Stepping Out of Fear and Into Faith

Stepping out of fear and into faith is not the easiest step to take. It’s probably the hardest. It’s giving up control and saying to God, “I trust You. I don’t understand. I don’t know the answers, but I trust You.”

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

It can look like leaving a relationship you shouldn’t be in. Asking for help when it comes to ending an addiction. Listening to where God is leading your heart and going there obediently. Letting go of a situation and laying it down at the foot of the cross.

For me, recently, it was moving to Nashville.

180 days. 6 months. Half a year…since I moved to Nashville and what a journey it has been.

I moved to Nashville in May for a 3 month long internship and never went back. I’d like to paint the picture that it was this crazy, fun adventure all about meeting new people, starting over, and exploring a new city.

And it was those things. But, it was also terrifying, uncomfortable, and a lot of change. We all know change can be scary. People like operating inside of their comfort zone. I liked operating inside of my comfort zone and it was really hard moving outside of it.

When I wrote “move to Nashville” in my calendar, I was excited. There was even a little adrenaline. I was getting out of Columbia and starting over in a cool city like Nashville. It was exciting and I felt really independent. Then, that date got closer and closer, and I got a little sad and a lot more apprehensive. It turned to: ‘I don’t know anyone there. Who am I going to hang out with? What will my internship be like? Can I handle not going home and seeing my family whenever I want?’

My friends would bring it up and my response would be, “we’re not talking about it.” It was sad. My community was there. These people who have loved me so well. I didn’t want to leave them, much less enter into a new, scary stage of life. But, I did. I packed up my things, I left Columbia, stayed at home for a few days, and drove to Nashville.

The drive is a little over 6 hours, and for probably 3 of those hours, I cried. Off and on. I’d get it together and then get really sad. I’d contemplate the decision I made and then give myself a pep talk and say, “it’s 3 months. You can do anything for 3 months.” For the first couple of weeks, I cried off and on, too. Sleeping in a twin bed + in a strange house + in a new city. So. Much. Change.

But, the days passed and turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. Three months came and went… and I stayed.

It’s still not the easiest. Friendships are harder to deepen because everyone has a job. It’s hard to consistently workout and cook. It sucks being far away from family and those established friendships. It can be exhausting. But, I have learned and grown so much in just 6 months.

Being pushed out of my comfort zone has caused me to depend on the Lord more. Trust in His timing more and practice so, so much patience. I can’t say I’m very good at it, but we’re working on it. I’ve grown in my confidence of who I am as a person, a friend, a Daughter of Christ, a young professional, and more. There have been a few decisions I wouldn’t have made if I were still living in my comfort zones. And I’m talking big decisions.

I think the lesson here is God is always in control. He’s going to take you places you never thought you’d go. He’s going to lead you and guide you, and He knows sometimes our souls + hearts need to be pushed out of our comfort zone to get us to go where we’re suppose to be. And you have to let Him.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” 2 Timothy 1:7

I’m still navigating letting Him have control, but I think it really does take giving up our own understanding. It’s been a beautiful thing being in Nashville. I’ve been molded, shaped, torn, defeated, redeemed, and I’m evolving more and more each day into the woman God has planned for me to be.

What’s your step into faith look like?

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@morganashley_w @ThePoiemaLife @morganashley_w