I hadn’t felt this nervous since I was waiting in the wings of the Miss America pageant 20 years ago. If I hadn’t wanted what was on the other side of that door so badly, I would have bolted.
Just behind that door was the person who could say one word and make all of my dreams come true.
I was at a Christian women’s writing conference this past weekend. Imagine, 750 women just like me. My husband says that’s a scary thought. I was in heaven.
Learning, worshiping, and loving up on other writers was amazingly fun. We all wanted the same thing… to be filled with God so we could pour out into others through our words.
Then Saturday came. That’s when I found myself sitting on a chair in a hallway, staring at a door that would lead to my future.
Actually there were two doors. Two meetings with editors from prominent publishing houses. Two people who could say “Yes! This book on kindness is amazing! Yes! This book on breast cancer is groundbreaking! We’ll take them both!”
The meetings went well. The people behind those doors were just… people. Not even a tiny bit scary. The pressure was all in my imagination.
Have you ever done that to yourself? Built something or someone up to be so big and so powerful that they become larger than reality?
I got the same answer from both publishers. Basically, they said, “Interesting. I’ll take this info back to the team and see what they say.”
Not a no. Not a yes. Just a wait.
I walked out of those rooms and immediately knew what I needed to say to my tribe– to you. Ready for it?
IT’S NOT PERSONAL.
Whatever rejection you face in your mind or in your life, is not about you. In my case it’s about what that publishing house needs at this exact moment. For you, it’s about the baggage that someone else is dragging into your conversation. Or maybe a rejection from a boss or a husband or a girlfriend is God’s way of protecting you from whatever is coming down the pipeline.
IT’S NOT PERSONAL.
God created you perfectly. Seriously. You may be a work in progress, but He still thinks you are simply wonderful. Isn’t that beautiful?
Live free today of other people’s expectations and judgements and know you are right where God wants you, and right where He can use you most at this exact moment.
And all the people said, AMEN!