Starting the morning with my familiar things around me gives me a sense of place, routine, comfort.
How about you?
It’s a challenge to get outside my comfort zone to go someplace or do something new.
New-ness can be exciting like when an order from Amazon arrives. But new-ness that requires something from me, that can be scary. If it’s scary then the challenge comes to be brave in the face of my fears and in spite of the pit in my stomach.
That’s never easy. But I can tell you something true: I’ve never been disappointed when I’ve let go of my fears and leaned in toward Jesus.
What does that even look like?
It might be saying yes to spending the weekend with mostly strangers, far away from home, sharing hard parts of your story to show that the surpassing power of overcoming, and growing, and healing, belongs to God and not to us.
In hopes of learning the Way to let go and lean in, after the wonderfully challenging and filling weekend away, yesterday I started reading a devotional book called 100 Days to Brave by Annie F. Downs. The subtitle says Devotions for Unlocking Your Most Courageous Self.
Doesn’t that sound promising?
Annie is sharing from her life and pointing her readers to the One who calls us forward, who gives us the strength and courage to be our authentic self in our circumstances.
Seeing other people be brave makes me want to be brave too. Annie F. Downs
Being authentic, without putting on a false “I’m okay” front, is hard. We fear what people think about us. Will they accept me? Will they reject me? Why does that matter?
It matters because God has created us with a desire for love and belonging. Anything that puts those two desires at risk is scary.
The blank page can be scary for a writer. But if this is the work I am called to do then this is the place I need to be brave. I know God wants me to tell my story so that you can be encouraged to be brave in yours, too.
What is the thing in life that scares you?
Whatever it is that is scary, God has already been there and knows how it’s all going to turn out.
I’m going to keep on this journey, learning to let go of fear and expectation and learning to lean in toward Jesus.
Want to join me on this journey of 100 Days to Brave?
I’d love the companionship!
I absolutely loved hearing what Jesus had to say through you. Thank you for taking time out of your life to be brave and come spend time with us strangers, now friends ? I’m leaning into my time with the Lord, listening more intently, and trying to slow down to BE with my loved ones. Thank you from the bottom of my heart ?
Your words are so encouraging Joy! Thank you for all you did to coordinate and lead a wonderful time away for the women of GBC who were able to make the trek. Such a beautiful setting and such a dear group of women to spend time with; the weekend was wonderful! Keep practicing and choosing wisely!