There are waaaayyyy too many people that I see on a daily basis that are walking short of their giftings.
I can’t assume to know their callings (although I do anyway), but I certainly can identify people’s gifts – it’s my “hobby.” Too often their doubts stop them from developing their talents.
There are waaaayyyy too many people that I see on a daily basis that are walking short of their giftings.
I admit. I am one of “them.” Not long ago my phone ring, asking me for an interview on the radio in regards to a cancer support group that I co-facilitate at our church. The Moses in me arose…Me?! No, no, NO! I called my husband and he knows me well enough to know that I wouldn’t naturally want to do the interview. And, in complete opposition to his tendency to be tender, loving, and encouraging with me, he said point-blank, “Char, you have no choice. You have to do this! This is about helping people.” That truth changed my mindset. Why, oh why do we hesitate to walk in the gifts and the calling that deeply satisfies our souls? Why?
That is what I want to explore in the “Why Not YOU?!” series.
Have you ever seen an amazingly gifted person – doing what you knew in your heart you were born to do? If only you had the courage?
Perhaps they wrote the book you were thinking about writing,
Perhaps they developed a product you had brainstormed might be a great sell,
Perhaps they mastered a skill you wished you had,
Perhaps they reached out to help with someone or something you were interested in
Is this you?
Do you wish you had stepped out?
Do you question yourself until you’ve talked yourself out of an opportunity?
Do you doubt your calling?
Do you wonder if you have “it” in you?
If this is you, I have one more question:
WHY NOT YOU?!
Why them? and Not YOU?!
Have you ever heard Priscilla Shirer teach? She’s anointed, beautiful, and powerful! A couple of years ago I attended a lady’s seminar where Priscilla was the speaker. Not familiar with her, except knowing she was Tony Evan’s daughter, I was intrigued by her powerful teaching. She taught God’s word like it was a part of her and then she said something that I will never forget. It took me by great surprise, especially coming from an anointed, beautiful, and powerful teacher:
“Everyone has fears, doubts, and insecurities.”
Excuse Me?!
Everyone? No way! That would mean that she, Priscilla Shirer, has fears doubts and insecurities?! I was riveted.
Yet, as I look around I see so few people trying to be everything they can be; she must be right. It’s almost as if we are all held back by an invisible veil.
In this “Why Not YOU?!” series I would like to introduce you to some people who have pushed through those fears, doubts, and insecurities.
Meet Jamie Sumner; you might know her blog, The mom-gene. Although we’ve never met face to face, I feel like I know her well. Jamie is a fellow writer-blogger who asked me to pre-read her book, Unbound, that is hitting the bookshelves today! What a privilege!
Jamie runs on high energy, so much so that on her slow day she was assembling two queen size beds for her twins, answering interview questions with me and who knows what else! Jamie yearned for motherhood and after a two-year battle with infertility, she and her husband were blessed with children. But, as Jamie reminds us, life seldom goes like we think it will… and parenthood looks very different than she and her husband dreamed. With a special needs son and twins, this barrel of energy leans hard on her Savior and her husband. Jamie’s whit and vulnerability invite you to join her journey through the unexpected – all the while encouraging you in your journey.
As I read her book, I appreciated Jamie’s vulnerability. Her honesty seeps through the pages and drips into the readers soul. So, I asked her what she does to push through the voices that challenge her in her “calling.”
Here’s Jamie’s response:
Okay, this has taken some serious practice. Here’s what I do when I start to get anxious about my writing or my family or myself in general:
I go DO something with SOMEONE. The world can get lonely and tiresome very quickly if I am cooped up in my own head. People bring me out of that. Distractions CAN be good if they are aimed in the right direction.
I also get off social media! I do not check Facebook or Instagram or Twitter or even the comments on my own blog. I just take a time out and it helps.
Silencing the doubts, fears, and insecurities takes practice. It takes pushing through what we fear, to what we KNOW to be true.
I love Jamie’s practical steps. She breaks the isolation and doesn’t allow herself to get caught up in the contrived world of social media where everyone posts their best side.
If you’re looking for a dose of encouragement, a delightful read, and/or a book that will draw you closer to the Lord, this book’s for you.
Even if you’re in a different season of life, there’s something about Jamie‘s writing that touches the depth of every reader’s soul. Her story will have you laughing and crying in the same sentence all the while reassuring you that what you experience in your personal trials is normal. She understands because she’s been there…
In Unbound, Jamie reminds us that life rarely goes as we expect. And that’s where we meet the power of the living God.
Reading Unbound is the perfect way to start this “Why Not YOU?!“ series. The first time I sat down to read the book, I found myself mindlessly eating to mask those feelings of doubt and insecurity that threatened me. Jamie is a captivating and entertaining writer; I heard the little voice in my head telling me that I could never write like her! We ALL have to silence the voices. It’s true, I’ll never write like a Literature major, or write a book as funny as Unbound, but I have my own voice.
You do too! Join me in the “Why Not YOU?!” series as we power thru the lies and establish TRUTH.
Have a great week TrekkingThru to the best you possible!
Jamie@TheMomGene says
Char! What I didn’t tell you is that I put those beds together UPSIDE DOWN and had to start all over 🙂
Thank you for sharing about UNBOUND. And thank you for being you.
