At a women’s conference last February, Phyllis Hendry from Lead Like Jesus asked us what we would do with our lives if fear was not a hindrance. Immediately I knew my answer. For years I’ve dreamed of using my voice to speak words that give life and hope to weary hearts. Unfortunately, nothing has paralyzed my dreams quite like fear. Fear that my words won’t connect with people. Fear that my writing won’t be perfect. Or engaging. Or right.

A recent John Piper podcast addressed this very issue. Discussing the writing process, he made this statement: “Perfectionists rarely write books. They’re too busy [researching] everything.”

I also believe that perfectionists rarely write blogs, either. Questions like, “What are the techniques for successful storytelling?” have been paralyzing me for days. But after years of dreaming, I must simply begin. I must begin with the knowledge that sometimes my fears will become reality. My writing won’t ever be perfect, and sometimes it won’t be engaging or right. But we make progress when we commit ourselves to the process.  

What about you? What would you do if fear was not involved? What dream has God put in your heart?

We are God’s beautiful work of art, created to do things that He has already prepared for us. Our part is simply to walk in them. And we’ll know the way we should walk; God has promised to show us.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Psalm 25:12
Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.

I’d love to hear from you. What has kept you from pursuing a dream? What steps are you taking to see that your dream becomes a reality? How have you personally experienced progress when you committed yourself to the process?