Fearless

I've recently started reading Angela Thomas' Do You Know Who I Am? book about women, life, and God prescribed to me by my loving best friend (who, by the way, just got back from AFRICA... No big deal). I started it while I was in Scandinavia and had just begun entertaining thoughts of studying abroad, knowing that I probably wouldn't because the idea terrified me. Funny how timing of these things works out.

First chapter: Be fearless; dream big.
First thoughts: Easy peasy. I can dream big. In fact, I've been dreaming big for years. ...I've dreamt of going to college, and err, doing, umm, things.

Right. So dreaming big isn't really my forte, but who says it has to be? Well, it's not exactly a problem until you realize why you aren't dreaming: Fear. It took some introverted-poking and prodding for me to come to this conclusion, but it's true. I've got a big green monster on my back and I live under his nasty terror. I want to live fearlessly, but at the same time, it's so much easier to live in a safe zone, where possible failure is nearly non-existant. I'm starting to realize that it's time for things to change. Away with this fearful safety; I'm welcoming in some big dreams.

And to start, I have to remember that God has blessed me with gifts, different from anyone else. These gifts, specific to me, shouldn't be compared to others' because they are different. It's like trying to compare a doctor's office to a restaurant. Sure, they both look similar from the outside, and they have the similar objective to serve people, but they are completely different! How, or why, you would even try to compare the two is beyond me. ...So why do we always end up doing this to ourselves? We may look similar and have the same goals, but we are completely different. There is no comparison--it only leads to disappointment, because as we all know, "Comparison is the thief of joy."


In her book, Angela encourages readers to not buy into the lies of comparison because "they win, and we head to the backyard to dig a hole big enough to hide what God has given to us." Rather, we should remember how worthy God is for all the glory, which we can offer by fearlessly using the talents and gifts we've been given. So dream big, my friends, without the fear of failure, but with the confidence that God is worthy. He's given us the ability to think of them, and by His grace, we can make these ideas reality to bring Him the glory.

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Revelation 4:11