Do It Afraid

“Do it afraid.”

I still remember the day, nearly ten years ago, when those words spoken by Joyce Meyer boomed from my television set.  I was walking through the living room when I heard those words.  They were enough to make me turn around, sit down on the edge of the chair and listen to her message.  My life would never be the same.

At that time I had been living with severe panic attacks and anxiety disorder for nearly 14 years.  I was living with constant fear.  I had just finished my first Northwoods Adventure, “Emma’s Promise”, and was considering the first steps of the publishing process, but I was literally paralyzed with fear, unable to step out in faith.  Until I heard those three little words – do it afraid.  Those three words would change the course of my life.

I remember the day I walked into my local post office on trembling legs to mail off my manuscript for the first time.  I was doing it afriad.  I also remember the day when said manuscript was returned to me with a thanks-but-no-thanks rejection letter.  I was crushed.  I had stepped out in faith and thought surely God would reward me with the desire of my heart.  But His answer was no.  Several more times I made that frightening trip to the post office, several more times I suffered rejection.

Eventually I decided to go the route of self-publishing.  That decision was not an easy one and I still remember the day I sat at my office computer and, with trembling fingers, pressed the “send” button, committing myself and my novel to this terrifying experience of self-publishing.  I have self-published five novels now and I can honestly say that it doesn’t get any easier.  Each time I had to “do it afraid” as I sent my manuscript off into cyber space and eventually out into the reading world.

Now, once again, I am doing something afraid.  A fellow writer asked me last night if I had a blog.  I told her no, explaining my fears and how techno-challenged I am.  As I was driving home, the Lord brought those three little words back to my mind – DO IT AFRAID.  So, here I sit at my dinette table with my laptop and with trembling fingers typing my first blog post, afraid I will screw it up or press the wrong button (I already did lose the first version of this post!) or fall flat on my face.  And yet, I am doing it, I am doing it afraid.

What are you facing today?  Do you have a big project you want to tackle or a big dream you want to chase?  Are you frozen in fear, afraid to step out, afraid to face failure or rejection?  I’m here to encourage you today, to encourage you with those three little words that changed the course of my life – do it!  Tackle that project, chase that dream!  Do it afraid!  And see what great things the Lord will do for you.

“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9