Got Fear?

Last week I dealt with the subject of waiting and the purpose of waiting. I'm elated that many of you all were blessed by this post. This week I am lead to touch on the subject of fear. 

On May 2, 2011,  I started my company Styling Purpose, LLC then a wardrobe and personal shopping company and now July 2014, a multi-facet creative firm (I invite you to visit our website http://www.stylingpurpose.com/) . Excited about this new chapter in my life, I booked my first paid styling gig with Sunnie Morrison of First Class Productions and started the planning phases of my first fashion show, The Great Switch with the assistance of my parents, my best friend Victoria Curry, former runway model Stephanie Warthen and a host of other supporters. Check it out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0VUVI624b8&list=UU45UyFWvQq4LcLtNbYR3weg As God would have it, June of 2011 I was laid off my job as an accountant; a job I had worked for close to 3 years. Notice I said job and not career. If you have never been laid off this feeling is comparable to a heartbreak. Consumed with mixed emotions - devastation, confusion and a sense of relief; what would I do now? Do I search for more accounting jobs or do I pursue styling full time? Prior to my lay off, I had lived such a structured and well planned life. I knew every two weeks how much I would receive and what that would pay for. I was and still am a budgeter. I didn't have the courage to quit my job, for fear of what my parents would say, what others would think and financially I couldn't afford it, but God divinely intervened. Also during this time I was in the middle of saving to purchase a home and now I was walking or should I say styling in unfamiliar territory. There was no road map or set of books on how to obtain clients or how to become a successful wardrobe stylist. I couldn't call up celebrity fashion stylist, June Ambrose and ask her for advice. However, when I built up enough courage I did tweet her once for advice and she responded in a direct message. #SHOUT To be honest the greatest feeling I felt from this experience was freedom. I was now able to pursue my dreams full time, what a blessing! 

Many times we view closed doors as God's way of punishing us, but in reality it is His method of opening new opportunities for us to conquer. The beautiful thing in this revelation is knowing that God is the only one that can open and close doors for us. Sometimes we take things personal and think that this person doesn't like me or this person is jealous of me that's why this happened to me, which is probably true, but who cares any way. God is using those people, those 'haters', 'frienemies'  to push you into your destiny. In my heart I knew God had something better for me and the only way I would leave that job situation was if I was let go.

Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭1-11‬ KJV states,"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord : the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord."

I challenge you today to walk in faith and not in fear. I pray that God will deliver us from the opinions of others and the expectations of others. That we will live our lives not to please others. We will be free! Free to be who God created us to be. Free to be individuals, comfortable in our own skin. Free to love. Free to worship. Free to dance. Free to pursue our dreams without the criticism of others.

I ran across this quote by Joel Osteen Ministries that blessed me .

Fear and faith are mutually exclusive, where one is the other cannot reside. To have faith in God, is to trust Him and to trust his timing. When we fear and worry we are not keeping our responsibility of the relationship. Who wants to be in a relationship where there is a lack of trust? It all goes back to faith. What do you believe? 

Anyone who is an entrepreneur knows that this journey isn't easy. I write this post today three years after starting my business and being laid off. God is faithful and a promise keeper to me. He has continued to order my steps and open doors of opportunity. Earlier I stated there is no road map to success, but the bible is the ultimate tool for success. Combined with His word, prayer, faith, favor, consistency and a positive attitude we are destined for success.

I want to leave you with this song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04zvUhA_EkA.

Got Faith?