Facing Anxiety in New Seasons

I wasn’t expecting it, I had been going to therapy, talking through everything I had swirling in my mind and it still punched me in the gut, hard.

Anxiety wasn’t unfamiliar, but unexpected in this new season, especially past the first trimester. I kept my pregnancy completely under wraps through the first trimester, two years ago I could barely keep myself alive so I highly doubted I could keep another human alive.

But the first trimester came and went and everything looked great, but the anxiety never left the scene. Into my 16th week, with all positive doctors reports and I still felt like I was walking on eggshells. Every time I got too hot, the car breaks slammed too hard, or I felt off I would panic. I could think logically, but it never clicked. Most of the time I combatted it with keeping myself busy with anything that I felt would keep me safe.

Why couldn’t I let go? Why couldn’t I just enjoy this season? It was defeating and isolating. BUT I knew freedom was possible despite what the enemy wanted to keep me trapped in.

So everyday I started in quiet instead of letting the days agenda start raging. Digging up all the lies and worry taking up space in my mind, taking those thoughts captive and replacing them with gratitude and hope in the future. Slowly, slowly the narrative is beginning to change. It’s only been 10 days since I started working so specifically on these moments, but every day is a little bit calmer, a little less stressful, and nothing seems quite as overwhelming.

I believe it’s the same for all of us. How often do we truly start the day in complete silence? Phones still away, no one else communicating with you yet, not attempting to conquer a workout, or be inspired by a podcast or new playlist? In today’s culture is it really possible?

Yes, and it’s necessary. AND it’s possible because God is bigger.

Put the phone down, keep the kids (or dogs) in bed for just a few minutes longer, create the boundary around that space. And work intentionally on turning every fear, lie, and overwhelming thought into something glorifying to the Lord.

Because of Him we can have hope in the future. Because of Him we can be free.

It starts with Day 1 and it may never fully feel like it goes away, but just keep pushing friend. We are in this together, and He has got you!

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Covers, Creating, and Cold Weather

Atlanta is doing my favorite thing where it’s warm when it should be cold, and cold when it should be getting warmer. So now that it’s 20-something or other I have a smaller desire to venture outside. The added bonus is that I am also suffering from the injury bug so running post #RoadtoGold has been greatly reduced. All that being said I guess it’s time to start filling you in on some details from the past several weeks.

First off, if you saw my announcement several weeks ago, I am on the final steps towards releasing my first BOOK! I have had an incredible team editing, reading, and adding insight into this work, and I am so excited to share it with you all. Want a little preview? For the first time ever, I am releasing the cover!

So, what do you think?

This work has a set up with my personal story through the wrecking, and moves towards how God has redeemed so much of the lies and hurts and molded the mess into something beautiful! But it’s not just my story, it’s our story. As we venture together through each page, there are check points and questions that allow you to dig through the mud and plant something that is going to bloom, grow, and give glory to God.

I cannot wait to release this to you all and see how you do beautiful things through it.

For now, the blog posts will stay short as I continue to put some final touches around this, but I am so excited for what’s next (and yes book #2 is already being outlined).

Have any questions or comments? Email jordan@fuelingherforward.com

We will talk more soon!