Being afraid is a feeling I know all too well because while in 1995, I did have the confidence to begin writing my first book, and I finished it by the end of that year, I was still rejected by every single literary agent I submitted my work to. I received one rejection letter after another, and soon, I became both disappointed and discouraged. Then when I took a chance on submitting my work directly to editors at publishing houses (even though I knew they didn’t prefer receiving unagented or unsolicited manuscripts), I was rejected by each of them as well. After that, I decided to give up because I feared that if I continued trying, I would receive even more rejection letters than I already had. Then, if that weren’t already enough, I became more fearful than ever when my husband suggested that I start my own business so I could publish the book myself. So in today’s episode, I talk about fear and how, not only will it cripple us, but it will also prevent us from doing all the amazing things God has given us to do. I share why we should simply just do it afraid!

There is no denying that 2020 has been one of the toughest and most trying years you and I have ever experienced. But what I also know is that God is still God, and that I will continue to trust Him and keep my faith strong through all of it. I’m doing this because as much as it may not seem like it right now…this too shall pass. Things will get better and when they do…we need to be ready. Which means it is now time, more than ever before, to ask yourself if you truly and wholeheartedly know your purpose. Because if you do, then it’s time for you to fully begin walking in it, and if you don’t…it’s time for you to make discovering it one of your top priorities in 2021. In today’s episode, I share how it was many years before I truly knew what my own purpose was, how I finally discovered it…and how you can, too.

As I sit remembering the reason for this holiday season and also thinking about how tough our current year has been, I am still so truly grateful to have yet one more opportunity to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because no matter what…we all have a lot to be thankful for. We’ve also been given quite a bit of time this year to reflect, refocus, and recognize what’s truly important…and what’s not important at all. This is also one of the reasons why today, I want to ask you the following two questions: 1) Do you need to forgive someone? 2) If the person you need to forgive passed away today, would you be able to live with that? In this episode, I’ll be sharing about my own past struggles with forgiveness, along with three things you can do to begin forgiving others as soon as possible.

So, my question for you today is…are you suffering in silence, mentally and emotionally? There is no doubt that many, many people are suffering in silence because of our unfortunate pandemic, but I’m also asking this question because for years, I suffered in silence on such a private level that not even my husband, the rest of my family, or my dearest friends had any idea I was feeling the way I was. Why? Because I was very good about smiling and saying how fine I was. Can you relate? Has this been your story for a while? In this episode, I’ll be sharing my own personal experience, as well as three things you can begin doing now to become better.

Are you the real woman God created you to be? Do you want to become her? Have you wondered how to make that happen? In today’s episode, I share how for longer than I realized—I wasn’t being the real woman God created me to be. But the good news is this: Thankfully when I began asking myself lots of questions and answering them truthfully, this was when my life changed for the better—spiritually, personally, and professionally—and yours can, too, my dear friend.

An introduction to The Woman God Created You to Be Podcast, hosted by New York Times bestselling author and speaker, Kimberla Lawson Roby.