As I have been on this journey of exploring fear and courage over the last five years I have thought of quitting more often than I care to admit.
This being an entrepreneur and small business owner is something I have never felt equipped to do.
As I look back there is one thing I have consistently done that has kept me going when I’ve wanted to chuck it all and look for a “regular” job. The old me thinks this “regular” job will provide security and happiness and, yet, I know from past experience that security and happiness would be short-lived.
That one thing that I have consistently done is pray for what I call “Glimmers of Hope.”
A glimmer of hope is simply anything that tells me that I should keep going on this journey of cultivating courage in myself and in others.
Over the last five years finances have been a challenge. If you don’t know my story, briefly, following a series of circumstances my wife and I started over financially from scratch in our mid 50s. From a financial perspective we literally had next to nothing.
You can see where the stability and security of a “regular” job would be appealing.
During this stretch of time a glimmer of hope usually meant a paid speaking, coaching or training gig that would help us cover our bills over the next month or two.
Those glimmers of hope often came when we were beginning to discuss “what are we going to do now?”
God has been faithful to provide those glimmers of hope at just the right time.
In my mind, I imagine the Holy Spirit with his hand in the middle of my back pushing me ever so gently and saying, “Keep going.”
Since August I have been blessed to have at least one paid speaking event each month. I’ve never come close to anything like that before.
I have also had consistent coaching clients and a couple of different training events I have done in that stretch as well.
God has faithfully provided for our needs and we are grateful!
A couple of Saturdays ago I was doing some planning for 2016.
I realized that since about last September I had things booked on my calendar for the next four or five months. That was incredible!
As I looked forward into 2016 I realized I only have things scheduled in January and February.
I started to get a little nervous.
As I reviewed the last several months to see what I needed to change, I realized it had been quite a while since I had prayed for glimmers of hope.
All too often in my faith life, as well as other areas of my life, I become comfortable and inconsistent.
On Saturday, January 16, I once again prayed for glimmers of hope as I had done so often on this journey.
Now, please understand I don’t pray to God as some genie in a bottle that grants my wishes whenever I have them. I don’t believe God works that way in spite of what people often post on Facebook telling you you will be blessed if you share a post.
However, in the past as I’ve prayed for those glimmers, the answers almost always came in the form of paid events that would help us to keep our heads above water.
I also know that God will answer prayers in His time and in his way. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes no, and sometimes later.
I have also learned that often the answer is in a fashion that I don’t expect and I need to be open to His options for me.
That was the case for me this time as He quickly answered my prayer in two ways over the next few days.
First, on Monday, January 18, I received an incredibly encouraging e-mail from a lady who heard me speak back in August of 2013.
She and I never spoke at the event where she heard me. I knew nothing of her story until, I believe it was, August of 2014.
At that time she shared with me, via e-mail, the incredible steps of courage she had taken as a result of hearing me speak.
Some day I hope to share her story with you in detail but the steps she took changed her life.
Because of her courageous stand she has faced personal and financial hardship and her battle continues to this day.
Her e-mail to me on the 18th was a glimmer of hope to keep on going. It was a nudge in the back that what I’m doing does make a difference. In spite of her hardship she knew she had done the right thing.
The second glimmer of hope came two days later. In this case it was an offer for a paid event that will help us keep our heads above water but it was in an arena and medium that is new to me.
It’s something I have thought of doing but, honestly, I have avoided because of my fear of it.
Here was an answer to prayer but it requires me to be courageous and step out of my comfort zone. This will stretch me.
It’s as if God is saying, “It’s time for you to grow some more! Trust me!”
As I prayed that prayer on the 18th I had imagined the answer to that prayer would come with speaking engagements as those answers had been in the past.
I’m not sure that five years ago I would have recognized these two things as answers to my prayers.
I’m grateful to have an awareness, at least some of the time, that God works in ways that are beyond my comprehension.
Courage requires stepping out not knowing what’s next!
Joshua 1:9
Have a STRONG and COURAGEOUS day!
Dave, your prayers are pretty much the same as most of us, especially once we have retired and are on a fixed income. You ability to realize that God speaks to us in many ways and unless we are open and perceptive, it may pass us by as His will being done. I often think of the song that talks about un-answered prayers as sometimes being the best…..I know you will continue your walk with God and hopefully continue to remind all of us that on bad days, a walk with Courage might be the difference. Blessings and continue the Good Fight!!!
Craig, I so appreciate your faithful reading of my blog! As I’ve told you before most of what I write about is more about me than about my readers. As I’ve aged I realize that most of the battles we all fight are pretty similar in nature so I have chosen to share them. I’m glad to hear they resonate with you! Blessings to you and your wife, Craig!