Last week in my new series One Bloggers Confessions, I shared how I needed to Cease Striving. One of the things that I have learned over the years, is that when God shows me something, I need to take some time to STOP and examine just why I am doing a certain unhealthy behavior.
The revealing of my heart? FEAR! Are you ever struck by fear when it comes to blogging?
It seems so silly doesn’t it?! We start our blogs for so many different reasons…fun, we love writing, to share our passions, etc. and somewhere along the lines our passion and fun can turn into a fearful striving!
Fear of what?
- Fear of not having enough Page views
- Fear someone won’t like me
- I’ll never make money at this
- I’ll never make “enough” money at this
- I’m not posting enough/I’m posting too much
- I’m not in the right Niche
- My color scheme is all wrong
- My social buttons are wrong
- My sidebars are too cluttered/my sidebars are too bare
- My topics are boring
- My posts are too long/short
- Fear of not writing interesting posts
- Then the fear that nobody will read those posts
- Fear that we aren’t doing something right with our Social Media
- Fear that someone else’s content will be the same as ours..or visa versa
- Fear that we have no gifts or talents
- Fear that we are wasting too much time on the computer.
- Is my SEO right!? Can Goooogle find me?
Fear…Fear…Fear
Unfortunately this can lead to striving OR it can paralyze us into doing nothing or even worse…quitting!
When we realize that fear is the underlying reason for all of this striving, we need to STOP once again, and turn our eyes toward the One that is in charge of it all. Fear has no place in our blogging life. It all belongs to God anyway…from beginning to end. Whether you blog about food, crafts, health, faith and everything in between…it belongs to Him. We must trust Him who created us.
This is a scripture I continually tell my kids:
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10
Do we need to work our blogs as a business? Of course we do, if that is what we want to do. However, when I am finished for the day, I must entrust any outcome to the Lord. I must entrust that He has put on my heart what is to be shared and what is not.
Most of all I must REST in the fact that God is in control of this whole blogging business in my life. My success is due to His grace and mercy, not because I’m so wonderful and deserve it.
“This is what the Lord says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24
If we know right where we stand with God…every single one of us, then we can rest in His grace and mercy and not fear that we are not enough…because the truth is, we are not.
So let’s let God be God and have fun along the way, sharing our lives our gifts and our talents with this internet world.
[Tweet “Let’s Blog More and Fear Less!”]
Let’s fear the only One that matters…
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” Psalm 111: 10
Have a blessed day! Ok!?
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Jessy @ The Life Jolie says
Thank you for posting this, it’s exactly what I needed to hear. I am new at blogging and have SO much to learn it feels like there are never enough hours in the day. I go back and forth between being confident when I do something right and being scared when I feel overwhelm or clueless (much of the time). You’re absolutely right, it’s not in my hands, and I just need to do what I do and keep chugging along.
I stopped by from Titus-2-Tuesday.
Rose @ Walnut Acre says
It seems like there is always something more that “needs” to be done on a blog and it’s so easy for me to fear I’ll never get it all right. Thank you for sharing these encouraging words.
Heather @ My Overflowing Cup says
I love the heart of this post, Shari. I was just talking with a friend today about how our high expectations can allow us to be feared into inactivity. This is why it is so important (for me, personally) that I put my blog in God’s hands. I try my best, but then I allow Him to do the rest. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies, right? Thanks for this encouraging reminder.
Blessings to you and yours.
Cheryl @Treasures from a Shoebox says
Oh how I needed to read this today. TODAY!!! The day we begin setting up our brand new blog. Though I’ve been blogging “for fun” for 5 years, 5 of my daughters and I are endeavoring to start a family blog for profit. Though we are over-the-top excited about this, there is a sense of fear as well. I’ve pinned this for those moments when we need a reminder to not be afraid. Thank you for sharing!
Maria says
Thank you for posting another thought-provoking piece. There’s plenty of fears that come with blogging–mainly it’s driven by numbers and anything quantitative. I try not to get it to me as well and just do the best I can. Numbers and page views, monetization and praise mean nothing if the content and the message isn’t there. That’s what I try to always remember when blogging. At the end of the day, I tried my best and I can’t do any more than that. Everything else will run its course, everything else will come with time. Great message. I appreciate you sharing this 🙂
Emily says
Yes, we are not enough. Only through our Savior! Great reminder.
Gail Akeman says
I have many of those fears for my blog as well. I need to work on my blog more than what I do.
Tondra Denise says
Yes ma’am, this is my resolve… Fear less, and live accordingly!! Thank you for reminding me today that I am FREE!
