Just when I thought I’d been brave enough, God asks me to be braver.
I’m here. And I feel like I’m in an alternate universe for a few days. I’m eating breakfast, drinking coffee and blogging next to some of my favorite people in the world. And they are writers.
I feel like it’s a second home.
However, I need to continue down the road of bravery that I began two weeks ago when I sent in my manuscript for editorial review. I’m actually going to be pitching it.
[insert nervous laughter].
My four-year-old has been in the habit lately of jumping as far off of any fence/bed/sofa that she can. Her skinny little legs fly through the air and land on whatever soft or hard place she’s targeted. Little-girl shins tell the story.
She’s brave. But only because she doesn’t think she can get hurt.
I need her kind of bravery. The kind where I jump off of the bed, launch through the publishing waters and spill my story to complete strangers over oatmeal.
One guy was visibly affected when I answered his question
So what are YOU writing about?
Ahem, excuse me while I lay my heart bare.
His eyes got really wide as he scooted his chair back just a tiny bit. An accident I’m sure…
I’m not a little girl. And I can get hurt and it’s not a skinned knee.
Doubt is plaguing me. Fear has gripped me on more than one occasion, and seeping from my eyes is mental exhaustion. And I’ve only been here for 30 hours.
Is this even the right book to write now?
Courage.
Courage to tell my story over and over again without allowing it to become a callous. Courage to open up the envelope to my manuscript after it’s been quickly read by an editor. Courage to admit that maybe, just maybe I need to start over. Again.
I thought that I’d been brave enough. Doesn’t this by itself fulfill my bravery quota for my life?
Wouldn’t that be great.
But I’m realizing that God asks me to be braver every day. And I think He asks me to be brave KNOWING that I will get hurt.
Have you been brave lately?
Like you, the LORD told me to be brave and to trust Him. Thank you for today’s blog it’s both inspiring and encouraging as well as a gentle reminder as GOD is sovereign.
Bravery is a step by step process as we trust in the Lord. It’s scary to put yourself out there. God has a plan for each of us and will advance it according to His perfect timing. Have faith, keep taking those steps forward, and trusting what God is prompting you to share.
Good for you for taking the steps you need to take. I wish I could be at Mt. Hermon’s right now!
I guess I’ll just say that I hope I can be brave in the coming weeks. I have about four weeks left of this little writing retreat I’ve been on. And frankly, I haven’t been as brave as I’ve needed to be. So . . . I need to take some chances in my writing.
Those steps we take when we know the ground may shake beneath our feet are the hardest… and the most faith-building. Remember Peter on the water?
Been praying for you all week regarding this… love you mucho, friend, and I know God is continuing to write your story even as you put your fingers to the keyboard to write the one he’s called you to write thus far.
Oh Sarah, I haven’t been brave lately, and the Lord is asking me to be. I’m scared, and not at all similar to your courageous daughter that flies through the air with reckless abandon. I need to stop allowing fear, and in turn the enemy, control my thoughts. And when they do sneak in, I have to fight them with the only thing that is even remotely strong enough to withstand the barrage of ammunition: His word. It’s really hard to be brave, knowing that pain could be standing on the other side of that bridge. But I’m finally seeing that that is the only way to grow in His image, to become more perfect in His sight. Our faith strengthens each time we face fear and the possibility of rejection or pain, and we go forward anyway. You are moving in the right direction, keep going. You have big things to do for Christ, and for us. Thanks for a wonderful post, and even more amazing reminder.
I realized there were several spelling and grammar mistakes in my comment…forgive me! I’m a stickler for that kind of stuff, being a WRITER and all
there was an advert that said feel the fear and do it anyway!I guess thats what its like for us many times.In obedience and out of love for Him we step out for God and we feel afraid to start with but do it anyway .Then it seems Gods love floods in and drives out all fear.It just takes that first step of obedience!you go girl,God has his hand on you and will guide you to the right publisher.Thank you for your openess and love for our father.
but remember what is on the other side of brave… glory.
God will keep calling us to bravery, to step out on faith- being sure of what we hope for, certain of what we cannot see. He will call us to bravery so that he can show us his mysteries and display his glory in and through us.
keep being brave friend!
I will say a prayer for you, Sarah. May God’s will be done through your book!
Like I mentioned the other day while talking about forgiveness, I remarried my ex-husband this week. That required bravery on a couple of points. First, there were reasons for the divorce (justified or not). It was not a union; it was not pleasant (or even safe) most of the time. Next, it’s a spiritually unequal marriage. He’s on his faith journey, but that is not a road on which we are walking side-by-side at this moment. Lastly, he is a firefighter in a very busy department. He must be brave daily; so, too, must I.
I usually don’t consider myself to be a brave person. but God thinks I can handle this and wants to walk through it with me. Father knows best…
Wow. Not sure I wanted to hear that. HA HA – But deep down know that you are right. God asks me to be braver every day. The hope I have is that when I deal with stuff next week, next month, next year – I will be braver than I was last year.
Sarah,
I am here at the conference, too. I had to write the following phrase on my notebook: “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” Keep going, girl.
You are already one of the most courageous people I know. The fear you are feeling is perfectly normal when jumping into the unknown but I know if anyone can get on the other side of that fear, it’s you. You’ve already demonstrated bravery! Look back and see what you’ve already done and know that God’s got you right in the palm of His hands. Sending you much love from the Carolinas. Praying that your courage will not fail.
No, I am a wimp. I love that you are brave and bold. And getting braver and bolder. I love that you are writing a book. Because, well, YOU have a story to tell. I love that I get some QT with you in a month.
I guess it is a good thing that we have an excellent model of bravery in Christ and the Cross. The risk of harm and danger might indicate a much greater outcome versus the prospect of a trial of ease and comfort.
I love you princess
Be brave Sarah it will be worth it!!
I need to be brave while my dad gets diagnosed with lung cancer, must have radiation and chemo, now has an oxygen tank. Lord give me the bravery to be strong for him. Lord, give me the bravery to talk to him about You.
You are so brave Sarah! Love you!
Yay! You can do it – be brave! Jump! You can breathe later…
((we are all waiting. holding our breath with you. standing on the edge of the sofa… next to you… cheering you on as you jump… willing to fly through the air with you so you know you are not alone as you leap… wheeeee!))
so excited for you as you take this next step in your writing… thinking about all of the people (over oatmeal) whose hearts will be impacted by how God writes His story through your words….
Thanks you guys.
I feel like I’ve been doing mental and spiritual jumping jacks for hours now.
thank you for your prayers and for believing in me.
brave? i guess i don’t think of myself as brave. but now that you mention it….i agree.
walking into church every Sunday, knowing that ‘they’ know…that’s brave for me.
apologizing to his wife…..with no response….yet….is that brave of me? i’m not sure, considering the big picture.
facing sin head on; repentance; obedience….those are all acts of bravery in my book.
you are a brave woman, sarah.
i’m proud of you.
Trying to be brave.
Praying for you!!
Love-Oly
Dear Lord, I ask you to give Sarah the confidence she seeks and peace knowing that you are here in the middle of all this with her, that only she can tell her story the way that you have asked her to. Lord I pray that you will hold her gentle, healing heart in your hand and keep it safe. Give her your words, Lord, Amen.
Sarah, I so feel ya. I am preparing to give a speech on Fri about a very difficult topic and am struggling. I need to be brave and yet I am hiding from the task. Please pray that I will gain the courage and heart that I need.