How to Overcome Obstacles To Success
It’s hard means God’s not in it, right?
Ever feel like things come so much harder for you than other people?
Often, when things become difficult, especially when we’re doing what we believe in our heart the Lord has told us to do, we start to doubt His voice and enter a cycle of giving up – re-starting – repeat.
Case in point…
Give Up or Keep Going?
I was impressed to be more transparent with my blog, giving the bigger picture of how much darkness I was in, while highlighting the wonderful light I fight to stay in every day.
I know the battle is His, but I also know that we are in a war for our souls and we have to be armed with the armor of God. (Ephesians 6:14-17).
And sometimes, it’s so HARD! But then the Holy Spirit reminds me that my strength comes when I’m weak (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Big Plans; HUGE Obstacles
I was working on moving my blog to another, more popular, platform. Man! There were so many road blocks that I was on the verge of tears several times!
I just couldn’t do it anymore and began doubting my assignment – To share my testimony and let God do the rest. To plant and water so He can give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6).
To help build the kingdom by letting people know that God cares no matter how dark the night looks.
There were 3 main frustrations which caused me to want to throw in the towel:
- Fighting with my new hosting platform on a daily basis
- Bad home internet which triples my creating time
- Imposter syndrome
All while working a full-time job!
I felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere which, I thought, meant I just needed to scrap everything.
So, I did.
Then I prayed
“Lord! I surrender Deer’s Feet to you! If it’s me wanting to get attention, forgive me and change my heart. I want to share my testimony and glorify You!”
And He answered
He told me I was spending more time trying to make the vehicle of my testimony look pretty, than I was with Him.
I listened. I accepted what He said. And I changed some things BUT…
- I was still fighting with my hosting platform
- My internet was still shoddy
- I was still struggling with imposter syndrome
Then, once again, I said, “I give up!” “The voice I heard wasn’t God’s so forget the whole thing!”
Then a thought came to my mind
During my early college years (long before the digital age) I wanted to start a magazine, mainly for girls, that gave them encouragement and boosted their self-worth. I had a vision of writing articles, highlighting fun activities, talking about how they’re all beautiful, etc.
Something I wished I had when I was their age, and actually needed at the time.
Wow! I had completely forgotten about that un-fulfilled dream.
I believe it came to me to remind me that I’ve been tasked to give my testimony with the gift of writing and story that He’s given me for a while, but I hadn’t done it. And now that I am doing it, I need to stay focused, and keep building my relationship with Him.
I can’t drift away from Him and expect to show others how wonderful it is to trust Him even during dark times.
Fast forward to today
Here’s my magazine. Dream fulfilled!
I buckled down and thought of how to get around or out of the obstacles that I had, instead of allowing them to hold me back.
- I changed my hosting company, AGAIN
- I found the best place in my house, and time of day, for the best service
- I moved forward in faith BELIEVING – NOT DOUBTING, what God has done in my life, eager to share and encourage others
So, despite the challenges that may seem small to others, but often insurmountable to me, I will keep depending on God to take my deer’s feet up/through/over/around the mountain of obstacles so I can glorify Him, not just at the top, but in the journey, too.
What has the Lord placed on your heart to accomplish?
Do you feel overwhelmed sometimes and start to question if it’s really Him?
Cry out to Him. Ask Him to show you. He promises to answer. (Isaiah 65:25)
Whether we are sincere or not, He’ll let us know. Just be ready for the answer and realize His ultimate desire is to spend eternity with you.
He’s a loving parent and with love comes discipline.
We’re all called to be a witness for Him. Every day is a journey.
What’s yours?
