Are you wanting to start a blog, but are a little terrified of the entire process?

Well, if you have been wanting to start and blog and have been thinking about it for a lonnngggg time, welcome to the club!

I had been pondering over the idea of blogging for two years. Two years. Yikes. 

Blogging is something that I wanted to do for so long! If I think back to all the reasons that I decided to put blogging off, I would have to say that there are mainly four things that kept me from pursing my blogging dreams.

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4 Things That Kept Me From Blogging

1. I felt inadequate.

“Who am I to think that I can talk to an audience of people? Or that those people will want to hear my thoughts and opinions? Am I qualified to give my thoughts and opinions?  I am young and do not have a lot experience in a variety of areas”.

These are all things that I thought during my 2 years of “overthinking”.  I also really struggled with the thought that I would be able to provide useful content for others to read.

2. What if no one believed my story?  

For me, this hurdle was a large one to overcome. 

When I began getting sick,  some people would tell me that I was faking my illness for attention. Others would say that my illness was not that bad because it is invisible. For a long time, I felt really insecure about my story, especially because doctor’s cannot find a diagnosis yet.

3. The fear of failing. 

Remember when I told you I was afraid that no one would believe my story? Well, as big of a hurdle as that was to overcome, I believe that this one was even bigger. For the longest time, it seemed like I had to quit every. single. thing. that I started. I wanted so badly to do so many things.

I wanted to work, lead worship, and go on class trips. Each time, I could count on my body failing me. For a long time, I would start something only to have to back out a few weeks later because my body couldn’t handle it.

Every fiber of my being desires to be reliable and to work hard. Eventually, this cycle became so emotionally taxing that I no longer had a desire to try new things.

4. The opinion of others.

“What are people going to say when they find out I started a blog? Will my family see this as a good use of my time? What if people are critical of what I say? Will others see this as a real job?” 

These are all questions that I struggled with before I started my blogging journey!

How I Overcame These With The Gospel

When I feel inadequate I remember who my God is.

One thing that I love to do when I feel inadequate is to pray through the names of God. Listed below are a few.

• Jehovah Jireh: The LORD will Provide (Genesis 22:14)
• El Roi: The God Who Sees Me (Genesis 16:13)
• Jehovah Rapha: The LORD who Heals (Exodus 15: 22-16)
• Jehovah Nissi: The LORD my Banner (Exodus 17: 15)
• El Elyon: The Most High God (Psalm 78: 35)
• Jehovah Tsidkenu: The LORD our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23: 5-6)
• El Shaddai: God Almighty ( Psalm 91: 1-2)
• Jehovah Shalom: The LORD is Peace (Judges 6:24)

When I turn my gaze towards all the things that He is, I find myself empowered. My God Provides. He sees me. My God heals. He is the God of peace. The LORD is the banner that I look to whenever I am in the midst of my battles. He is the God Most High, the One who makes us righteous and the One who is All Sufficient.

If He is able “to do do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20, ESV), why would I ever want to deviate from His power or His strength?

For so long, I continued to worry over not being qualified or experienced enough to share my thoughts. However, I had forgotten who my God was; who He is. He is the one who equips me and directs my steps.

When I worry about my story and whether or not people will question it, I remember that this is really not my story after all.

My illness was and will never be about me, but about how I can point right back to Him. In fact, I would even argue that this is the entire point of life; to bring glory to Him. Colossians 3:17 (ESV) says,

“And Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

I’ve decided that I am going to share my story, no matter the opinions of others. I have seen God work in so many wonderful ways throughout my life and I want to encourage others by sharing what He has done.

What if I fail?

I so desperately want to be able to do something well and with my whole heart without causing my body to fail on me in a few weeks or in a few months.  While I do not think there is anything wrong with these desires, it took me a while to realize that what works for others is different than what works for me, and that is OKAY! I will never believe that pushing my body to the point of collapse (literally) is the only way to achieve success.

For a long time, I became so convinced I would be destined to fail physically, that I ceased trying new things. This kept me from not only growing as a person, but it kept me from listening and obeying the Holy Spirit. I had forgotten about Isaiah 41:10 which says,

“Do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)

This verse begins with commands and ends with comforting promises. When we fearlessly pursue Him and what He has called us to do, He will be right behind us, strengthening us an cheering us on.

When I worry about the opinions of others, it is because I have forgotten who I am. 

Not only am I Cassidy, a girl with a bad case of wanderlust, an obsession with yoga, and a mysterious illnesses. But I am Cassidy, the girl who has been redeemed and adopted into the family of El Shaddai! The things I write are meant to bring glory and praise to Him alone. As much as I want people to see blogging as a good, productive thing, I want Him to be pleased with it more.

If it is not to His glory, there is not a point to it.

I know that not everyone will agree with me 100% of the time, and I am okay with that. If everyone agrees with me 100% of the time, then I am doing something wrong here.

What about you? What are some things that kept you from blogging? How did you overcome those blogging fears?  Comment below and let us know!

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