Holy Fear and the Courage to Finish

Today feels like such an epic milestone. For many reasons. We’re seventeen episodes into this journey, and while it has taken time, speaking into the microphone doesn’t feel as stiff or awkward anymore.

I’m finding my stride where podcasting is becoming fun and not a marketing chore. And isn’t that the sweet spot we want to reach when we start any business venture with the Lord?

Many of us can relate to Abraham’s account in scripture when God told him to leave the safe, comfortable, secure, and familiar to walk into the unknown with only God as your guide.

Girl, I know I’m not alone in these feelings. I know you can relate. Despite these last few years being really hard, there has been an outpouring of the new that God has been preparing His chosen vessels for. Yep, that means for you too.

And if you’ve been feeling like things have been shifting in the last few months, they have.

Why? Because you’ve been listening to what the Father has been sharing specifically with you.

You’ve taken Him by the hand, trusted Him at His word, and now He’s leading you deeper into the areas that only He can take you.

I am a sideline cheerleader to your story, and I am so honored to champion you.

We were not designed to be alone in our creative walks, and I am so grateful that you are here. Not to listen to my words, but to receive inspiration to be the woman God has handcrafted you to become.

You might be listening today, and this is your make-or-break episode. The one where you finally decide to divorce the insecurities, cut ties with the lies the enemy has spoken, and take up what God has entrusted into your hands.

You’ve been listening to the podcast, you’ve been hearing truth spoken over you, and today, something is going to click into place, and it will have nothing to do with me and everything to do with you coming into alignment with what God has spoken to you. He is alive and active in your life, and He is taking you and your writing to new heights.

And if that truth absolutely terrifies you, my friend, you are in good company.

That type of fear isn’t designed to immobilize you. Trust me. The enemy would love for you to be ruled by your emotions and not move forward. But the type of fear I’m talking about here reminds us that this creative walk matters.

It’s a holy fear, a reverence of what God is doing in you and through you, and you don’t want to mess it up.

And I pray today’s encouragement helps you press past the fear of messing up to walk out what God has laid on your heart.

This is the year for victory. This is the year for completed projects. This is the year you build and do not back down.

God Uses Imperfect People to Fulfill His Perfect Will

Our church has been studying in Hebrews, and it is no secret that I am a lover of God’s word. I nerd out so hard when we study the Bible.

And while I won’t hold you hostage for hours sharing all my nerdy word nuggets, I would like to highlight a few things that stood out to me in connection with today’s encouragement.

Throughout the Bible, we see God using imperfect people to fulfill His perfect will. In most cases, the only requirements for them to be selected were faith and a willing heart.

But even then, these ones who were commended for their faith did not even walk in perfect faith themselves.

If we dive into Genesis, we’ll read how Abraham and Sarah took matters into their own hands and created an Ishmael. We even see how Abraham lied and was fearful over Sarah’s beauty. Not once, but twice! Yet his failures did not stop him from growing as a man, who became a friend of God and the father of many nations.

Jacob, who was a deceiver and supplanter, had a life-altering encounter, and through him, God rose up a nation—Israel.

Joseph, who in his youth was arrogant and prideful, had his character refined through hard trials and oppression to later became second to Pharaoh, and he saved the lives of many.

Now, I’m going to share our key encouragement in just a moment, but I’d love to read a few scriptures as we lean into what the Father is stirring in our hearts today.

If you have your Bible or a Bible app handy, turn to Hebrews 12, and we’ll sit in verses 1 and 2 for a quick minute.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)

The Call to Run with Endurance

Hebrews 12 starts us off by reflecting on the great cloud of witnesses of those who’ve come before us. So much of the spiritual foundations that we build upon were started by the saints who have come before us. Especially those less-than-perfect people listed out in Hebrews 11.

As we press into today’s verses, we’re encouraged to take off the weights and shake off the snares holding us back.

This is where I would love to invite you to sit in honest reflection.

What are the snares holding you back from moving forward in what God has asked you to complete?

Is it the finances because of low book sales? Crickets from your newsletter subscribers? Zero sign-ups on the launch team? Or the languishing document on your computer that you still haven’t sent to an editor?

Do you look at the highlight reels of other authors and wonder why it’s all working for them, but you can’t manage to break even?

Girl, I get it. I’ve had similar heart-to-hearts with the Lord over the years. Just recently I had to take myself back to the promises God has spoken and stand on them.

However, there was a spiritual lightbulb moment I had about comparison that I’d like to share.

Now, the analogy might come across as shocking, and I don’t mean to offend. However, it’s an analogy we need to hear:

Comparing our creative walk to someone else’s journey is like inviting a third person into the marriage bed.

Harsh, I know. And I don’t mean to be insensitive. But our creative walks are personal, and when done in partnership with the Lord, they can be an outward expression of the intimacy we share with God.

If we allow comparison to slither in, it will settle right in the intimate space that is meant for only you and God.

A Spiritual Roadmap for Finishing Well

If we reflect a little more on Hebrews 12:1-2, we see the following spiritual roadmap to help us press onward in faith, consistency, and patient endurance:

Remember You Are Not Alone

Many have paved the way already, just as you are paving the way for others.

Consider what groundwork your stories and characters can lay for your readers to receive hope, encouragement, and the truth of God’s love for them.

Your stories do not need to be overtly Christian to still bear an anointed message if you are operating in partnership with God.

Cast Off the Weight Slowing You Down

Actively use your faith to cast off the devices and schemes that the enemy is using to keep you down or oppressed.

Stir up your hope that is found in Jesus. And if the enemy tries to convince you it’s too hard or impossible, do not listen to those lies. All things are possible through Christ Jesus.

The greater challenge is whether or not we will believe. God will always be faithful. Will we?

