Feeling the Fear by Jane Clamp

When was the last time you were afraid? I mean, gut-twistingly, hands clammily, heart-racingly scared?

For me, it was yesterday. I had a key phase to complete in the renovation of my bathroom. It’s been a long project and now there’s a deadline, so I had no choice but to gird my loins and get on with it. It was all clear in my mind, each step mentally rehearsed over and over, but the moment where I had to commit to the actual task terrified me.

In my quiet time that morning, I read an encouraging verse which I’ll share with you now. It’s from The Message, Psalm 29, right at the end: God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace. It turned out to be the most important bit of equipment I needed.

Being a writer is a really scary occupation. (Why do any of us choose it?!) Daily, we have multiple fears to overcome:

·         Am I good enough?

·         Can I come up with the ideas?

·         Will I get this finished?

·         Is it worth finishing?

·         What will people think of it?

·         Will I get rejected (again)?

For many would-be writers, the obstacles are too great to overcome. Fearing outcomes which are only in their (wonderfully overactive) imagination, they get stuck. It’s not writer’s block. It’s sheer terror, and it’s like a brick wall between us and our dreams.

The only antidote I have found is this: just get on with it. In answer to the question posed above, we’re writers because we can’t help but be writers. There’s something restless in our souls that is only satisfied when we’ve converted it into words. When we’re not writing, we wish we were. There’s a well-known quote, variously attributed, that says ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway.’ You see, the fear won’t go away. It’s always terrifying to some degree to “put our work out there.” But, if we give in to the anxiety, let our fears shout louder than our dreams, then we’ll stay a ‘would-be’, a ‘might-have-been.’ It’s certainly not the epitaph I plan for my gravestone…

So, take a deep breath, tell yourself God makes his people strong. God gives his people peace, and do the thing you’ve been putting off. Step by step, we can trample down those fears.

Jane Clamp is the author of Too Soon, a mother's journey through miscarriage (SPCK). She leads 2 ACW local groups as well as retreats in Christian hotels and conference centres.
www.janeclamp.com