Break Free of Fear for Love

Is fear holding you back from what you love? Sometimes, it certainly feels that way, doesn't it—like a giant force is literally gripping you and causing you to stay stuck. If your heart is yearning to be free and express the love in it, it's just a matter of time before fear gets kicked to the curb--but not without some inner work first.

Photo credit: Stephen Poff via photopin cc

I know, because I've experienced this feeling more times than I can count. Take my writing for example. This is something I love, but for the last six months, I've felt stuck--unable or uninspired to write at all. Instead I found myself focusing on everything but writing as a way of feeling productive but really procrastinating doing the work I most love--using my gift of writing to share a message of peace with the world.

I'm not sure why exactly, but I do know the ultimate reason was fear. Maybe I was afraid that the world would not appreciate what I had to say. Maybe I doubted my authority to tell anyone how they might live a more peaceful life when I'm still working on that myself. Maybe I didn't think I was that good of a writer no matter how may books and articles I had published. Maybe I was afraid I could not make any real money doing it. On some level, I believed all of the above which boiled down to one point: I was afraid, and it was keeping me from doing work I loved. 

During this writing stalemate, oddly enough, I found myself more drawn to writing than ever. Even though I was writing very infrequently--an then on dabbling at it--my desire to write grew more than ever. I began reading about writing and listening to writing webinars. 

But more importantly than that, I began listening more closely to my heart to hear what the Lord was revealing to me through my desire to write.

I became more vigilant in my spiritual growth. I began spending more quiet time with God in prayer reading the Bible, A Course in Miracles and other inspirational works and just listening for Divine guidance. Although I knew I longed to write again, I guess I needed a sign that it is my true calling and life's work and where I should be devoting the majority of my time and energy.

It came in some of the most unexpected ways--through church sermons and speakers in inspirational podcasts and webinars I was listening to who all seemed to have a message just for me. It came through clarity of scripture I had read many times before but never understood quite that way before. It came as conversational phrases from friends that pricked my heart as a message from God for me to write. It came as a knowingness so deep it moved me to tears many times until I surrendered to it.

Now I'm sure of my calling and am no longer afraid to write. I'm no longer allowing fear to keep me from doing work I love--writing and using my gift of writing to  promote peace in the world. I no longer doubt that it's what I'm here to do and that God will provide all my needs along the way. He always has and he always will.

It's amazing how fear can really grip us and stop us dead in our tracks, keeping us from what we love. But God's love for us is greater than fear or any obstacles it may seem to create. When we trust it, God's love will help us move from the pain of fear to the power of peace everytime.