Last week, I had the opportunity to teach two breakout sessions at a Kid’s Ministry conference. The first session was on working well with other teams within a church staff. The second was about using your personal stories to point kids to Jesus. Both were amazing and I really enjoyed connecting with the people who attended those sessions. In the second session, someone asked me a question that I think we all wrestle with as it relates to our life and purpose. She asked, “What if I am not comfortable sharing my stories with others?”

For me, there have been plenty of seasons where fear has had a large voice in how much I “put myself out there.” Fear has whispered things like, “No one cares,” “No one wants to hear what you have to say,” “People will judge you,” or “People will leave you.” If these fears are given free rein over our minds, we will shut down, we will shrink back, and we will not put our best stuff selves out into the world.

So how do we combat these fears and bring our best? First, we have to remember that God wants to use our stories to bring others closer to Him and closer to hope. Your story matters and it is one of the key tools that God has given you to equip and empower you to live out your purpose. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” He has plans and a purpose for you. Everything you have walked through can be used for His glory.

Next, we have to do it afraid. Usually, the anticipation of a thing is way worse than the thing itself. This is something I have to remind my kids of often. When stress and anxiety build up before a big moment, my wife and I encourage them, “Be brave. Do not be afraid. But, if you are scared, do it afraid!¹”

Finally, we need people who will encourage and push us forward. For years I dreamed of writing a book. There were plenty of people who told me I should. Even as I fleshed out the ideas and got positive feedback, the fears crept in and convinced me to quit. I shelved the project and let the dream slowly fade. Finally, a conversation with a friend convinced me to dust it off and get it done. He reminded me that stories are the best and most unique thing about humanity. Stories connect us, they guide us, and they give us hope. So, friends, I finished the book. I published the book. And the book is now for sale. I did it afraid. And guess what; that fear is still there. Every minute that this book is “out there,” there are fears within me that say, “It’s not good enough,” “No one cares,” “This stinks.”

But I KNOW that God put these stories in me, I know that God gave me this message to share, and I know that He is going to use this book, these stories, and these moments to accomplish His perfect will and plans. So, if you need a quick pick-me-up or a simple moment to sit with Jesus and seek what He has for you, I’d encourage you to grab a copy. God has used the simple things in my life to point me forward and guide me every step of the way. He will do the same for you. You just have to be willing to “put it all out there” and sometimes, you have to do it afraid.

What fears have you had to face that led to a positive life change? share them in the comments and let’s help each other “Do it afraid!”

¹This is actually the subject of my upcoming podcast episode featuring Esther Moreno. It releases this Monday, September 25th and I can’t wait to share it! Subscribe now at brandonhair.me/podcast.