“Real freedom is freedom from the opinion of others. Above all, freedom from your own opinions about yourself.” ~ Brennan Manning
I had never written a book before. So, every day when I wrote Finding Spiritual Whitespace, the critical voice in me would say, “Who do you think you are? You think someone wants to read this? Don’t waste your time.”
Maybe you hear similar voices about your own art or about spending time or attention on something you enjoy — a seed that’s planted in you?
You keep checking the soil of your heart, doubting it, thinking it fell there by accident. But it’s still lying quiet there, waiting for you to breathe and water it with your care and your hands.
Many times, feelings of guilt weigh us down the minute we begin to feel inspired.
You Are Worth It
It’s like an automatic response when I want to share something free from my heart — or when I feel drawn to do something I feel I’d enjoy.
I begin to guilty for not doing something earlier — for something I did, didn’t do, or did wrong.
I beat myself up.
I replay my mistakes.
I waste enormous amounts of energy re-enacting how I could have done it differently.
I feel bad. I feel that I am bad.
We are afraid to fully lean into that feeling of rest. And joy. Or peace.
We might not think we deserve rest or special attention. We might not think we’ve earned it. We may be afraid to give time and attention to nurture our passion.
Are we really worth it? we ask silently.
… (to be continued)
…To read the rest of “4 Ways To Let Grace In Instead of Guilt”, click here and join me over at DaySpring’s (in)courage site, where today’s post is published.
Pause. Get soul refreshed. Join me there. I’d love your company.
5 Comments
Bonnie, thank you so much much for your words this morning. Sometimes I feel alone, but God uses you to bring me back to reality. I keep waiting for some big sign, but I just need to start. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just Him! May God bless you for your faithfulness. I need to start writIng!
I enjoyed reading your post. A friend and I were talking about this very thing the other day. I’m going to forward it to her. I know she will be blessed by it as much as I was. Thank you!
That guilt monster torments me so much. I found myself nodding “yes” to so much of what you said, Bonnie. Thank you for understanding. May God kick out the guilt and Satan’s lies and give you strength and wisdom as you write your second book! Blessings and hugs to you!
Dear Bonnie,
Peace be with you. Oh how the Lord has used your writings to prompt my heart.Today’s post ministered to me and drove away the doubts for now. I am called to lead a prayer group which I have half-heartly been doing for the past 2 and a half years. The doubts and fears overwhelm me at times but I keep moving in obedience to how I sense the Lord leading me. Many times my flesh has blinded me and caught me in my brokeness which takes me down the road of not enough. This post connected something inside me that the Father is speaking to, that seed. I feel the roar of thunder and the Spirit of the Lord rise within the soul. It comes like a crashing wave upon the shore, it is in this moment I experience the Lord speaking through me in a manner that is not my own. This passion awakings and I am driven to speak, moved to proclaim the goodness of God the redeemer. In my doubts I hide. In my fears it puts out the fire within. “What would people think? I am not a scholar, I have not gone to bible college? all these spiders like to weave a web of doubt. “But God has not given us a spirit of fear.” Today you’ve given me a gift, you’ve allowed your gift to touch what is hidden within me, that seed. LOL tonight is prayer group meeting the thought of all my weakness was playing before I read your post. All the scripture quotes you posted I prayed with and it has given me peace. God’s peace and I needed this for tonight.”the Spirit helps us in our weakness.” Blessings to you and Thank you for being a kindered soul
Thank you Bonnie for this, especially the reflection statements. Your words help many be the one who the One created them to be. There are many lies I battle that seem so realistic! Four years ago I was working toward a writing degree and then I let life get interrupted with distractions and now as I try to make my writing a focus again it feels like my skills have depleted and I will never get them back again or move forward. Stuck. But am nudged to let go of the guilt, be present and know He has made me already worthy. Blessings to you!