Sometimes peace doesn't come before the leap. Sometimes it meets you on the other side of obedience.
Well, y'all.
I did it.
I TOOK THE RISK!
Actually, several risks. Because apparently, when I decide to step out in faith, I don't believe in dipping one little toe into the water. Nope. I apparently prefer to cannonball into the deep end and then ask God if He's got me.
LOL!
And here I sit, still a little stunned, completely humbled, and absolutely in awe of God's goodness.
But let me back up.
Because this story didn't start with a big decision.
It started with a very nervous woman praying for peace.
What If Peace Doesn't Feel Like Peace?
For weeks, I've been navigating a new venture that has stretched me in ways I wasn't expecting.
And when I tell you I've been praying more than planning, I mean it.
I've prayed in the morning. Prayed at night. Prayed while driving. Prayed while trying to fall asleep.
"Lord, please give me peace."
You know the kind of peace I'm talking about, right?
The kind where the heavens open, the angels sing, the violins start playing, and suddenly you feel completely calm and confident about every decision you're making.
THAT peace.
The kind where your palms aren't sweating and your stomach isn't doing gymnastics.
Well, apparently, God had something else to teach me.
One day, I was listening to a preacher who said something that completely changed my perspective.
He was talking about how we often imagine peace as the calm after the storm. We think peace means the absence of fear, anxiety, or uncertainty.
But then he started talking about the people in the Bible.
Do you think the Israelites always felt calm when God called them into battle?
Do you think David stood in front of Goliath with absolutely no fear?
The Bible doesn't tell us exactly how David felt in that moment, but I have to wonder.
Here was a young man facing a giant who could have crushed him.
I seriously doubt there was soothing spa music playing in the background.
And yet, David stepped forward.
Not because the giant wasn't intimidating.
But because he knew his God was greater.
And suddenly, something clicked.
Maybe peace isn't always the absence of fear. Maybe it's the confidence that God is with us even when we're afraid.
Oh, that one got me.
Because I know who my God is.
I've seen Him move mountains in my life.
I've watched Him make ways where there seemed to be no way.
I've seen Him take broken pieces and turn them into something more beautiful than I could have imagined.
So why was I waiting to feel completely fearless before taking the next step?
Maybe obedience was the step I needed to take while trusting God with the outcome.
I've Always Been a Builder
To understand why this new venture means so much to me, you have to understand something about how God wired me.
I was born with a creative side that simply refuses to sit still.
Seriously.
My brain is constantly creating something.
An idea. A project. A ministry. A business. A new way to help somebody.
Sometimes I think my creativity needs its own calendar, personal assistant, and a very strong cup of coffee.
LOL!
But creating has never felt like just a hobby to me.
It's part of who I am.
I love taking something that starts as a tiny thought and watching it grow into something I never could have imagined.
And when I look back over my life, I can see that God has been doing that very thing for years.
From a Broken Teenager to a Life I Never Imagined
My journey into ministry began when I was a teenager.
I was broken, struggling with depression, and desperately in need of healing.
But God met me in that season.
And when He began restoring my life, something inside me changed.
I wanted other young people who were hurting to know they weren't alone.
That desire led me to help lead a youth group at our church.
What started as a desire to encourage teenagers grew into serving as an associate pastor.
Then came blogging.
Then writing my book, Don't Give Up.
Then the opportunity to bring that story to life through a feature film.
Then evangelism, social media ministry, and more opportunities to share what God had done.
And here's the beautiful part.
I didn't have the entire plan when I started.
I just took the next step.
And then the next.
And then the next.
Looking back, I can see how God used one season to prepare me for another.
Now, don't misunderstand me.
There have been some HARD seasons.
Seasons when I questioned everything.
Seasons when I had to rebuild my life.
Seasons when the enemy would have loved nothing more than for me to throw in the towel.
But two scriptures have carried me through some of those moments.
Genesis 50:20
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
And Romans 8:28
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Those aren't just pretty verses to hang on a wall.
They're promises I've held onto when life didn't make sense.
And they're reminders that God can use even the most painful chapters of our lives for something good.
And Then Came This New Adventure...
Which brings me to today.
Or rather, the last several weeks.
Because something new has been stirring in my heart.
Something creative.
Something exciting.
Something that could open doors I haven't walked through before.
And something that has scared the absolute daylights out of me.
LOL!
Now, I'm not quite ready to share every detail.
I KNOW!
Don't throw your coffee at me.
I promise it's coming!
But here's what I can tell you.
I've been praying about this opportunity, researching it, weighing the risks, and asking God for wisdom.
And I kept coming back to the same feeling.
I needed to take the chance.
Not recklessly.
Not without preparation.
But with faith.
I couldn't shake the thought that I might regret never trying more than I would regret trying and failing.
And then something happened that made me smile.
Sometimes God Uses the Very People You're Trying to Encourage
I had shared a post on my Living Well with Amy Facebook page asking for prayer.
I didn't explain everything.
I just knew I needed some encouragement.
And one of my precious friends left this comment:
"If its about taking risk on something go for it. Sometimes we tend to fear whats new and fall into whats familiar and safe. And thats okay but if its something you will regret not doing just do it whats the worst that can happen. Anyway just giving advice thay wasnt really asked. But I'm definitely praying for ya to find your peace and even if it had to do with a little perimenspause id still be praying lol"
Y'ALL.
