Shoot for the Moon

Have you ever taken a chance, but didn't get what you were hoping for? Ever put yourself out there only to find that you weren't the right person for the task? I hope you can honestly say Yes because that means at least you've tried.  I recently submitted my new Bible study, One Size Fits All: How to Wear God's Word, to the Women of Faith writing contest. I've never entered a contest like that before and knew the odds of winning were just a bit better than the local lotto. I also didn't know if they would even accept a Bible study or if they were looking for something different. But I did know that it wouldn't hurt to try, so I took a shot.  I'm sorry to report that my study was not chosen to be a contest finalist. I'm disappointed, but not as much as I thought I'd be. Sure, I would have loved to have a book contract with a renowned publishing house. But I didn't walk away empty handed...  It gave me a goal. I used the contest's deadline dates to structure my time. I didn't just have an idea wandering around in my head anymore. I had the motivation I needed to create small goals so I could be completely finished by the final deadline date.  It gave me a focus. I don't know about you, but I can have ten different thoughts running through my mind at any given minute. I'll be working on the task at hand and then “something shiny” distracts me and next thing I know, I'm running down a rabbit trail. Knowing I had limited time to finish the book kept my mind engaged and increased my focus.  It gave me hope. How often do you dream about your life? I know so many people who don't have a dream. They used to, but somewhere along the way they lost hope and let it go. Finishing the study reignited the passion within me. I had lost touch with the reason why I started writing in the first place, to spread God's message of hope. God lays dreams in our hearts for a reason—to glorify Him. He has a hope and a calling for each one of us. We just have to believe that He can do it! I may not have been a finalist, but I certainly came away a winner! Hopefully my experience will be an encouragement to you. Is God prompting you to take a chance? Are you allowing yourself to dream? Or are you afraid you may fail? Please trust me as I say, allowing fear to keep you from your dreams is the biggest failure of all. Be blessed,

Jennifer

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)