Have you ever had a dream that you so badly wanted to live out, but fear got in the way? For me, it’s a specific business idea that would not only change my family’s life but the lives of others in a positive way. Faith is all about taking the leap – believing truth above all else – but how do you know what is fear and what is simply logic? I run into this issue with my own dream. I could jump on my business idea – take out loans for it, put my kids in daycare, and get started. Or, I could keep praying over it and see what happens. Surely God will give me an answer, right? I’m sure he would – but do I turn to prayer immediately? Unfortunately, no. I’m making it a point to do better, though.
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The Struggle with Fear
I struggle with the answer I might receive in prayer. I’ve had this idea for years; it has only become more obvious that I should do it when we moved to the mid-west last year. Even so, I still hesitate. Would putting my family in further debt be worth it in the end? Is the timing just not right? I have these fears every time I think about taking the leap. How do I take the leap when I know it could ruin my kids’ future, our ability to purchase a home, or even force my husband and me to take on more work to fix the problem.
I was listening to a podcast today (check out The Momtrepreneur Mastermind Show – good stuff!) that reminded me to pray over my anxieties. Have you ever realized that you pray in times of great need, but the everyday stuff just gets stuck in your head? Fears about your dreams, insecurities about your failures, or even waking up on the wrong side of the bed can’t possibly be big enough to get God’s attention, right? Wrong! God sees everything, hears everything, and knows everything. More importantly, God cares about everything and everyone, even me – even you.
Prayer is Crucial in Addressing Fear
So, pray! Pray, pray, and pray some more. When you can’t see the answer, pray again. When you get the answer you don’t want, ask God to help you accept it. Prayer is the best way to work through fears and hesitations and acceptance.
Typing these words almost makes me feel like a hypocrite because I am so bad about going to the Lord in prayer. I know the power of prayer and I have seen it, but I still fail to be consistent. Something hard will be going on in my life, so I pray. When that is resolved, I tend to keep up with it for a little longer until it fades out – praying only when I remember to occasionally before falling asleep.
I’m making it a point right now to make a change in my prayer life. Fear needs to be addressed first and foremost by asking God what I should do. Not just once, probably not just twice, but over and over until I see the answer. Even when the answer is received, I don’t want to stop praying. I’ll walk with the Lord in daily prayer so that his plan will be clearer for me.
Prayer as a Guide to Fear
When your fears have been addressed in prayer, you may receive your answer from God himself. It may be a sign, it may be a feeling, it may be a disappearing opportunity or opportunity elsewhere. Whether God says yes, no, or not now, using prayer to guide your feet is a great blocker for anxiety. In my experience, a sense of peace comes over me when I know I’m following God’s plan for me.
How God Used Prayer in My Life
Prior to becoming a freelance writer, I had just had my second child. I had gone on maternity leave a few weeks early due to the increased stress that came along with a change in leadership. I knew when I left early that I truly didn’t want to go back to work at the end of my leave, but also knew that financially it was impossible for us. My mother-in-law had been watching my son while I worked, but was also struggling with some health issues. We worried that adding another child would add too much stress for her. So, when I brought up the idea of staying home to my husband, it thought it might be best to see what we could work out.
We prayed and we prayed hard. My husband picked up a second job while I was on maternity leave but really didn’t enjoy the environment. I found freelance writing and although the pay for a beginner wasn’t fantastic, it helped to close the gap. We continued to pray throughout my maternity leave and God provided the answer to us when another job opportunity arose for my husband just a couple of weeks prior to my return to work. I also found a client that paid decently and had regular work for me – I still do work for him on occasion nearly 2 years later!
It had come down to the wire and I was anxious about having to return to work. God’s answer came in loud and clear, completely removing my anxieties about finances. Although we have seen a tough time or two since then, I’ve also seen a huge boost in freelancing work that came with better pay. I worked less for more and got to spend time with my babies.
Staying Consistent in Prayer
It’s hard to believe that I’ve seen what prayer does – what God does – and I remain inconsistent. Having a relationship with Him means being intentional in pursuing Him. My own faith has struggled in recent months as I’ve had questions that I’ve never had before (keep a lookout for a post on that soon!). I had the realization that I have to stay consistent throughout the questions, doubts, and struggles. Prayer is the answer to everything – I’ve seen it and I believe it. I just have to remember it. Join me in being intentionally prayerful today and in the days to come.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18