Shake Off the Snares That Separate You from God

Sin equals separation. Sin isn’t just about the wrongs we do. It’s about what we allow in that causes a separation between the Father and us.

Is it pride? Fear? Bitterness or hatred? Unbelief or unforgiveness?

Those things need to be torn down and removed. Otherwise, they will infect our spirits and weaken our resolve.

Run Your Creative Race with Endurance

Give your all with patient, steadfast, and consistent endurance. Meaning you don’t give up, no matter what trials or hardships you face.

Quick reminder: God never promises that this life will be easy, but He does promise to be with us wherever we go.

Do we trust Him at His word? Do we trust that God will be faithful and do what He promised?

Believe, and trust Him.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher

Keep your eyes ferociously locked on Christ, who is the author and finisher of your faith.

Now, as writers, I know we want to connect that word author to what we know as familiar in relation to stories and writing.

However, that word in the Greek is archegos (ar-khay-gos’), which means the one who is first, i.e., the author, pioneer, predecessor, the chief example.

Our faith not only originates in Christ, but it is perfected by Christ.

Releasing Perfectionism in the Christian Creative Life

So much of our creative walk is called a journey for a reason. It was never meant to be a one-and-done thing. But instead, it’s an ongoing process that leads to transformation, maturity, and beautiful growth.

This really reinforces the truth that we are not meant to walk out our creative callings by ourselves.

Christ is with us. But are we looking to Him?

Sitting in these scriptures, I came to the understanding that if God has used imperfect people for generations to complete His perfect will, then why do I put so much pressure on myself to attain impossible standards?

From having the perfect writing goals to producing the perfect prose. To executing the perfect strategies that bring perceived success.

I’m hindering myself and hampering my creativity when I do those things. I lost so much time because of fear and perfectionism, and I do not want that for you.

My friend, may this be the day that you release yourself from the weight of your own expectations and have the permission to live, breathe, and enjoy your creative journey.

Whatever last year—or last month—held, you have not messed up badly enough that God can’t still use you.

You haven’t failed to the point that God doesn’t still want you.

God created you on purpose with a purpose. Regardless of what you have or haven’t done, God wants you walking with Him.

Holy Fear Isn’t a Stop Sign—It’s a Signal You’re on the Right Track

Now, before we wrap up our heart chat for today, let’s review that roadmap Hebrews 12:1-2 offers us:

1. Remember that we are not alone. We’re not alone in our labors, and we are not alone on this journey.
2. Cast off the weights pressing you and slowing you down.
3. Shake off the hindrances and idols bringing separation between your heart and God’s.
4. Run the race set before you with patient, steadfast, consistent endurance, regardless of what you see or don’t see falling into place.
5. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Do not look away from Him.

My friend, if what God has asked of you feels scary and overwhelming. If you don’t feel qualified or worthy, then girl, you are indeed on the right track.

Let that holy fear fuel your reverence for the mission. But don’t let it weigh you down to the point you don’t complete what has been entrusted to your hands.

Supporting Christian Writers Through Faith-Based Editing and Coaching

And speaking of completing missions … So much of what we talked about today—endurance, partnership, not walking alone—is a big reason for why I’m taking a bold step today.

The Lord has been pressing several things upon my heart for months now. There is an innate desire to help you thrive, succeed, and to see your books released into this world.

When the podcast first launched, that first episode set the foundation for much of what is to come. And while the timing isn’t ready for everything. It is time to step out in at least this.

If you are looking to craft impactful stories that enrich your readers, then I would love to help.

Being a writer, especially one passionate about sharing God’s heart with this world, isn’t easy. I’ve been in the publishing realm for more than a decade. Balancing family, ministry, and deadlines can wear out even the strongest heart.

Yet you yearn to grasp hold of the more that God has for you, and that yearning is there for a reason.

You and I both know that books can be more than simple entertainment. They’re tools of harvest, vessels of hope, and nets that God can use to gather hearts for His kingdom.

I’m passionate about seeing God do wondrous things through you and your books, and I would love to partner with you on your journey in one of two ways.

Developmental Editing for Christian Fiction Writers

Today, the doors swing open to serve fiction writers with developmental edits.

Conducting edits isn’t a new venture for me. I’ve done them for a while now—just not on this scale in a long time.

So if you’ve been searching for a faith-based editor who will hear your heart on the pages, not just spot your plot holes, then I’d love to chat with you about making your manuscript shine with hope and purpose.

One-on-One Strategy Calls for Creative Clarity

Although if your fiction story isn’t ready for edits, but you’d still love some help untangling creative blocks in either your manuscript or workspace, I am also offering one-on-one strategy calls.

These calls are perfect if you’ve been wanting to pick my brain about more than just storytelling. This one-on-one time together would be a great way to help you gain clarity and build actionable steps that lead to a breakthrough in your creative business.

Remember: you are not a task monkey. There is more to you than what you produce with your hands.

There are limited slots available each month for these one-on-one calls. So if that’s something you’d be interested in, definitely reach out before those slots fill up.

If you’re on the fence and would like to poke around to learn more, feel free to check out the “Work with Me” page on my website to see if we’d be a good fit. I’ll also include a link in the description.

Closing Encouragement

My friend, even if we don’t get the chance to work together right now, I’m so glad you’re here. You are a gem, and I have no doubt God wants to do wonders through your creative works.

If you have a testimony of something God has already done in your writing business this year, please share it with me. I would love to join the virtual praise team in honoring your breakthroughs and victories.

This really is the year where so much clicks into place. I believe in you and am cheering you on.

I hope today’s chat blessed and inspired you. If you have any questions or would like to continue the conversation, don’t hesitate to reach out.

In the meantime, happy writing, and enjoy the journey.