You were meant for greatness. Work on eliminating the obstacles brought on by fear to reach your limitless greatness.
Greatness Requires the ability to Defeat Fear
Birthing the greatness within requires DEFEATING FEAR. Fear of embarrassment, fear of shame, fear of failure, fear of criticism from family and friends, and fear of others’ opinions can all be limiting.
In 2018, I had a job that made me sick to my stomach every single day. Saturdays and Sundays were a nightmare because I’d be consumed with agony and pain at the thought of returning to work on Monday; I had never had a more challenging experience as an employee. One day my boss and I got into a very heated argument, and I just lost it. I left and wailed all the way home. When I arrived home, my husband and mother law consoled me and helped me to calm down; I informed them both that I will not be returning to that office, they asked that I calm down and take a few days off to consider my options.
Greatness Requires the ability to Defeat Fear Click To TweetThe next day, my husband reminded me that we had just signed the contract for our new home, we had other bills, we had responsibilities and two children to consider, etc.
My husband suggested I remain at the company and look for another job, but I had been looking for another job for months to no avail, and it was simply time to go.
My Turning Point
I took a week off, and at the end of the week, I felt very strongly that God would not move in my life in terms of work until I moved. The following week I went into the office and resigned. Resigning was against my husband’s wishes and my mother-in-law’s pleading. So I took a leap of faith.
I felt very strongly that the God I serve, who has not given me the spirit of fear but of sound mind and peace and joy, would not want me to continue to be in an environment that caused me to have anxiety and no peace.
In May, I resigned. My husband and I spoke, and I informed him I would spend time with my kids and travel with them. I promised him that I would have a new job lined up before the kids returned to school.
I spoke boldly without any physical assurance that everything would work out the way I envisioned, but I trusted God.
What is Your Life’s Verse?
I trusted His Word. Believing the verse that I recite to myself every day, Jeremiah 29:11, “FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU,” declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I usually stop my reciting of the verse right there, but in May of 2018, I went further for three months and added Jeremiah 29:12. “Then you will call upon me and come pray to me, and I will listen.”
My kids and I visited every part of Houston that summer. We took a road trip; God enabled us at that time to just be together. I spent my mornings in the library studying and submitting job applications. I spent my afternoons with my kids, swimming, going to the park, just having fun. Then in August, God came through. A non-profit agency called me; I interviewed and received a job offer. The downside was that the salary was less than my previous salary, but the upside was that my spirit was at peace.
Choose Joy, Choose Peace to Unleash the Greatness Within.
Accepting the offer was the best decision I could have made; I wake up every morning and look forward to work. I now have the option to work from home once or twice a week, but I choose to leave my house, get into my car, sit in Houston traffic because I love my job.
Consider what might be holding you back from becoming the enhanced person that God has created you to be and take a step of faith. Click To TweetIf I had failed to trust God and take the bold step by walking faithfully, had I allowed the fear of the bills, the embarrassment of not having a job, criticism from others, etc. Had I allowed fear to take over, I wouldn’t be experiencing joy now. There would be no sweetness in my work life, and who I am would not have been enhanced. I would not be doing work that changes lives.
I am not suggesting that you quit your job. What I am suggesting is that you consider all of the possibilities that are open to you. Consider what might be holding you back from becoming the enhanced person that God has created you to be and take a step of faith. The only way to defeat fear is to fight it with confidence in God.
Thanks for exploring this topic with me.
Idara Joy
16 Comments
Kgalalelo
Powerful
Am in the journey of unleashing my greatness
Thank you
Its empowering
Nikki
Thank you. I hope you find that greatness.
Julianne
This is beautifully written! I couldn’t agree more – beating fear is the first step to become our best selves. Good luck on your journey ❤️
Renee & Shanice
I completely agree with you but sometimes it’s hard to get past your fears. I love how you broke things down.
Nikki
Thank you so much Renee
Maria Black
Amazing story! I’m so glad you did what was best for you! It can be so hard to do when your family isn’t necessarily on board.
I did almost the same exact thing last year and have been happier than ever. I’m still not sure where I’ll finally end up but I’m sure it’ll be somewhere good.
Thanks for sharing
Nikki
Thanks for reading Maria. Keep searching, you will find your place.
Ange
I’m glad it all worked out so well for you. Sometimes I think we all need to believe in ourselves and have the confidence to make brave decisions. They won’t always work out, but like you, I knew that staying in a job that gave me anxiety every day would not work out well for me or my family in the long run. I’m so happy you love your new job and where you are at now. Well done!
Surabhi
Very inspiring story! Yes we should joy and greatness. Good to know you are doing what you wanted to.
Tracy @ Cleland Clan
Sometimes you do just need to take that leap. We don’t always know the reason why God is asking us to do certain things, but eventually we will understand.
Jasmine
Beautifully written story. It is such a great feeling to wake up excited about doing something you love. Good for you for taking that leap!
rosemary | a hint of rosemary
No-one can understand what that feels like unless they’ve personally experienced it …to feel that badly about your job. It really is unhealthy to stay in that position. Kudos to you for following your instinct and doing what you knew would be emotionally best for you.
Josephine Bokuniewicz
I am so happy that you decided to leave the job. No one should have that much anxiety about going to work – but I am SO happy you found something even better!
I love the part about not worrying about what your friends and family think – you have to be fearless!
This is so true! I’m trying to take that on right now with my blog. I’m publishing my posts to my personal page as well as my professional. I want my friends and family to see it; before I would have been too worried about what they would think. I’m going to be fearless & make big moves!
Great post!
xo.Josephine
Karletta Marie
Absolutely love your story … Life is a gift to be unwrapped one moment at a time … I’m delighted faith and love gave you the courage you needed to accept something better that had been waiting for you. Your story teaches hope for a life to love, and it offers the gift of courage for others to receive something better in their lives too. Thank you for sharing.
Mariam
What a powerful post – love how you have really motivated me in ways that is impossible to do on a Friday!
Nikki
Thanks for reading and thanks for the kind words.