I have often wondered why I continue to do…this. Blogging, writing, building community online. There are already so many voices out there – women who are well spoken, speakers who bring souls to know Jesus, the ones who seem kinder, funnier, more popular. It’s easy to sit back and watch the Twitter stream fly by, wondering where you fit in. And it’s easy to convince yourself that you would never be missed if you gave it all up.
This year? I’m committing to stay, even when I don’t feel like I belong. I’m choosing to believe that God has called me to these spaces and given me these gifts, not because I’m capable, but because He is. To be honest? As much as my heart craves and loves community, the in real life version scares me even more than the online space I’ve come to embrace.
I’m a community builder who is terrified of community.
I’ve felt left out, passed over, ignored, hurt, rejected, and insecure. My introverted-by-nature personality has no idea how to make small talk, so I over-compensate and over-share. I fake being an extrovert and end up hugging people…and then I learn later that they aren’t really huggers.
But God keeps calling me back. Not only to the online world, but to in real life community, to share my story and to learn to be a better listener to others as they share theirs. God isn’t calling me to community because He wants me to do something big for other women. He’s calling me there because I need sisters. I need other women in my life so that I can be a better mama, a better wife, to feel less alone, be encouraged and be filled up after pouring out so much.
When I’m brave enough to show up, and my sisters are courageous enough to share their personal testimonies and stories with me, our hearts are healed. Souls made stronger. The lies of the enemy silenced. It is a holy moment when your story and my story overlap. Daughters of the King, precious and extraordinary, shining Jesus through the everyday and ordinary.
This is why your story is important. And it’s why the theme of this year’s (in)courage (in)RL conference is “We Need Your Story.” Will you join us?
Here’s what you need to know:
- Register now at: www.inrl.us
- It’s FREE!
- Everyone who registers a free backstage pass to all (in)RL content from 2012 & 2013! {access expires April 24, 2014}
- Anyone who registers on the www.inrl.us page TODAY (January 15th) will be entered to win a FREE pair of Allume Conference tickets OR one of 2 pairs of IF:Austin tickets!
- When: The (in)RL Online Webcast kicks off on Friday, April 25 and (in)RL Meetups follow on Saturday, April 26.
Whether you feel called to host a Meetup in your church for several dozen women, to invite a few special friends to your home for tea and cake, or to join as an attendee at someone else’s Meetup – will you join us? I’m inviting YOU, my friend, to share your story.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I feel like I could have written this post myself. I just jumped into this online world (as a writer instead of only a reader) in the last two weeks. It was after reading Emily Freeman’s book Grace for the Good Girl and attending The Barn Event that I realized that God was working in me to be an encourager to other women who have struggled with fear, developing their faith, and discovering freedom that comes in Christ. To be authentic about my struggles when all I really want to do is hide behind my pastor-turned-life coach husband who is extroverted, funny, and never meets a stranger. Instead, I have realized that God has ministry for ME to do. Even in the last few week’s I’ve been a bit overwhelmed at the response (positive!) that I’ve received from the blog, realizing how inadequate I really am. Especially when I start the comparison game with other the other ‘big name’ bloggers. But I believe that is part of the process. Realizing it’s not in my own strength that I can jump into this and provide value to other women. It’s only Christ working in me – there is no other explanation. And that these other women who have so much influence are just God’s vessels too. They are following God’s leading for their own life. There is room for us all! God has work for ALL of us to do. It’s our job to listen to his voice and following his leading for our own life. I’m excited to continue to share in this online space. What a joy and a blessing, amidst the challenges that we face as introverts who don’t know how to small talk or when to hug! 🙂 Blessings to you & I am praying for your ministry!
Crystal,
I’m so glad you shared this. I, too, am an introvert who doesn’t know what exactly to do with myself in a group, but here I am trying to gather a group together. It seems absurd, laughable. And then scary (What if people don’t come? What if they DO!?) But I guess we’re called to do the absurd and scary to give God glory. Whatever it takes!
Oh Bekah..that “what if they don’t come, what if they do” scenario? Played it out 100 times leading up to the first (in)RL. Guess what? God knows exactly the number of women who you need to spend that weekend with – and He’ll equip you to do what needs to be done. Which..for (in)RL is pretty much just kicking back & having a good time 🙂
as a fellow introvert, I laughed out loud at the hugging part. HAHA! been there, done that. I could have poured out all these same feelings, crystal. thank you for your “realness.”
Gosh..the worst part about that hug story? I only JUST found out that this particular person is anti-hug…months…MONTHS afterward. It’s not like I can awkwardly apologize now 😉
Oh girl… it is a “holy moment” when we come as we are and meet each other’s needs right where the need is holy! And it is a joy to count our meetings and and connections as holy moments in my life. Love you friend!!!!
Wanna come to PA and hang out with me at our meetup? {{grin}}