The Internet & Excuses
Some of you may be wondering… “Why another blog, when there are so many out there already?”
Well, this is one of the very reasons why I kept delaying in following this dream.
So, WHY create a blog when there are so many more out there? Well… here’s part of the story….As I spend more time on the internet, whether it be internet/blog articles or even the comment section on said articles, I find myself overrun with so much negativity, anger & jaded criticism. It makes my heart hurt.
Some days, it’s hard for me to spend any time online, because the negativity threatens to pull me under, into a wallowing fog of bleh. Has anyone else ever felt that way, too?
Anyway, that reminded me that the world needs a little more encouragement to help balance out this feeling we sometimes get online. We should be able to come online & leave feeling refreshed, renewed, & brave to start the new day! We should be lifting each other up to help make the world a more loving place. We need more of THAT, do we not?
And so, that excuse… the “But it’s just another blog in the sea of blogs,” excuse was tossed out.
The Excuses Keep Rolling In
But then, I had more excuses… of course.
(Excuses to avoid fears always seem to wait in line to show themselves when we are avoiding something, am I right?? When we grow through one, another seems to jump in with a loud, “Oooh! Me! Me! Be afraid of me!”)
How Rude! (Who gets that reference? Full House, anyone? Haha).
So, after I grew past the “just another blog” excuse, the next excuse jumped right in… “I am NOT a good enough writer to do a Blog.”
Sure, I have always loved to write (& TALK—it’s seriously how I relate to the world & feel more connected to the people in my life—by sharing my experiences & thoughts with them) … But just because I LIKE to write, doesn’t mean people want to “hear” it, am I right? Maybe the world will collectively roll their eyes at me & immediately desert my blog, (to the sound of a chirping cricket & a passing tumbleweed).
But before I talk “Wake Up Call Moment” for that insecurity, the all more accurate Truth behind that fear were the awaiting Negative Nancies, who would surely swarm on my little blog & rip me to pieces. I like being liked-who doesn’t?
So that… There is the actual, genuine fear… Wanting to be liked & not wanting to face negativity head on. I wanted to protect myself & my feelings. AKA my need to be liked. AKA my PRIDE (let’s be real here).
But then, I was reminded of a little nugget of Truth. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
So now, as I mentioned on my Home Page, I was faced with TWO Facts:
- The world is full of troubles (AKA Hope is NEEDED)
- God has overcome the World (AKA I know the very Hope that is NEEDED!)
How could I now excuse away the knowledge of these two facts with my excuses of “not being good enough” & “desperately wanting to be liked”?
Don’t you hate it when your excuses just aren’t enough reason to avoid doing something important that you’re also afraid of doing? Haha, I do!
But Maybe…
But then I am encouraged. I am encouraged because I AM aware of those TWO aforementioned Facts. I am encouraged because I know the God who sustains me & that He is able to instill in me strength, peace, patience, love, joy, & HOPE, in the midst of my fears.
I am encouraged because of this verse as well,
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
You see, I don’t have to be perfect… I just have to be willing to let God lead me.
And so here I am, writing “just another” blog, in hopes that I may pour some love & encouragement out into the world. I may get mocked. I may be ignored. But I will do my darndest to keep sharing Hope & Love & Encouragement to anyone who will have it. Because we are called, by God, to love others… And I want to try to do just that.
Are there any fears that are currently holding you back from accomplishing more? Maybe a fear that you might fail? Or a fear that people won’t like it (or you). Or maybe just a fear that you don’t have enough TIME?
I wonder, Lovelies, will you be willing to stop right now, no matter what you’re in the middle of, & ask God to lead you, too? Maybe He has bigger plans for your life than you have planned. (He DOES!) Be willing to drop your fears & potential line of excuses at His feet, & let Him lead you to MORE.
It’s so worth it.
SHINE Hope wherever you go, Lovelies! And have a WONDERFUL week!
A Note from Michelle:
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