A few years ago I stepped in front of a crowd in Illinois to speak. Maybe it was the fact that my flight was delayed and so my entire day was hectic, or maybe it was an off night.
Regardless of the reason, half-way through things weren’t going the way I hoped.
Maybe this is where you want to encourage me, and say something like, “Oh, I’m sure it was better than you thought.”
It wasn’t, and this is the deal.
We all have those moments.Â
That sinking feeling when you think:
What just happened?
As a mom, we can have those moments, too.
That night I went to the hotel room. IÂ pulled out my notes for the next day. I prayed again.
And that’s when it hit me.
I was so afraid of messing up that I was anchored to my notes. The thing I thought would help me was making it harder.
So I tore them up.
Letting go of my notes was a risk.
It wasn’t my first.
It began a long time ago when I felt the Holy Spirit whispering:
God sees what you might not.
You can be a really good mom.
You are beautiful to me.Â
I have a plan for you.
I don’t know what God is whispering in your heart today, but you are meant to be the mom and woman you want  — but it’s going to take risk on your part.
By throwing out the notes I was able to relate to the people in front of me. When I compare the outcome of those two messages, it might as well have been two different people on the stage.
What is keeping you tied up and tangled as a mom?
Is it time to take a risk?
In a sense, becoming a risk taker allows us to let go of the notes of our past, of the words of fear and doubt, and to begin to discover who you were meant to be all along.
Are you ready to become a risk taker?
Suzie
Taking It Deeper
Read Page 125-127 in The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future
Q: What is the difference between taking a healthy risk and risky behavior?
Q: What is one risk you feel God leading you to take?
Ask these questions to determine whether it is a healthy risk or risky behavior.
- Is it hasty or impulsive? (risky behavior)
- Have I prayed about it?
- Is it based on emotion? (risky behavior)
- Have I weighed the costs of this decision? (Cost can be a good thing if causes you to grow.)
- Is the benefit long-term or does it just make me feel good right now?
- If it’s hard, am I willing to take the next step in faith?
- Am I willing to redefine “success” to include bravery in taking that step?
- What is the impact on my child or my well-being long-term? (If it’s negative, it’s risky)
- Have I sought wise counsel and prayed over this choice?
- Am I willing to trust that God sees what I cannot?
Q: Hebrews 6:1a says, “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity. . . ”
In this verse, the author of Hebrews is encouraging believers to move beyond knowing about Christ to discover the beauty of living it out. How does this speak to you personally?
Just came over from the P31 devo. Thank you! I have tears because your words went straight to my heart. This passage is one that God’s been reminding me of quite often and the words you shared were ones I could relate to. It is all about stepping out in faith, thanks for encouraging me to do that very thing!
Blessings,
Jill
I’m here from the P31 devotional, too. Great & timely for me as I’m getting ready to launch my business on an etsy site. The work seems overwhelming sometimes and the whole bit scary.
Thanks!
Thank you so much, Suzie! I am going to be part of a women’s retreat starting tonight at my church, and I am slated to be one of the “conversations” speakers. I’ve been sick all week, and it would be so justified to say, “Sorry, I can’t be there! I’m still sick!” But I know that if I did, God would simply walk on without me. I so want to be where he is, and I know that tonight he’ll be right there beside me as I speak about his work in my life. Testimony— our talk about his work. Easy peasy, and I’ll go for it because your words were so timely. Thank you so much!
Suzi (Ps – it startled me to see my name in the middle of the article, just like you were talking to me!!)
I came from the devotional as well and it really hit home for me. I’ve always been afraid of…well…everything and always allowed that fear to hold me back from…well…everything. Not anymore…3 months ago, with the help from my husband, my pastor’s wife, and mainly God, I’m starting to take those steps to break of of the bondage of fear. It doesn’t mean the fear and doubts don’t still return and try to stop me, but as the Casting Crown song “Voice of Truth” states, I listen to God. He’s my strength and fortress. Thank you so much for sharing and all your wonderful devotionals! You are truly a daughter of God!
Wow, I came across this at exactly the right time! God amazes me! I don’t want to believe what I think I’m hearing God tell me about who I am becoming- it both excites me and freaks me out. But God won’t allow me to hide anymore. And He lets me know that I am not the one designing this plan, so I cannot possibly fail, which is a comfort. I just wanted to say thanks to you for saying yes to God and having this website available. I think I’ll look around a little more. 🙂
I have such a deep longing in my heart to encourage other women with what God has brought me through in my life. I would love to be able to do this through writing and speaking, but as hard as I try, I seem to be to paralyzed by fear to even take the first step.The Lord is so faithful and He has delivered me from much, I know that He will carry me through this too! I have been so encouraged by P31 and I know that with God All things are possible! Thank you for your much needed encouragement!!
Thank you so much for this devotional! I know that God is using you to bless others. One of the risks I recently took was taking over my nephew’s Kindergarten Sabbath School class. The pastor’s wife was teaching, but he was called to pastor elsewhere. While I sat in the class with my 5-year old nephew, praying for the future teacher to come along soon, God spoke to my heart and told me to teach. I argued back that I have no children, I wasn’t a member of that church (but another in town), and I’m a full time working nurse with no extra time for lesson planning, which I have also never done. He was not concerned with that argument and empowered me to do it just because He asked me to.
That was in September and He has blessed me so much in the 5 1/2 months since then! The class has grown. I have been encouraged and complimented and given all of the glory to Him.
If you had told me 6 months ago that I would have taken this risk, I would have thought you were kidding.
When we step out and risk what God is asking us to do, it does kinda feel like walking on the waves towards our loving Saviour.
God bless your ministry!
Aunt Jenn