If I may, I would like to be very transparent with you today and "testify" about something the Lord helped me to overcome this week-end. Sometimes, I believe it's necessary to confess what's been going on inside of you in order to get victory over that thing. I'm reminded of the saying: "You cannot conquer what you will not confront."
At some point, we all have to contend with certain struggles in our lives, whether physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional. Like it or not, we each will come face to face with a personal hurdle we need to and absolutely must overcome in order to do what God has called us to do. Mine, for a long time, has been anxiety about social interaction.
Now, you might be thinking, "Wait a minute. How can somebody who blogs daily, interviews folks for EEW Magazine, travels, sings and ministers the word of God, struggle with social anxiety?"
It all began when I was very young. The Lord gifted me to sing, but I was always extremely fearful of getting up in front of crowds. Whenever I knew I was going to have to sing, I would cry and cry and cry. My parents would try to comfort me, but many times, I was inconsolable. So, as time went on, though I learned not to cry or throw tantrums, I internalized that fear. Others couldn't see it, but it was certainly there. With age, that fear of singing in front of crowds grew into a general anxiety about interacting with others.
The anxiety never minimized my love and compassion for others; it just hindered my ability to express what I felt, because of that paralyzing fear I felt. Even in my early days in business, I wouldn't pursue certain opportunities, because of lack of assertiveness. That's why I'm grateful for God's grace and favor, because He has always compensated for my deficiencies. Isn't He just good like that?
Well, this week-end, little did I know that, the Lord was about to help me deal with and conquer my anxiety through my husband Kenya, who challenged me to think long and hard about the importance of coming out of my shell more.
Though it would cause a certain level of discomfort, I knew Kenya was right.
Then, when he mentioned social networking, I almost hyperventilated at first! It's something I've avoided doing for years now!! But I swallowed hard and delved into the world of social networking, via Facebook (Please stop by and say hello to me!). It's been quite fascinating and rewarding. So many individuals have messaged me, or commented on my wall to express their thoughts and well-wishes.
Connecting with so many people has been such a great thrill and I thought to myself, "What have I been so anxious about all this time?' Interacting and sharing with others makes life richer for them and me. It also helps me to place faces with names, and get to know about the good work so many of you are doing through your ministries, businesses, writing, and singing careers.
Above all, the experience has helped me to overcome a long-time hurdle, in a very short period of time, which leads to the point of this post.
Sometimes, overcoming your hurdle, is just a matter of confronting what concerns you and forging ahead in faith. Once you move in faith, fear has to go, because one pushes out the other. I want you to read that last sentence again...
Today, I encourage you to allow God to help you to overcome your hurdle.
Now, be warned; you'll have to move outside of your comfort zone and go beyond what you thought was your threshold, but the Lord will be with you every step of the way. And once you step out, you'll realize that you had no reason to fear in the first place. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV).
Now I can say, thanks be to God, I've gone from fear to freedom and so too, can you. Can't wait to meet you on Facebook! Click here to add me as a friend, so we can chat! I really want to meet you.
As always, thanks for reading, and until next time... may you be empowered to prosper!
Dianna Hobbs
www.eewmagazine.com
