Category: Growth

Your Future Awaits

The future.
Those two words
Can stir within us
Feelings of fear, of foreboding.
They can also incite
Feelings of excitement
And anticipation.
The future holds anxiety,
Because it is unknown.
It also holds hope,
Because there is a chance
That good things will transpire.
So how do we encourage
The good feelings over the bad?
How do we focus
On the positive
Rather than the negative?
I think that first we must take
A baby step forward.
Without that step,
We will never behold
What is on the other side
Of the closed door.
But just one baby step –
And then another –
And another still…
Will open that closed door
And unveil a world
Of opportunity.
So don’t be afraid
To take that first baby step…
Your future awaits.

© Copyright by Crystal Knauss

Photo by Stephen Leonardi on Unsplash

A Dry Spell

I’ve been having a bit of a dry spell with regards to writing recently. I’m not exactly sure why, although I have been struggling more than normal with my depression and anxiety the past week or so. I knew that writing would help me – help me to work through my difficulties, help me to be grateful – but I just couldn’t bring myself to start a post.

Actually, I should clarify that. I did begin several posts, but I couldn’t finish them. Either because of time constraints, lack of energy, or my perfectionism…I ended up not hitting that “publish” button.

And right now, as I sit here in front of my computer, I feel stuck. Stuck regarding writing…I want to write, but I just don’t know what to write about. And stuck regarding how I’m feeling…I feel like I’m in a deep, dark, and muddy pit. Have you ever felt this way?

I talked to my Mom about it, and she said that this can happen to a lot of writers. Your inspiration dries up for a bit. But it’s a process…and I should be able to learn and even grow through it. I just wish I could skip to the learning and growing part!

But I know she’s right. God has me where He wants me at this point in time. And I need to trust Him – trust His heart of love. And trust that He has a purpose in this. I need to get back to taking those baby steps, and to focusing on things to be grateful for. And my Father will carry me through.

I just wanted to say thank you to my readers – I really appreciate you, and I hope you are doing well. Thanks for reading even when I don’t have much to share. You give me a reason to keep trying! ❤

“Writing about a writer’s block is better than not writing at all.”
― Charles Bukowski, The Last Night of the Earth Poems

Photo Credit: Joshua Sortino

Faith Walk

I’m finding that God is guiding me on a faith walk.

A walk where He leads, and I follow. A walk where He instructs, and I obey. A walk where He directs, and I trust. Or at least I try to – on all three accounts!

I’m beginning to hear His voice more. As I go throughout the day, I realize that I am looking to Him for help, for encouragement, for strength, for wisdom. For so many things. And I am very humbled and grateful that God has brought me to this point.

Even though I have a strong tendency to be anxious, the Lord is showing me that I can have a place of peace in Him. It certainly is a struggle to find that place often times, but still it is another area in which He is helping me to take baby steps.

And with the faith that God gives me, I will continue to take one step after another in my walk with Him. ❤

Photo Credit: Mariona Campmany