Hello :) I'm Natalie and I led a session at Connection called "If Cinderella Wore Cowboy Boots."

Before I go any further, I need to make you aware of this fact: you people are too fabulous for your own good.

Not only were you fun and funny (and adorable as ever!) but you were so open-hearted. Thanks for introducing yourselves and filling me in on all the crazy stuff happening in your world. I prayed through every card you gave me when I got back to my hotel room. As I was praying through that stack, I realized many of the gorgeous smiles I saw were disguising very broken hearts. You wrote about how you felt crushed by your regrets, by situations in your family, by boys who'd broken your heart.

One of the cards given to me at Connection read:

Help
me
overcome
my
fear

It was written just like that; broken up like a poem. I thought I would mention it here because fear is something I deal with on a near constant basis. If I were a Pooh character, I would be Piglet. I am not a risk-taker. I am, in fact, a wallflower. I don't like to stand close to the edge. I don't like to jump without a net. I tremble. I shiver.

I sometimes let fear dictate my steps. I have missed out on some incredible opportunities because of fear.

A verse that keeps popping up in my life lately is Joshua 1:9 which reads:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

I've taken to praying that verse a bunch lately. I find it comforting too: I like knowing that my heroes of the faith, the men and women in the Bible who did BIG things for God, also wrangled with fear. Fear was their first response sometimes, just like it is mine.

I've learned that I can't control when fear will hit or how hard it shakes me. But I can choose to shift my focus (like Hebrews 12 tells me to) and concentrate on God's Character. I remember that He is good. And faithful to me. And that His love for me endures forever (Psalm 107). I know, through His Word, that He's bigger than anything I feel. Even *gulp* my fear.

I've also learned that, if I keep waiting for my fear to simmer down before I move ahead, I'll remain stuck. But clinging to God's Word: hearing it, making it mine, and living it (SMS*GO ;) gives me the power to move even when I am afraid.

Because I know He has a good plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11).
And I know He wants the best for me.
According to Joshua 1:9, God is with me wherever I go.
According to Isaiah 40:28, my Hero does not grow tired or weary.

That makes me feel lion-hearted, even if my hands are trembling.

I don't know what you have ahead of you this year. Maybe you're scared about starting High School in a few months. Maybe you're scared about starting college, and leaving your friends behind. Maybe you're at a new school and afraid to reach out and try to make a few friends. Maybe you’re shaking over a big decision coming up. Maybe you’re afraid that you wouldn’t have any friends at all if people really knew you. Maybe you don't even know why you're so afraid all the time. Whatever it is, let's strap on our boots, lock arms, and move ahead together.

Because fear is not the story we were created to live. I don’t want this year to be full of moments I ran away from everything I was afraid of. I want this to be the year I ran after the life God has called me to live, even if it means looking fear in the face.

I’m so grateful we get to run alongside each other. : )

Shine,
Natalie Lloyd