You wouldn’t believe me when I say that I’ve been a scaredy cat all my life. I’m a hard core rule follower, I never walked on the monkey bars (Hello, they’re for your hands), and I cried when my sister made me go on rollercoaster rides. I never wanted to sky dive, ride a plane, or go too high on the swings. I played it safe and I liked it there.
But then one Disneyland trip, when my daughter was 3, I had the time of my life!
I rode all the rides, even the loopy rollercoasters, and I couldn’t have cried harder from laughter. One ride, I laughed so hard I thought my Invisalign was going to pop out. It was the best.
I realized on that trip that I was missing out on life and the joy it could bring by playing it too safe. I had missed out on laughter by sitting on the sidelines and allowing fear to keep my feet glued to the ground.
I didn’t know it then, but that trip started a domino effect of thrill rides and adventures to come.
It opened my eyes to what being brave could do vs what being scared was doing.
It’s not that rollercoasters help you become the person you were meant to, it’s the act of challenging the fear that would normally keep you down, and going forward anyway that does.
Fear is a liar. And my “play it too safe” mentality wasn’t keeping me safe, it was making me miss out. As a child I allowed fear to win. I didn’t play like I wanted to because of it. And now as an adult I can see that young girl stuck on the sidelines still in fear at times. And it takes conscious effort to not be her anymore.
No friend, that is NOT how we should live. I’m not saying go skydiving, I’m saying that being brave no matter how big or small can SPARK MORE BRAVERY in you. So yeah, I guess in a way, I am saying go strap on that parachute friend. (Please don’t 😆)
Allow the domino effect to happen in your life. I have zip lined from one tall hotel building to another with just a common seatbelt holding my body down, I have flown on a helicopter in the Vegas skyline asking the pilot to do flips, I’ve ridden the rides, and I’ve said yes a lot more to adventure.
That effect didn’t stop on the Vegas skyline, that bravery has traveled into being brave enough to start this blog, being brave enough to start a podcast, get my children’s book PUBLISHED, and so much more.
Brave in the little, creates brave in the lot.
Don’t allow fear to shackle you, friend. Don’t allow the chains of fear to literally keep you feet on the ground and your dreams chained up too.
God, the One that set us free, is waiting for you to grab hold, be brave, and go after the things He has placed in your heart.
He did not give you a Spirit of fear. No friend, He wants you to do so much good. He is waiting for you to jump off the dock, strap into the rollercoaster ride, and kill all the spiders. Why? Because He knows on the other side of your fear there’s FREEDOM, JOY, BRAVERY, STRENGTH, and PURPOSE!
He chose you and gave you the desires you have for a purpose. And He (and I!) want you to be brave enough to follow that purpose. No matter what being brave looks like for you, you can do it. It’s just taking that first step first, and the domino effect will begin.
“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.”
Joshua 1:9
God commanded Joshua to be strong and courage OVER and OVER again. He knew that Joshua would need to hear it more than once. AND He knew what was waiting for Joshua on the other side of that bravery. (Giants)
But the beauty of this verse is that God isn’t telling us to be strong and courageous alone. He is telling us to be those things BECAUSE He will be with us where ever we go. And He knows what awaits for us on the other side. Literally makes me cry.
Do not be discouraged.
Do not be afraid.
Be brave.
Be strong.
Be courageous.
God is WITH you where ever you go.
I pray you never forget that.
Xoxo,
Your “I was scared but now I’m not” friend Stephanie
The photo after the zip line from building top to building top!
My Vegas Skyline Helicopter Ride:
That bravery was NOTHING compared to this bravery: signing my contract to FINALLY become a published author.
