But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9

Life feels so overwhelming. Anyone else? I’m finally becoming an adult, and it seems that everything is hitting me at once. Growing up means that fun costs money, and that money takes hard work. It means knowing that things might not always work out. And that makes me want to huddle down in my blanket and do absolutely nothing. Because doing something just feels too overwhelming. But in this steadily downward spiral, I hear a voice telling me to stop. And to breathe. And to smile. Smile?

My God is the God of provision. He says He will take care of His own, even in the midst of life itself. He says He has a plan to prosper me. He says He loves me. His voice is not always as loud as the rest of the world. It is not found in the dizzying news headlines or the wailing wind outside. It is a soft promise to me, a feeling in my heart beckoning me closer, closer, closer. It is telling me it’s time to move with purpose instead of fear.

I’ve found that when I feel passionate to do a new work to further the Kingdom of Heaven, I get hit where it hurts. I’m sure many of you can relate. When I first started this blog, I remember being hit in strategic places with so much fear. I was afraid of people hearing my words and forming opinions about me, and when I finally got past that, my fears became more outlandish and irrational. It seemed like even if I did push past the lies, new ones would rise up, somehow twisted to create a barrier between me and my purpose.

I am here to tell you, it is worth trusting the Lord and fighting against those lies. I know not all of you have a passion for words as I do, but I also know that you all have a passion. Trust me when I say, you are on the right path if you feel resistance. Once you get on the path to pursuing your passions, it doesn’t mean you won’t be met with adversity, and the trials that come may hit a little closer to home than you’d expect.

Right now, I am pursuing some new things with my words that are taking a lot of faith. They’re taking a lot of time, which equates to a lot of my own life being sacrificed. They’re taking a lot of trust, and that’s hard. Honestly, they’re taking a lot of faith, which is something I don’t always have a lot of. But I am continuing to pursue what I feel called to as the Lord continues to open new doors for me and directs me each day.

So, here are some tips that have helped me battle against the doubt, fears, and lies:

• Start Somewhere: If you don’t start, you’ll never know what could’ve happened had you taken that first step.
• Get in God’s Word: The Bible is a powerful resource that will bring truth in every circumstance.
• Reach Out: We all need to be encouraged, especially when pursuing something difficult or new. God gave us each other for a reason!
• Rest: Don’t be discouraged if you need a break. Rest is not lost time, it’s a tool for gaining strength and energy!
• Keep Going: The biggest mistake we can make next to not trying is stopping halfway. Just keep going, even if it feels like a crawl. It’ll be worth it!