When I read Holley’s prompt for this week’s God-sized dream post (to write a letter starting with “Dear Chihuahua of Fear”), I was excited.

Because the longer I’m on this journey of following God-sized dreams, the more I see how fear has impacted my life in the past.

And I love the idea of writing a letter… a goodbye letter.

As Holley says:

“Fear hangs out right next to whatever it is you’re most called to do. That means the closer you get to your calling, the louder fear sounds. Keep going–fear is a chihuahua that sounds like a Doberman.” —You’re Made for a God-sized Dream, Chapter Five

And I’ve seen the truth in that. Fear can hold you back from doing the exact thing you’re supposed to do, if you let it.  (There have been times in my life that I have.)

But if you press on in spite of fear–even if everything in you wants to run or turn back or quit, the bark gets quieter and quieter until you no longer hear it.

And you end up growing and changing in ways you never thought you would. (When I look back over my own life, I see that the times I had the most fear were often right before I had some sort of major breakthrough or change that drew me closer to my calling.)

Even though it can be hard to push through fear, when we do, new doors open that never would have opened if we had cowered and let fear win.

And that’s why this letter is a goodbye letter.

Because even though I still face fears in my life, the way I look at fear has changed. I’ve seen what happens when you have courage and press on in spite of being scared, and I know full well now that fear is not a Doberman.

It’s a tiny little Chihuahua.

And no Chihuahua is going to hold me back from living out my purpose.

So…

Dear Chihuahua of Fear,

It’s time to say goodbye.

I know you’ve gotten attached to following me around over the years, but I’m just not listening to your bark anymore.

You’ve had enough of my attention.

Your tactics worked for a while: your yipping and yapping–loud and persistent–making me worry I wasn’t perfect enough, or good enough, or qualified enough.

And your running around in constant circles biting at my heels was effective for a while too, keeping me from moving forward to where I needed to go.

But that was then

and this is now

and grace wins

and dreams are being fulfilled.

And I just don’t have time for you anymore.

Because life is passing

and too much is at stake

and what is there to fear when you’re God-sized dreaming and the results aren’t up to you anyway?

So I’m sorry to say I’m done feeding you,

and I’m done taking you on walks with me,

and I’m done letting you sleep at the foot of my bed at night.

I’m listening to a new sound now (not your barking),

and it is sweet.

Much sweeter than a Chihuahua trying to sound like a Doberman.

 

 

What about you? Are you listening to the bark of fear or are you pressing on in spite of it? Has there been a time you’ve been able to move through fear and you’ve seen what’s on the other side?

Stop by Holley’s place to join in on today’s link up! And be sure to check out her book You Were Made for a God-Sized Dream: Opening the Door to All God Has For You (it is SO good!) and open your own door to the possibilities ahead!

Related posts on pursuing dreams:

A letter to the God-Sized Dreamers

My God-Sized Dream

About my dream of being a writer

On Being a Fanner of Dreams