No Fear Here

I love public speaking!

It's true that I was nervous today leading up to my presentation. So nervous, in fact, that I called my mother, and she had to pray for me over the phone. She is so good at that. Suddenly I realized that although I knew I was capable of doing well, I was focusing on my fear that somehow I'd mess it up. And if I did, what would people think?

I was afraid of what people thought of me, most of them people I didn't even know.

I knew that this was an opportunity to become more comfortable doing something that I already know I enjoy. I enjoyed it in college, have loved giving toasts at weddings, and hoped I'd soon be able to speak publicly again. I didn't even flinch when my boss asked me to speak.

Yet, there I was letting fear control my life. WHAT?!

But when I changed my focus to the Lord - knowing that He was going with me, standing beside me, being my "invisible friend" - my nervousness turned to excitement. Of course I was going to do well! Not only did I know what I was talking about, I knew that God had given me a gift. If I felt nervous, it would only be because my focus was on my fear.

And "No fear exists where His love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear doesn't have perfect love." (I John 4:18)

Well, His love exists here. I know it personally. So I told fear to go away.

And I rocked that speech. Pretty sure I got more applause than anyone else. :) And my colleagues later said they could tell I was so comfortable up there.

Moral of the story: God is good.

(And Mom is really wise from knowing Him for so long.)