It is Friday October 4^th, 2013, and I am driving over the Causeway Bridge from Wilmington to Wrightsville Beach so I can move into my new place for the next year. Suddenly anxiety grips me with vengeance. My chest tightens and heart begins to beat rapidly as fear starts to choke me, “What am I doing? This will not work! What if I fail? What if things don’t work out and I look like a fool?” Those were my thoughts and questions. My answers were, “If it doesn’t work, I can always run back home to Atlanta!” Or if I do not get enough clients here, I’ll just change my career! Maybe, I can marry rich, and all this will end!” Same ole same ole, fear grips my heart, I begin to panic and then plan my escape! What’s going on Lord? Help me because I can’t breathe! Why am I afraid and what am I afraid of? That was the question I needed to ask for a long time and I was about to get my answer.

     New seasons in life can come with many uncertainties but if met with the proper attitude life’s adventures can be fun. That proper attitude requires the right kind of heart, a committed heart. That was the lesson I learned that day that has forever changed the way I live, and it is all for the better. As I was driving over that bridge having a panic attack I cried out to the Lord, “Help me, why is this happening again?” His answer to me was, “Pause!” Every time you begin to panic hit the pause button and ask me this question, “Lord, what lie am I believing?” And then relax and let me expose the lie so I can replace it with the truth. So that is exactly what I did and a few minutes later I arrived at my new place at the beach for the next year.

     It was now about three hours later after settling in and unpacking that I decided to get onto social media and see what the rest of the world was up to. I got on Facebook and began reading a few posts when suddenly, I come across someone re-posting a quote from a pastor friend of mine that read, “An uncommitted heart looks for escapes, but a committed heart looks for solutions!” POW!!! Down to the floor I went. On my knees and face in my hands I knelt there for what seemed to be an hour. I couldn’t believe what I just read. How does HE do it?!!! Just three short hours ago I asked God to teach me how to not live-in fear and He gives me the answer through a quote on Facebook. You can’t make this up!

     All my life I have lived with an uncommitted heart. I have looked for the escape routes in every tough situation I encountered. I was a runner. I was afraid. Better to hide than confront seemed to be the norm. But that was about to end, “Lord teach me to have a committed heart!!!” That was my prayer that day eight years ago. Since then, I have been thrust into so many new challenges and situations that have taught me to stay the course no matter what. In the past eight years I have learned and now live by this motto, “The only way you ever lose in life is when you quit!” Never give up and God will always come through. It may not turn out the way you thought or look like you want it to, but if you don’t give up it will turn out to be God’s best. That’s all I want in this life: God’s best! That will never disappoint, God’s best always trumps our best.

     When we allow God to restore our hearts from an uncommitted one to a committed one, we enter the realm of life where anything is possible! God even promises to help those with committed hearts to learn perseverance, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him…” (2^nd Chronicles 16:9) Learning to live with a committed heart will allow you to keep all the blessings God has in store for you. You won’t fear success and happiness anymore, you will expect it, that’s real HOPE! Having a committed heart allows hope to anchor down all your blessings and enjoy them with contentment and peace. No more running, no more hiding, just enjoying! I pray that if you haven’t already asked God to restore your heart, do so now. Challenges will come, but so will true joy, peace and happiness, God’s best!

Dario L. Perla