Facing my Fears

I am normally not the type of person who likes to host a party. Going to a party is different than hosting a party or having a party in my honor. I get insanely nervous and anxious before the actual event. I always have this fear that results in a dull ache in the pit of my stomach that no matter how well I plan, people are not going to show up. Anytime I had a birthday party, bridal shower, or baby shower I would get so nervous! I don’t even like having parties for my kids!

So when I felt God leading me to start a new ministry for girls I got that same anxious feeling in the pit of my stomach, what if no one comes? I began to talk about this ministry, Miss Sisterhood and share the vision God had given me with some of the young ladies who help lead our youth ministry. To my surprise they were more excited about it than I was! So we began planning. 

Plans are far from execution and usually my execution needs some work, but last Friday night we successfully hosted our very first Miss Sisterhood event! It was awesome! I was really hoping to have fifty girls show up, that was my goal. All day on Friday I was nervous that no one would come. I began to wish I had never told anyone about Miss Sisterhood.

This is where God began to teach me a valuable lesson. When God speaks and we obey, He never disappoints us or lets us down. I had to remember I didn’t decide to do Miss Sisterhood on my own. God placed that desire in my heart and in the hearts of some amazing young women. When God puts an idea in our heads or a dream in our heart it is not to tease us or cause us to fail so He can sit up in Heaven and laugh. He does this to test our obedience to His voice, but more importantly He does it to further His Kingdom.

It is hard to face our fears and obey God. Fear can keep us from fulfilling our purpose. Fear can hold us captive in mediocrity. Fear can cause us to miss out on greatness and success! Sometimes we have to step out and obey God, not by ourselves but with people who will support you and stand with you no matter what.

I am so thankful to all the people who helped make the first night of Miss Sisterhood a success. Because of them fifty-one girls were able to hear how special they are to God. They were able to hear that they fit in somewhere, that they have an amazing purpose in Christ. In a generation where girls don’t value themselves, where girls choose to disrespect themselves by what they wear and they way they act there is a group of girls who are making the choice to change. Not only to change for themselves but to change so that other girls can be set free from the bondage of depression, promiscuity, lust, eating disorders, self-mutilation and suicide!

Together we are choosing to stand up and fight for a generation of young ladies who cannot stand up for themselves. That is what Miss Sisterhood is all about and I am so excited that God is choosing to use us to do it. I believe that because fear did not win a generation of girls can change!