It’s Natural But It’s Not Okay

Once a month the young married women from my church gather to talk and learn from each other through bible studies, group discussions and fellowship. Last week we got together and my sister-in-law, Elissia brought an amazing word on bravery. And she said this: “Though it’s natural to fear, it’s not okay to stay in fear.” I love that!

 

This reminds me that we do not have to be a superhero; or in our case, Wonder Woman to accomplish life goals and dreams, or even God’s purpose in our lives. It’s good to be an ambitious dreamer and its also natural to fear. It’s totally normal to feel nervous and to be scared because it simply shows that we are (pinch yourself) human beings; but what’s not ok is to stay in that feeling of fear. There has to come a point where you shake it off and say, “Ok, I may fear but I will not stay here. I will be courageous. I will be brave enough to walk out on fear.” Sometimes you just have to say #ByeFelicia and walk confidently in the direction where faith is leading you to.

Many times, we have a misconception that because we are believers, we have to have it all figured out and have this ginormous faith. No, the bible says that if our faith is as small as a mustard seed, we can command that “mountain” (that problem, obstacle, sickness, lack of…) to move over. The point here is to not only speak in faith but actually walk in faith. Fear wants you to stay comfortable; faith requires you to get uncomfortable. You have to be willing to get out of your comfort zone, that zone that only shelters you see what you have seen for a million years. God wants to show you more, He wants you to see new things that your eyes have never seen before and experiences that you have only dreamed of, but that requires a shift- it requires movement.  

As we quickly approach the end of this first month of 2015, let’s not lose focus. This year may have begun fabulous for you and if you’re going strong, good for you- keep going! For others, it may have started off very rough. And if that is you, please don’t lose hope. Do not allow fear of failure or disappointment enter your heart and your mind. The mind is the enemy’s playground and he loves to play tricks on us.

Today, I want to remind you that you are brave. Despite the circumstances you may be enduring, do not allow anything or anybody to tell you differently. You may be fearful in some areas but that does not make you weak; You Are Brave!

Remember this: “Though it’s natural to fear, it’s not okay to stay in fear.” Be brave and walk out on fear because faith is waiting for you on the other side.

Be Encouraged, Be Blessed!

Landy Perez-Feliciano ♥

 

I Am Brave

 I am excited for this weekend coming up because many young ladies will be standing up to their fears, struggle and obstacles to say three powerful words: I Am Brave. It’s a declaration of faith and courage to stand up to your circumstances and say; despite it all, I am brave. It knocked me down but guess what? I was able to rise back up. It hit me pretty hard, but I’m a survivor. I was not supposed to make it, but I am here. Why? Because I Am Brave.

This Friday, the 9^th will be a night of celebration. We will be celebrating the bravery of so many courageous women. We will listen to some pretty powerful ‘Brave Stories’ of women who have endured great pain but have also been overcomers. And today they can share their stories to inspire other women to continue on their individual journeys.  The ‘You Make Me Brave’ event is about inspiring others through your individual story. It’s about encouraging others while they’re going through the challenging moments their story. And it’s about celebrating the victories of those who have overcome their struggles and moved on to the next chapter of their story.

Everyone has a story. Some stories are longer and more complex than others; nonetheless, it’s a beautiful story. How can you say it’s beautiful? You don’t know what I’ve been through, you may ask. And you’re right, I don’t know but one thing I do know is that someone else out there has. And that person has survived what you are going through.  With that, I can confidently say that your story; although incomplete and imperfect, will translate into a beautiful and inspiring story. That is why this event is so important to me because we are able to help each other through our stories. And I know for many this may seem far fetch because the pain is too profound and the darkness in your life abounds but I promise you that you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. I love what Psalm 23:4 says and I blogged about it a couple months ago: ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.’ Whatever dark valley you may be facing, remember this, fear not! Don’t be afraid because you are not alone, God is with you. And I like how the NKJV states this verse, check this out: ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.’ It’s just a shadow. It’s not death, whatever situation you may be facing, it will not lead to destruction, and it will not bring forth your death. Sometimes it’s easy to think, “OMG I’m going to die, I can’t take it any longer”. Relax, take a deep breath and remember,  it’s just a shadow in which one day, I don't know when, but one day, when you least expect it, that shadow will be exposed to light. And you too will be sharing your 'Brave Story'.

And I know many of my readers will not be able to make it to this event this weekend, but I want to remind you today that you are brave. The bible says in Psalm 30:5 that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. And I want to declare over your life today, this first Monday of 2015 that although you may be weeping and it seems like dawn will never break and darkness is prevailing, I want to tell you that the day is breaking every shadow of darkness in your life and light will be exposed. If you can believe that 2015 will be a year of breakthrough, it will happen. Yes, we go through tests and trials and it is necessary in our lives but it is not God’s intention for you to stay “stuck” in a particular trial for a million years. Where would be the growth and maturity in that? In the midst of your struggle, God is pulling out a ‘brave’ new you. Pay close attention to the lessons He wants to teach you, for they will help you in the next phase of life.

We are simply guest starring in our own book, written by the One who holds the pen; God, the author of our lives. Through it all, God has always been with us, He is the one who makes us brave. He is the one who gives us the strength to endure everything we go through. He is the one who is writing our Brave Stories.

I’ll leave you with a short ‘I Am Brave’ video. Remember, you too are Brave :-)

Be Encouraged, Be Blessed!

Landy Perez-Feliciano ♥