I am an idea person, a dreamer. Society today is all about that hustle, but the hustle part of the equation most often seems to elude me. I think of one idea and another and another… and ruminate and talk about them all, for years, I’m sure to the chagrin of my friends and family.
Personality traits aside, whether we are a dreamer or a doer, we are all called to accomplish specific things in this fleeting lifetime. No matter how simple or insignificant or lacking in talent we may feel we are, God has given us all gifts, talents, and a purpose, that which the world would be less without. New York Times bestselling author, Ann Voskamp talks about our need to act in One Thousand Gifts, A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. “When one is thirsty one quenches one’s thirst by drinking, not by reading books which treat of this condition….If we thirst, we’ll have to drink… I would have to do something.” Ugh, right to the gut. I tend to over consume with podcasts, books, research — in lieu of actually ever doing anything that might make some semblance of a difference.
I’ve always had a heart to encourage women, to share my struggles, and to share the things that God teaches me to others. I’ve written blogs sporadically, off and on, for the past ten years. Four years ago I decided I wanted to commit to starting something real. A year ago I bought a new domain. And today, over a year later I’m finally writing my first blog. Why did it take me so long to start a project that I wanted to do? There’s numerous logistical and psychological reasons, but the ultimate underlying culprit is fear. We are afraid we aren’t very good. We are afraid to waste our resources. We are afraid of failure, of quitting. We are afraid of what other people think.
A bible passage in Hebrews lists out an impressive list of outcomes of having faith. “… through faith, conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” (Hebrews 11:33–34)
Let me reiterate:
Through FAITH:
- CONQUERED KINGDOMS
- ENFORCED JUSTICE
- OBTAINED PROMISES
- STOPPED THE MOUTHS OF LIONS
- QUENCHED THE POWER OF FIRE
- ESCAPED THE EDGE OF THE SWORD
- WERE MADE STRONG OUT OF WEAKNESS
- BECAME MIGHTY IN WAR
- PUT FOREIGN ARMIES TO FLIGHT
Heck, I just want to be consistent in my writing! We don’t realize the hopeful endeavors we have, but aren’t doing, are often times because we are just plumb scared. We don’t believe we can actually do that thing or be that person. We don’t believe in ourselves because we don’t believe God. Our ideas continue to haunt us daily.
Think for a moment though that the idea that has been persistent in your mind may be more than something you’d just like to try out one day, given the right circumstances, but it could be something that God has put on your heart and mind because he wants to use your gifts and talents to not only bless the world around you, but to provide more peace, joy, and fulfillment then what you’d ever think possible for yourself. More than what you could even imagine. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us…” We believe that he can, but it’s time we start believing that he will. And he will for us.
Most of us are not trying to shut the mouth’s of lions or conquer foreign armies in our typical day. But to realize that God has the power to do those grand and awe-inspiring divine acts in not only just the prophets of old, but in our lives today as well is life changing.
Whatever your thing or idea is, maybe it’s time for that Christian hustle. Maybe today is the day to step out in faith.
