What's up, wonderful, amazing, sweet, and lovely people?
How are you all doing today? I hope you're having an amazing day and that you're not letting anybody steal your joy!
Welcome to MaryamsJoyfulLife.
Today is a beautiful day, and I am so excited to be back! I've taken a little break from blogging for the past couple of weeks. It wasn't completely intentional, but it was probably partially intentional. I've been so busy preparing to move from Georgia to Texas that I just didn't have the energy or inspiration to keep blogging.
There was so much to think about—the packing, the planning, the emotions, and the transition into a completely new chapter of life. At times, blogging felt like one more thing on my already full plate, so I gave myself permission to take a break.
But I'm back now, and I'm so glad to be here with you all!
We finally made the move, and now we're officially in Texas!
Today, I want to share something that happened to me before and during this journey. It's something many of us face: fear.
For those of you who know, driving from Georgia to Texas is no small trip. Depending on where you're leaving from, it can take anywhere from 18 to 25 hours. I had never driven that kind of distance before, and honestly, the thought of it overwhelmed me.
I started asking myself all kinds of questions.
"Can I really do this?"
"Should I just fly?"
"Should we hire someone else to move everything?"
The more I thought about it, the more anxious I became.
After looking at the logistics, we realized it would cost a lot more money for someone else to handle everything. Still, the fear remained. I kept thinking about the distance, the responsibility, and everything that could potentially go wrong.
But instead of allowing myself to stay stuck in worry, I started praying.
I committed the entire move into God's hands.
I prayed, "Lord, help us. Be with us. Guide us. Protect us. Thank You for Your mercy and grace."
When moving day finally arrived, I was definitely nervous. But at the same time, I was excited. My sweet man had already been in Texas for about a month and had prepared a place for us. I was excited to see our new home and begin a new chapter.
Georgia had been my home for years.
I went to college there.
I got married there.
I got divorced there.
I had all of my children there.
So leaving Georgia felt both exciting and scary.
As we drove, there were moments when fear would suddenly hit me. I would find myself staring ahead and thinking, "Oh my goodness, what am I doing?"
The fear would come out of nowhere.
But every time it did, I prayed.
I spoke the name of Jesus.
I would say, "Blood of Jesus."
I would remind myself that I was covered and protected.
I kept praying throughout the trip, throughout the journey, and throughout the drive.
And guess what?
We made it.
God saw us through.
His mercy and grace were more than enough.
Looking back now, I'm still amazed.
Sometimes I think, "Wow... I really did that."
How did I do it?
I know it was by the grace of God and because I kept moving forward despite the fear.
I didn't wait for the fear to disappear.
I moved anyway.
And that's the encouragement I want to leave with you today.
Maybe you've been wanting to make a change for years.
Maybe you've been wanting to move.
Start a business.
Take a trip.
Go back to school.
Apply for that job.
Launch that dream.
But fear has kept you stuck in the same place.
I want to encourage you today:
Do it afraid.
Don't wait until you feel completely confident.
Don't wait until every question has been answered.
Don't wait until fear disappears.
Take the step anyway.
It's better to move forward with fear than to stay in the same place wondering "what if" for the rest of your life.
You might be surprised by what you're capable of accomplishing once you start moving.
Pray.
Trust God.
Take action.
And watch what happens.
Fear may show up, but it doesn't have to be in charge.
Today, I encourage you to stop procrastinating.
Take action on that dream.
Take that vacation.
Start that project.
Make that move.
Have that conversation.
Whatever it is that God has placed on your heart, pray about it and go for it.
You are stronger than you think.
You are more capable than you realize.
And with God's help, you can do more than you ever imagined.
Thank you so much for stopping by today and spending a little time with me.
I'm so happy to be back, and I can't wait to share more of this journey with you.
Until next time, don't let anybody steal your joy!
With love,
MaryamsJoyfulLife
