Hello, dear readers! I’m excited to be your guest blogger today. First, I want to thank the ladies of Inspy Romance for having me. It took me a little bit of thinking to know what I wanted to share today. So, I decided to talk about fear. After all, we all have one (or some if you’re like me).
When I sat down to write book 2 in my Maple Run series, I knew I wanted my character to face her fears. So many times, we hem ourselves in instead of living life to the fullest. Jesus came to give us an abundant life, but how can we enjoy it when we’re scared? And I’m not talking about the usual phobias, like spiders, heights, and others. Although those can be gripping, they don’t often prevent us from living life to the fullest.
“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
– John 10:10b KJV
My character in Finding Love, Delaney, is a widow. Her husband, an Army soldier, died while serving his country. I wanted her to find happiness, but first I wanted her to face her fears. After all, it’s hard to have true happiness when you’re always looking over your shoulder.
Enter, Army soldier, Luke Robinson. He used to work with Parker, Delaney’s deceased husband. He’s the walking embodiment of her fears. Luke has his own fears. His secrets threaten to ruin their relationship. He also fears hurting her. It’s the last thing he wants to do. But we’re only human. Our humanity can cause us to hurt another when it’s not our attention. The weight of that can crush us and lead to a life that’s half empty.
How do we learn to live abundantly? How do we cast our burdens aside? By remembering we have a God who can handle it. He is capable and faithful and trustworthy.
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
– Psalm 55:22 KJV
How do you combat fear?
Bio: Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.
She spends her days hanging out with her husband and their two boys. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and president of the Virginia Chapter.
You can find her on her website and on Facebook
Finding Love
Delaney Jones has finally started to pick up the pieces of her shattered life after the death of her husband, Parker. Just as life enters a new normal, in walks Army soldier, Luke Robinson. Just when she makes the decision to trust him, life deals her a heavy blow.
Sergeant First Class Luke Robinson can’t get over his part in the death of Delaney’s husband. In hopes to assuage his guilt, he offers to lend a hand. Only, he never counted on the feelings she evokes with just a smile. Will his secrets widen the gulf or will he finally find absolution?
Get your copy on Amazon today.
Elizabeth Maddrey is a semi-reformed computer geek and homeschooling mother of two who lives in the suburbs of Washington D.C. When she isn’t writing, Elizabeth is a voracious consumer of books. She loves to write about Christians who struggle through their lives, dealing with sin and receiving God’s grace on their way to their own romantic happily ever after.
Thanks for the encouragement from Psalms! I actually did read Finding Love and it was so worthwhile.
Toni! Your book sounds awesome. We learn so much from facing our fears, don’t we? We simply have to take that step of faith. Terrific post.
HI Elizabeth and Toni. Toni, you are a new author to me, so I look forward to checking out your books. Thanks for stopping by Inspyromance:) Facing fears is never easy, but sooo important if we want to grow as people, especially people of faith. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings:)
Welcome, Toni! For myself, I have to trust and have faith that Jesus is always with me, so I have nothing to fear. Your book sounds great! Thanks for visiting.
Hi Elizabeth. Welcome Toni. You are a new author to me. You pecked my interest and I will be checking out your books. Thanks for the thought provoking blog. Some fears are easier to face than others. But it is important to recognize our fears and what is behind them. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your summer. Happy writing.
Thank you so much! I hope you saw God in the pages.
Hi Toni! Welcome to Inspy! Great to see you here, my friend! Hugs and congrats on the new book!
Fear is so paralyzing, Tina! But God is greater. Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings to you as well! I hope you have the opportunity to read one of them.
Thanks, Jill!
Very interesting post! Fear is something we all face, and your post/scriptures are very helpful. I will be looking into your book…..sounds awesome.
“It is important to recognize our fears and what is behind them.” Yes!! Once you can find the root cause, it’s that much easier to surrender to God.
Have a great summer as well!
Thank you, Janet! I’m so excited. :)
Thank you so much, Jackie!
Great post, Toni. Facing our fears isn’t easy – not for us and not for our characters.
So true, Marcy.
Thanks for joining us at Inspy Romance today, Toni! Fear. It can be so debilitating and, yes, can hold us back. Fear of “something” big or small affects us everyday, I think. Or maybe it’s just me.
I picked up your book, Buying Love, the other day, and it’s in my queue. :)
Thanks for having me!
It’s not you. I’m constantly battling fear.
Hi Toni! Great to see you here! I think I need to add Finding Love to my huge TBR pile. LOL, once I finish writing this book…
Toni, “Our humanity can cause us to hurt another when it’s not our attention” I think you mean intention instead of attention. Otherwise, it is a lovely post. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for catching that.
I have “Finding Love” on my Kindle :-) I’ve not yet read any of your books Toni, but I’ve read some great reviews and positive talk about them. I’ll have to move it up a bit on my massive TBR pile!
Thankfully, I don’t have many fears in my life. I’m sure there’s a few but I have learned that God can take those from me whenever I ask (or help me through it). Scripture says so and why wouldn’t I believe what He says? I think my biggest downfall would be those old “what-if’s” that can creep up on me. The fear of the unknown is a hard one to deal with sometimes. However, I’m learning more and more to trust God in those times of uncertainty, I know He has me securely in His hand and He won’t ever let go. Like the old hymn (which I love), Learning to Lean :-) I need to sing that more often when those times come, it always brings me peace!
Happy Writing!
The fear of the unknown is my old nemesis. I’m thankful that God has slowly but surely worked it out of me.