permission to just stop…
Did ya miss me? Uh huh, that’s right. I knew you were sitting around, wringing your hands, wondering where I’d gone off to and when I would be back. Can’t go on without the Megaphone Podcast – I get it. Can’t believe there aren’t any workshops coming up – yeah, me too. But here’s what happened.
I just stopped. Everything.
Well, everything unnecessary, that is.
I stopped writing and posting on social media and creating authentic content that points you to Jesus. I stopped podcasting and workshop planning and online course creating and book writing. I just stopped.
I missed you, of course. And I’ve missed all of these things and the community that we’ve created.
But here’s the deal. When you just can’t, just don’t. That’s the lesson I had to learn. When you’re in a chaotic season or an unprecedented situation or at a loss for words and you just can’t, just don’t.
Here’s what I want you to do instead. Here’s what I’ve actually been doing, so take it for what it’s worth.
I’ve become a new brave. I know brave is an adjective, and can be used as a noun within the Indigenous People’s group, but it fits for me here how I wrote it. I became a new brave.
Let me see if I can explain it the way that compels you to stick with me. I didn’t become brave, like, I didn’t put on a layer of bravery. It began bubbling up within. And didn’t stop until I became it. And it became me somehow. I did not choose it. It chose me. It was slow and steady and all of a sudden. Me. Brave.
(Now that I’m reading this back, maybe it does make more sense just to say that I became brave, but just let me have this one, ok?)
I had been too busy and so chaotic and just wildly out of tune. It was quite the swirling summer. So at my wits end, I stopped the swirling, took inventory of my life, and got to work. That was the brave part.
That’s what I want for you.
Stop the swirling: You know you’re swirling and you probably know why! So many things to do and deadlines to hit and expectations to meet, if not exceed. Camps and sports and youth group and car pools and on and on and bloody on. And that’s just for your kids. STOP THE MADNESS, my friend!
Take inventory: I can’t just not participate in anything. I can’t just not run my kid to practice. Yeah, I know. But I bet there are at least 2 things in your life right now that are excessive. That aren’t bringing joy, but adding to the chaos. That aren’t at all necessary for current or future happiness or success.
Get to work: Say no. Face the music. Clean up your messes. This is the super duper brave part. Turn towards your pain or your lies or your insecurity or your desperation and do something about it. Make some moves, sister, because you’re the only one that can.
I can’t tell you how many times in this swirling season that I begged not to see what I had been awakened to. It’s so much easier to allow the hum drum and busyness become the cadence that numbs you. The easy road is not my best road. Dearest friend, your easy road is likely not your best road either.
Whether large or small, whatever you need to deal with, deal with it. Stop hiding. Tell God you’re finally ready to do the hard work He’s been truly inviting you into all along. You’re so worth it. You’re so worth health over hectic, peace over people-pleasing, and stability over swirling.
Just commit to do the next right thing. Take the next right step. Ask the next right question. Make the next right call. And as you do, I will pray that the Lord will bless you, keep you, and make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. Amen and all the hallelujahs.
And soon and very soon, I’ll tiptoe back into all the things. Podcasts will fire off again. Social media will see me sitting in a bathtub full of balloons. And you, friend, will likely be invited to some big celebration of all of us just for being us. Can we do that? Can we work that out? Ok, awesome.
Love you and goodbye!
xoxo,
Lisa