Cheri says
Visiting from all things purpose linky…Nice post! I find takes alot of time to blog with intent…meaning if you want to earn any money from your blog..that is the hard part! I can chatter and share and help all day long on a blog…but getting it out there to others and earning option are the hard parts. Those are where I continue to struggle! By the time I learn something new….it is out dated!! LOL! But I keep trying and hope I inspire someone to preserve their memories!
Beth McIntire says
Wow, this could have come right from my own thoughts! Thank you for letting me know I’m not alone.
Lisa Appelo @ LisaAppelo.com says
Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for addressing this. I thought it was just me since I’m a new blogger and trying to find a rhythm to all this. 🙂 Found you on Living Well Spending Less Thrifty Thursday. You have a great site!
Susan says
I’ve been wrestling with finding the right blog/family/life balance. Thanks for giving me more to consider. Thanks for sharing at the This Is How We Roll Link Party on Organized 31.
Laura of Harvest Lane Cottage says
When I started blogging in 2007, it was never with the idea of it being a business. The whole community of blogging has changed, I wouldn’t even know how to start.
Blessings,
Laura
Ally | A Home Called Shalom says
Mmm great post.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell the story! I think that’s what blogging is really all about- sharing our redemption story for the glory of God!
Deb Wolf says
Fear so often feels like a hamster in a wheel. Thanks for these great tips. A perfect reminder for my day. Thanks for linking up at CMB my friend! Enjoy a blessing-filled weekend!
Dawn says
Yes! It’s so easy to get caught up in that fear about blogging. I have to continually shut that out and do just what you said, placing my trust in God. Thank you for these encouraging words,
Kenzel says
Fear.
Talk about a 4 letter word! I got to thinking after I read this post about the word Rest. It’s also a 4 letter word. But if you put Fear and Rest next to each other they are exact opposites and come from opposite sources. I am learning to over come Fear by Fixing my Eyes on God and then He puts me at Rest.
Thanks for sharing this,
-Kenzel
Kim Jones says
By no mistake or coincidence did I come across your post at Faith Filled Friday. I am struggling with this exact thing and know God is telling me to get it under control. The verses you highlighted spoke to me. Such an encouragement. Thank you for sharing what God clearly put on your heart because so many of us needed to hear it! Thank you friend.
Tiffany | A Touch of Grace says
Thank you for this post. I think we all have fear about blogging at one time or another. I know I do; mostly around traffic and stats. I’m working on starting another business and am definitely paralyzed by fear with that business. But being able to push past those fears will definitely help us achieve all the success we want.
Thanks for linking up at the Shine Blog Hop!
Tabitha Blue says
YES!!!! Thank you for this! Thank you for sharing your heart and for encouraging me today. Absolutely, there can be so many things we can get wrapped up in that we shouldn’t. GREAT reminder!! 🙂 Thanks for linking up with the #DreamCreateInspire blog hop!
Rachel Lamfers says
Thank you for writing this! I am a new blogger since February, and fear was the main reason for keeping me from pursuing this passion for many years. Now that I have started, fear is still there, but I know I am doing what I need to be doing. Thanks for this reminder to not let fear stand in our way of following through with the passions and gifts that God has given us. http://www.rachellamfers.com
Sherry says
Hi Shari Lynne, I’m Sherry Lynn! What a funny coincidence! Thank you for your encouragement and the reminder of who’s in charge.
Jen says
Hi, Shari, I’m so glad you shared this over at Grace and Truth this week! You really hit the nail on the head – especially how fear can lead to opposite extremes – striving or being paralyzed. I think we’ve all been there before. You gently lead us back to the place where we belong; in the hands of our Father God. You’re right. It’s all His anyways. Thanks again for sharing with us!
Jen : )
J @ A Hot Southern Mess says
This is exactly what I needed to read today! Thank you for sharing it! I was dealing with fear of not enough page views / my blogging life is over type of thing today. So thank you!
Lisa Jones says
Thank you for this! It was exactly what I needed to hear at exactly the right time. I am still working behind the scenes on my blog, as in it isn’t live yet. I was SO excited when I first started my blogging journey, but recently I have been feeling fearful and overwhelmed. This post was a reminder to me of the word God has given me: COURAGE. Thank you!
Ika Khoza says
I’m not sure how I landed on your blog ( clearly God wanted me to find this post). I questions myself all the time, if people will like my blog. I sometimes feel paralysing fear BUT I remind myself that All things work well together for the good of them that love HIM and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Thank you for sharing