Char says
Oh my!!!! I love it! That is something I’d do. I just loved getting to know you through Unbound. Thanks for sharing your heart!
Laurie says
I love this post! It’s quite a coincidence that I wrote a post on a similar topic this week – how girls (especially) need help building confidence and silencing doubts. As a former teacher, this is a topic near and dear to my heart. You are a great writer. You DO have your own voice!
Char says
Thanks for reading Laurie. Oh! I just read your trail running article – Congrats!
Becky Hastings says
LOVING this book! It is part memoir, part bible study, and part page-turner that feeds my soul!
And your series sounds wonderful! I’m teaching a workshop all about calling at a women’s conference (completely outside my comfort zone). Isn’t God funny?! Ha!
Thanks for the great advice and I can’t wait for the rest of the series!
Char says
I loved the book too Becky. I don’t know how Jamie had me laughing and crying in the same sentence, but she did!!! It’s a very inspiring book!
Anita Ojeda says
Sounds like a refreshing book! Thanks for sharing and for your encouragement to not lurk on the sidelines when God calls us to the plate.
Char says
Yep, no lurking! Let’s do what we were created to do!!
Joanne Viola says
I so love Jamie’s blog so I can’t wait to read her book! Just this morning, I encouraged someone to not look to what others are doing and stay focused to what God has called her to do. We all have our place and comparison is a thief. May we not doubt when God calls us for He will surely enable us. I so needed this reminder!
Char says
Comparison is a thief Joanne! Focusing on the call is what keeps me hitting “Publish” each week. We all need reminders.
Michele Morin says
So great that you examined Jamie’s book in terms of calling.
And your husband’s words rang through the entire post with his “You’ve got to do this!”
And I feel as if that is the essence of calling. It’s the thing we have to do. No matter what.
Char says
Perfectly stated Michele. There is an unsettling in our soul when we do not walk out our calling.
Meghan Weyerbacher says
YES! I was taken aback by how much I’d enjoy this book. Not that I wasn’t expecting it to be good but it far surpassed anything I had ever read like this. I agree with Becky. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here Cher, and for cheering us on at the same time!
Patrick Weseman says
So very true. I have a saying that I live by “You can’t harpoon a submerged whale.” So, I tend to stay in the background and do my stuff underground. I have couple of co-workers that are not that smart but are loud and talk fast and usually don’t know what they are talking about, but management thinks they the sharpies. So, I stay submerged.
Thanks for this. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Char says
Come on up and show your stuff Patrick!!
Pam Ecrement says
Ouch! So powerful is the truth here about how doubts stop us in our tracks too often…..guilty!! Love the husband piece as well. Before I retired my husband was urging me to do the one thing I had not had time to do….write. I started the website not quite 3 years ago, but then he really got personal when he told me, “You need to write a book. That’s something you have always wanted to do and if you don’t do that or try, I think you will regret it.” Sooooo,I am working to complete a book that has had several hurdles along the way. Unbound sounds like a great read!! Thanks, Char!
Char says
Oh, Oh, Pam!! The book is on my bucket list too… Praying for us both!
Marilyn Lesniak says
How appropriate for me the subject of doubt. I hope you had a wonderful holiday with family and friends. Today I brought my Strawberry Crepes with Peach Sauce, Tag Along Cheesecake and Sausage and Hash Brown Cheddar Casserole Enjoy your week!
Char says
YOU?! Oh, my. We are all normal aren’t we?! I love your recipes each week Marilyn!
bluecottonmemory says
Such good advice in your review. A lack of confidence can cause me to fall into social atrophy – the older I get, the harder it is – and so I make myself get involved in activities to, as Jamie said, “to get out of my head.” I needed to hear that message! Thank you for such an engaging review!
Rachel says
Char, it’s always as if you are talking directly to ME!
I can relate to all of this.
I just received an invitation to speak at an upcoming Mother’s Day luncheon for a group of women I do not know. Boy, did my insecurities rise with a vengeance! I wrestled and squirmed and sweated and doubted- a lot!
Those fears sure do create a problem with the “living by faith” motto!
Excited for this series! 🙂
Char says
Oh good for you Rachel!! I’m so excited for you! I’ll be praying as you walk through this! I want to hear about it.
Crystal Twaddell says
The whole thing of getting stuck in our own head has been an eye-opener for me the past year and realizing this is the time the enemy hits hard with doubts and sabotaging lies. I have been practicing going against my own grain and doing something with someone, and it’s amazing how the burden and doubt lifts! I wish I had known the value of this years ago!! What a great interview and post Char!
Karen Woodall says
Doubt often travels with his best friend… fear! We doubt if we can do it… and if we are brave enough to step out, fear shouts us back into hiding. Great lessons here for taming those tyrants and trusting God even when the way is unclear. thanks!
Donna Reidland says
Char, what a truth-packed post, both your review and the things you shared about how we let opportunities pass us by and miss out doing the things we could. I know I have been guilty many times.
Tadej says
Hi, I like your post since it is telling us to step forward and find things that we enjoy in. It can be done, we just have to think clearly and find what we really like to do. Then plan and take action. Oh I almost forgot – and don’t give up on your dream!