First of all, the perimenopause comment!
Because apparently, at this stage of life, we can't even have a spiritual breakthrough without somebody wondering if our hormones are involved.
And honestly?
FAIR QUESTION.
LOL!
But seriously.
That comment touched my heart in a way I can't fully explain.
Now, I'm not suggesting we should look to Facebook comments for divine direction.
Please don't misunderstand me.
We seek God first.
We pray. We study His Word. We use wisdom.
But sometimes encouragement arrives through the very people God has placed in our lives.
And this particular comment reminded me of something beautiful.
The community I've been trying to build to encourage other women was now encouraging ME.
The love.
The prayers.
The friendship.
The laughter.
The genuine desire to see someone else succeed.
I could cry just thinking about it.
Because THAT is what Living Well with Amy is supposed to be.
Not just a place where I share encouragement.
But a place where we encourage one another.
Where we celebrate each other's victories.
Where we pray through the hard seasons.
Where we remind each other that we're capable of more than we sometimes believe.
And where we can occasionally blame perimenopause for things that probably have absolutely nothing to do with perimenopause.
Because why not?
So... I Did It.
I took the risk.
I made the decision.
I stepped outside my comfort zone.
And as I sit here writing this, a very real part of that decision is literally on its way to my house.
YES.
MY HOUSE.
And I'm sitting here somewhere between excited, terrified, and wondering where on earth I'm going to put everything.
LOL!
But underneath all those emotions, there's something else.
Gratitude.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to try something new.
Grateful for the people who have encouraged me.
Grateful for the lessons God has taught me along the way.
And grateful that I don't have to know exactly how every chapter will unfold before I'm willing to turn the page.
Does that mean everything will work out exactly as I hope?
Of course not.
Faith isn't a guarantee that every business decision will succeed.
But I do believe that God can teach us, grow us, and guide us through the process when we seek Him.
And sometimes the greatest risk is allowing fear to keep us from ever trying.
There's Something Else I Want to Share...
I've been thinking and praying about how much of this new journey to share publicly.
And I've made a decision.
I'm going to invite you along for the adventure!
But there are two different ways to follow along, depending on how much of the journey you'd like to experience.
First, there's Living Well with Amy.
My blog and Living Well with Amy Facebook page will continue to be places where I share faith, encouragement, laughter, devotionals, and everyday life.
That isn't changing.
And subscribing to my blog newsletter is completely FREE!
You'll continue to receive the encouragement and updates you've come to expect from this little corner of the internet.
But for those who want to go a little deeper...
I'm opening up the behind-the-scenes journey of this new business adventure through paid subscriptions on my personal Facebook profile.
And when I say behind the scenes, I mean the REAL behind the scenes.
The research.
The purchases.
The investments.
The excitement.
The mistakes. (Because let's be honest, I'm sure there will be a few. LOL!)
The lessons.
And hopefully, some pretty amazing victories!
I'll be sharing the unveiling of what's currently headed to my house, how I got started, what I've learned, and how I plan to grow this venture.
My hope is that this becomes more than just watching me build something.
I want it to be an opportunity for others to learn alongside me.
Maybe you've dreamed of starting your own business.
Maybe you're looking for creative ways to earn additional income.
Or maybe you're just curious about what on earth I've gotten myself into this time.
LOL!
Whatever brings you along, I'd love to have you!
Here's how you can join me:
💕 FREE — Living Well with Amy Blog: Subscribe to my free newsletter through the homepage for faith-filled encouragement, new blog updates, and everyday inspiration.
💕 FREE — Living Well with Amy Facebook Page: Follow along for encouragement, humor, community, and updates.
💕 PAID — My Personal Facebook Profile: Choose the Subscribe option on my personal Facebook profile for exclusive behind-the-scenes access to my new business venture, including the process, purchases, lessons, and upcoming reveals.
And please hear my heart.
You do not have to pay a single penny to be part of the Living Well with Amy community.
That will never be a requirement.
The paid subscription is simply an additional opportunity for those who want to follow the business journey more closely and learn from the experience.
Whether you're a subscriber, a reader, a follower, or someone who occasionally stops by for a laugh, I'm grateful you're here.
Because this community has already blessed me more than you know.
And I can't wait to see what God has in store for all of us.
One Last Thing Before You Go...
Maybe you're standing in front of your own giant right now.
Maybe there's something you've been praying about.
Something you've been afraid to try.
Something that feels bigger than your abilities, your resources, or your confidence.
Can I encourage you?
Don't assume that feeling afraid means you lack faith.
And don't assume that the absence of fear is the only evidence of peace.
Sometimes courage looks like doing the next right thing while your knees are still shaking.
Sometimes faith looks like taking a carefully considered step without knowing exactly where it will lead.
And sometimes the most beautiful things begin with a simple prayer:
"Lord, I'm scared. But I trust You."
I don't know exactly what this next chapter holds.
But I know the One I'm trusting as I walk into it.
And that makes all the difference.
I did it scared.
And maybe, just maybe, there's something you've been afraid to do, too.
Whatever it is, take it to God. Seek His wisdom. Do your homework.
And when the time comes to take that next step...
Don't give up.
With love, faith, and a whole lot of coffee,
Amy ❤️
Living Well with Amy
P.S. Have you ever taken a leap of faith while feeling absolutely terrified? I'd love to hear your story in the comments. You never know who might need your encouragement today.
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