Thursday, March 05, 2009

Chasing down the Lizard


I try to start my day by reading a devotion. Kind of sets my tone and outlook. Today the author wrote about Doubt.


Okay. I could so relate. She’s been looking in my window and must have thought I needed a heavy dose reminding me where doubt comes from. Not from God.


I have faith that God will provide for all my husband’s and my needs as we struggle with this recession. I have faith that He will also point me in the right direction with my writing when I get rejected.


But sometimes, like this past week, Doubt creeps in like the lizards that sneak in my house if I leave the backdoor open too long. It climbs my walls and peers at me from the ledges over the windows. If I chase it, it mocks me, popping under the stove and then showing back up in the bedroom when I lay down to sleep.


Doubt knows how afraid I can get.


After living here in Florida for a few years, I devised a plan to keep those unwanted lizards from gaining access to my patio. I bought some vinyl fabric, stitched it into a long tube and filled it with sand. Then I wedged it across the bottom of the door to prevent them from slipping through. But sometimes, the tube gets moved out of place if I am careless in my comings and goings.


Then the lizards get in again.


Just like that nasty Doubt.


Today, I chose to adjust my guard again by reading God’s word and starting my day with more prayer. I’d been getting careless and not guarding my heart like I should.


Are you letting Doubt get a stronghold in your life when it comes to your writing and fears about it? Want to borrow my sewing machine?

17 comments:

Kathleen said...

Oh yes ... doubt. Like that garden of old, the enemy sneaks in with his surreptitious skill to plant those questions ... "Did He really say _____?"

I've actually grown to love the lizards here in AZ. They look creepy, but on closer inspection they're just bogey-men or ... rather, bogey-reptiles. Thus my own doubts, on closer inspection, are simply my one-way ticket to my knees. I dare say I have plenty of knee-callouses too!

Be blessed,
Kathleen

Janna Leadbetter said...

I do let doubt creep in, but in a different area of my life. I have to stay focused and faithful, and then the doubt eases away with His help.

Angie Ledbetter said...

Doubt is such an eroding thing, I try to keep it at bay.

Melissa Amateis said...

Great post, Terri. I think I had some doubt last night when I was editing. And you're right - it doesn't come from God.

Thanks for the timely reminder. :-)

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

You know, I'm just sitting here, reading blogs; completely procrastinating in the matter. I have strong doubts in regards to my ever getting a book deal, but today, for some reason, it means less to me at this point. I think it to be God's peace in the matter, although I'm wondering if it has more to do with my "will" in the matter.

I suppose when you can have "peace" weaved within and throughout the "doubt", it's not such a bad thing.

~elaine

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Doubt does get in a lot, particularly now that I am on the verge of publishing my book and wondering how in the world I am going to get it out there for people to see. And even if I do, will they really like it enough to keep reading or tell their friends and so on? Oddly enough, doubt sometimes comes on more strongly the better we're doing. But I suppose it's not at all as we know just where that doubt comes from. Thanks for the encouraging word and reminding us just where our trust needs to be and where our reassurance comes from.

Susan Storm Smith said...

Excellent analogy! Brought back memories of living in Phoenix and the crazy little geckos getting in. Your article struck home

Anonymous said...

Hi Terri! Thanks for stopping by- it's a pleasure to meet you. I know about lizards (I'm originally from Sarasota) and I know about doubt. I read a quote the other day that said "The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." (Sylvia Plath said it) Quite true. I'll be back... my husband is a building contractor so I also related to your previous post.

Vickie said...

Doubt does creep in at times, but I find the more I think on His word, the quicker it goes away.

Keep holding on Terri, you're going through and He's right there with you.

We are going through as well. My husband has not worked in over a year but we are keeping our focus on God. We know He has everything in control.

Blessings,
Vickie

Ginger said...

Doubt is really a pesky little thing that really can get the best of you! Keep speaking the word and know that God is not going to let you down!

BiPolar Wife said...

Oh gosh....you are singing a familiar tune. Doubt is why I am under a doctor's care and you are right, I did not guard my heart either and the Enemy found a way to worm his way in and wreack havoc. Guard that heart, Terri!

Great Grandma Lin said...

you need a resident roadrunner, my husband who is from texas says they eat lizards...try writing about your doubts that gives them a form or voice, then you can close the notebook or computer and focus on something else. It works...

Robin Lambright said...

We all struggle with this, especially if you have circumstances in your life that challenge and weigh you down. Aren't we ever so thankful that we have our Heavenly Father to keep us grounded and to give us the strength and the courage to "Fear Not" and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus!

Gotta love those sweet little lizards though.

Blessings
Robin

LisaShaw said...

Terri, I can understand what you're saying. I drown out the doubt with knowing that as I abide in Jesus He is abiding in me and so I can't fail but remember I said, I drown out the doubt...

That means every once in a while it rears its ugly head. I NEVER doubt God but often doubt if I'm hearing correctly or something along those lines.

Love you Sis.

Jan Cline said...

I think the key is what you said..."I chose...". That is where my struggle lies. I must remind myself to continually choose to have faith about my writing. Thank you for your insights...I will be following your blog.

Gutsy Living said...

Doubt and lizards or perhaps iguanas are familiar to me. Doubt because of my writing, and iguanas from our year in Belize.

Carmen said...

Loved this post. Especially your likening doubt to a lizard. LOL!! We don't have wild lizards in B.C. I loved envisioning a lizards head popping up somewhere, only to quickly disappear when discovered. Too funny! Trusting God seems hard, but when we do there's a rest that comes isn't there? It's too bad we're slow learners! LOL! Great post!