt during the different tests and overall labor process, my doctors would have been unable to adequately manage that pain.

As it turned out, both of my sons needed to be delivered by c-section – despite my sincere desire, and for the first birth, my body’s long, labored efforts, to bring the baby into this world on its own. For me to have remained at home, silent, wanting to be the “perfect” laboring mother, would have been a decision that endangered my own life, and that of both of my children.

Unfortunately, we sometimes push ourselves to the point of loss of the promise, project, program or plan that would have changed the trajectory of our future because we are so stuck on “being perfect” rather than “productive” and improving the process along the way.

We refuse to ask for help, because somehow we’ve concluded that successful people “figure it out” on their own. We allow our pride, bolstered by our degrees, experience, accolades, to keep us from connecting with others, who may not be as credentialed as we are, but are divinely designated resources to help us move forward.

I’m here to encourage someone who has been silently struggling to move towards your goals – stop allowing fear, facades, pride, or perfectionism to keep you from the future God has ordained for you!

You don’t have to be perfect. Just get it done. And then make it better.

You don’t have to pretend. Be honest about where you are, what you have, and what you still need to get where you are going. And then make use of the resources you have around you. You might be surprised just how much support you have if you just say those words three little words: “I need help!”

You don’t have room for pride if you ever want to grow. Be humble enough to learn from anyone, at any level. Be a life-long learner. Have a growth mindset.

It’s time to deliver. You can do this!

~ Andrea ~

Need help getting moving with your goals? Send me an email at info@stepin2purpose.com and let’s discuss strategies to help you step into purpose!

We. Will. Not. Fear.

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As I spent some time in reflection, prayer and devotion this morning, I became painfully aware of how much time I have wasted in fear this past month alone, never mind this year. I decided to get honest with myself and God about what exactly I have been afraid of.

Afraid to rise.

Afraid to run.

Afraid to wait.

Afraid to win.

Afraid to speak.

Afraid to be silent.

Afraid to shine.

Afraid to stay in the dark.

Afraid of getting stuck in the past.

Afraid of moving into the future.

Afraid to fly.

Afraid to fall.

Afraid to try.

Afraid to trust.

That last one.

That last one is where I felt the lump form in my throat and I knew the tears were coming. That last one is the true cause of everything else on the list.

Even as I have encouraged others to pursue purpose relentlessly, I have found myself at times stuck in a loop of “I trust you Lord!” 🔁 “Can I trust you Lord?”.

I’ve been afraid to trust people – just waiting to be let down, left alone, rejected, abandoned. I’ve been afraid to trust myself with anything new – afraid that the moment the pressure became too much, I would fall back into my old habits, patterns, defenses, and everything I’ve been building would crumble.

Yet this morning, as I read Psalm 46, I found myself overwhelmed at verses 1 & 2, where the psalmist reminds us that:

1 – God is our place of protection, and our source of strength.

2 – God is with us.

3 – Even in moments where it seems like the rug has been pulled out from under our feet, if the ground we are standing on crumbles, if the very mountains themselves can’t hold up and fall into the sea, We. Have. No. Need. To. Fear.

My prayer as we prepare to close out 2018, and step into 2019, is that we will experience God-given courage. Courage to step boldly, step hard – making our mark, and step higher – setting our hearts on His will and not our own.

Don’t end this year in fear. Instead, feed your faith and place your trust in the God who holds the sun, moon and stars in place – knowing that He holds your life in His hands too!

“And yet this was a SMALL thing…”

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Then King David went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord God! And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have brought about all this greatness, to make your servant know it. Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”

2 Samuel 7:18-22 ESV

This morning, I woke up completely overwhelmed by God’s relentless, reckless love for me. As I read this passage in 2 Samuel 7, and thought about who God is and all that He has done in my own life, I began to weep.

Like David, I asked who am I, so flawed, and insignificant, and undeserving that the Great God of Heaven would take all of my days, both good and bad, and make something so beautiful from them. And if the sum total of all that I have seen God do is merely “a small thing” for Him, then no matter the kind of moment I sit in right now, I can remain confident that the best is STILL yet to come!

This morning, be encouraged to pause for a moment, and look back over your own life. Identify the moments of deep sorrow, disappointment and heartache – it’s there we most clearly see God’s righteous right hand upholding us. Think back to the moments of unspeakable joy and unbridled celebration – there it is easy to see the Presence of the King who rejoices over us, where we see that His joy is our strength.

If you are struggling to find energy and focus for worship this morning, think of a Savior who was willing to sacrifice everything just. for. you. Who went down into the depths so that you could be raised to life again! The same Jesus who now sits at the right hand of His Father interceding continually on your behalf.

And like David, I’m sure you will come to the conclusion: “Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears” (2 Samuel 7:22).