Dear Writer, I hope you had a beautiful week and took some time to strengthen your grasp on your God-given dreams! This week, I want to talk about one more marketing mindset. That mindset is boldness.
You see, writer, there are moments in life where God will open doors for us, but often those doors are not in places or ways we expect. Sometimes, those doors can make us feel uncomfortable. We may think, “I’m not ready.” “I can’t do that now.” “I don’t have time.” Or “It’s too big.” But here’s the thing…
God’s sometimes open doors that are bigger or different than we imagine because He’s got plans for our story beyond anything we’ve ever dreamed. Learning to embrace discomfortand give a bold “yes” is often a critical step in our writing and marketing journey.
Boldness in History
Harriet Tubman boldly embraced the chance to escape a life of slavery. Though her husband at the time refused to join her, Harriet fled with her brothers. Even when her brothers turned back with second thoughts, Harriet persevered until she reached safety and freedom across the Pennsylvania border. But Harriet didn’t stop there. Realizing she had a unique opportunity to help others, Harriet stepped boldly forward to conduct over 70 other escaping slaves through the underground railroad over the next decade.
Harriet’s bold service to her people led to bold service in the Union army during the Civil War as a spy. Her willingness to boldly step into uncomfortable and dangerous situations not only freed many people, but left an indelible legacy of courage for our nation.
You see, writer, sometimes we get the mistaken impression that our journey with God will be comfortable. But often it is as we step into situations that seem beyond us that we experience God in a way we never have before. And in those spaces, God shapes and positions us to help others move into that freedom and experience, too.
Boldness in the Bible
David is another great example of boldness. Though even David’s brothers opposed him, David recognized Goliath as an open door that God had prepared him to step through in order to demonstrate God’s glory to Israel and to Israel’s enemies. The stakes were high, and failure meant death, yet David boldly stepped up and allowed God to work through him.
David’s courageous “yes” reminded Israel that it was God who won their battles. Not them. And like Harriet, David’s bold step, led to another open door and another, positioning him in Saul’s court and then as head of Saul’s armies as God used his obedience to prepared David for the kingship he’d been anointed for.
You see, writer, the ability to grab hold of the opportunities God’s prepared for us really comes from remembering it’s all about Him and what He is able to do—not about us. When we keep our eyes on Him, we have the courage to move forward.
Boldness in Life
I stepped through an uncomfortable door when I headed to college at age seventeen, a year ahead of my peers. Though I’d already been accepted by my university of choice, I felt too young and nearly backed out, feeling I was unprepared for college life. As I contemplated taking a year off to work, my mother, thankfully, put her foot down and insisted I was going. She recognized that my deficiency was not in my ability but in my confidence. And here’s the thing…
Sometimes we try to grow confidence before we step out. But confidence comes from stepping out into what frightens us and finding God faithful. But here’s the other thing. When we wait for a “better” time, sometimes we miss the timing God has for us.
You see, if I had waited a year, I may not have met my husband and many of the others relationships I have now, friends who were a year ahead of me would have been juniors, not sophomores, and would have been involved in intensive junior year programs and no longer attending the social events where the lower classmen met.
Boldness in Your Life
You see, writer, sometimes our fears feel like “prudence.” It made “sense” to me to get a little more real life experience before jumping into college with a class of students that were one to two years older than me. But God had a different plan. Often He is waiting to accelerate us, and sometimes the thing that seems so frightening is the process He intends to use to prepare us for His purposes. This is why we must lean on Him! He delights to grow u…
- Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. – Proverbs 3:5-7
- The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps. – Proverbs 16:9
- Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” – 1 Corinthians 3:18-20
- For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. – Isaiah 55:8
- But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. – 2 Corinthians 4:7
- 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. – 2 Corinthians 12:9
You see, writer, sometimes God’s wisdom and opportunities and timing are counterintuitive to ours. We think we know many things about ourselves and our abilities, but God knows us in ways we never could. More importantly, He knows what He is ready to do in and through us, just as He did through David, Harriet, myself and so many others.
At heart, reaching our readers is about learning to recognize the moments He is opening up and giving Him and others our unequivocal “yes!” When we do that, we have no idea how He’ll begin to work through us!
Where to Start with Boldness
So are you ready to embrace discomfort and prepare your bold “yes?” Here are some ideas to get you started…
- Know Your Why. As you prepare your heart to give your bold “yes,” be sure you have a clear vision of your God-given message and who He intends for it to reach. Once you know what you’re writing and for whom, you will be able to recognize more easily where to say “yes.” When opportunities arise, you can ask, “Does this align with God’s call for me and His heart for my readers?” If the answer is “yes,” move ahead boldly!
- Pray. Pray regularly over your writing goals and journey. I encourage you to do this as a personal discipline and also to pray with others in a committed regular way—for your needs and theirs. As we continue to bring our work before the Lord for His wisdom, it helps attune our hearts to His voice, to prepare us for action, and to increase our discernment as we go through the learning process.
- Lean on the Lord. Fix your eyes on God and His goals throughout the process for your writing and marketing journey. Remember this was His idea. Anywhere He leads you, He will give you the grace to grow and learn, if you continue to rely on Him. Because here’s the thing…
Sometimes we’re waiting to learn what we need to know before we step out, when really the lesson or growth we need is on the other side of the risk God is asking us to take. Just like Harriet’s risk prepared and positioned her to play a key role in the underground railroad. Just like David’s step positioned him to begin serving and learning about Kingship in Saul’s court. Just like my step forward unlocked relationships for me now that have enabled me to see God unlock others also. And here’s the thing other thing…
If you notice every bold step you take, builds confidence and courage for the next step God opens up. Freedom wasn’t the end for Harriet nor being a conductor on the underground railroad. Victory over Goliath wasn’t the end for David, nor was simply making it to Kingship.
In the same way, God is using each bold step you take with to ready you for the next. And here’s the wonderful thing: the next best time to take a bold step is now. If you feel like you’ve already missed your moment, don’t fret. God’s power to redeem and restore is immeasurable, if we simply run to Him and begin to link ourselves to His Spirit to take the next right step.
So I encourage you today, as you move forward with God on the path He’s prepared for you, to cultivate your bold “yes” in the little things. As you step outside your comfort zone to take on the “lion” or “bear” before you, God is equipping your “yes” to Him even when it means facing a Goliath. And as you give Him that “yes” and move forward—by His grace—as David did, He is able to fit you to become an instrument for His glory in your generation.
#courage #faith #boldness #glory #EveryWriterWriting
