It’s Tuesday and time for another #BeBoldGirl story! I’m happy to welcome Dawn Klinge to the blog, sharing a her story of hope and dreams. This story was originally posted in June, 2016. Be sure to read all the way to the bottom for an update from Dawn.
“I don’t really care if I get it or not. I just want to see what happens.”
How many times have you heard this phrase (or a variation of it) from someone you know? Maybe that someone was you. Did you believe it? Sometimes indifference is a mask for fear.
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
This is too often the response that many of us receive after setting a high goal. Why shouldn’t we have high hopes?
“Well, it’s all in God’s hands….”
There’s truth in this statement. God IS in control. But my feeling is, that too often, this phrase is used as an excuse, to avoid the work that’s required on our part, when we dare to hope for what we really want.
Being bold means daring to hope.
I’m not proud of what I’m going to tell you next. All three of the above quotes have come out of my own mouth at one time or another. I’ve said these things because I was scared.
As a follower of Christ, I don’t need to fear. I can be bold because my ultimate hope is found in Christ.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Peter 1:3 (ESV)
Being honest with ourselves, about what it is we really want, is, of course, the necessary first step towards making it a reality. Next, we should know that not all desires are from God. We were made to glorify God. As Christians, we need to examine our hearts, asking God, in prayer, whether he placed those desires there, or if they come from our own sinful nature. When we’re confident that God has placed a particular desire within our heart, then we can be bold in our hope.
It took me many years to be bold enough to admit (even to myself) what it was I really wanted for myself. For me, it was writing. I’ve always wanted to be a writer- but I couldn’t even say it. Once I was honest with myself, and I knew this desire came from God, I could dare to hope. From hope, beautiful things start to happen.
My story isn’t complete. Beautiful things are happening, right now, as I’ve followed through on my hope to be a writer. I write on my blog. I’ve self-published a book. I’m submitting articles to larger publications. And I’m meeting a wonderful community of writers along the way.
It has been a great privilege to be able to use my writing to speak to others about the love of God. The journey, itself, is teaching me and preparing me for whatever it is that God has for me. And yes, sometimes it’s really hard.
I get impatient. I want more.
I don’t know what the ultimate outcome will be of my efforts- but I know that God placed a desire in my heart. I have hope. I can be bold and trust that God is with me, helping me along the way. My part is to be patient and put in the work.
What is it that you really want? What stirs your heart? Pay attention and you will see. Be honest with yourself. Often, this is the thing that makes you cry, for reasons you won’t always understand. Reading about an author getting their first big break does it for me. Those stories get me every time…uncontrollable tears. And I don’t often cry. This tells me that I need to pay attention.
Hope turns to action. As anyone who has dared to hope for something great already knows, there’s probably going to be a whole lot of effort and patience required from you before that hope is realized. Don’t let that scare you. If you are in Christ, you are not alone.
But you’re still going to need to get your hands dirty and get to work.
“Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues.” –Brother Lawrence
Being bold means daring to hope.
What is that you’re hoping for?
July, 2017 Update
As I read my own words, the truth that stood out most clearly was how God orchestrates life so beautifully. The ways in which he has blessed me have not just been about blessing me…everything he does is so interconnected with other people’s lives. I’ve continued to write, sharing the lessons God is teaching me along the way. As time has passed, I think I can see more clearly how writing has been a blessing to me, but it’s about so much more than me. It’s about God using the way he made me to show his love to others. It’s all about God and his glory. God has continued to put new desires in my heart and it is because of his past faithfulness that I am able to be bolder each time he gives me new dream.
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