“From Fear to Faith: How God Turned My Excuses into Excellence”

If you told me a few years ago that I’d be standing here — mic in hand, suit pressed, preaching about financial integrity and divine excellence — I probably would’ve laughed and said, “Sure… right after I pay my debts.”

You see, I used to be that person. The one who said, “Oh, I’ll pay, I want to pay, I plan to pay” — just not today. I told myself I was “managing my resources wisely,” but the truth was, I was managing my fears.

Facing the Bitter Truth

One day, someone told me, “You have the money, but you just don’t want to pay your debts. You’re afraid of being broke.”
Now, that statement hit me harder than a Sunday sermon at 8 a.m. on an empty stomach.

At first, I wanted to defend myself. “No, no, it’s not fear — it’s strategy!” But deep down, I knew they were right. I wasn’t being strategic. I was being scared. Afraid of running out. Afraid that if I paid what I owed, I’d have nothing left for myself.

But then the Holy Spirit whispered something to my heart:

“The borrower is servant to the lender.” — Proverbs 22:7

I realized I wasn’t just holding onto money — I was holding onto bondage. Every unpaid debt was a chain that tied me to fear, pride, and procrastination. And God can’t bless a closed fist.

So, I decided to open it — slowly, one debt at a time. Baby steps. I paid one person, then another, trusting God that my seed of obedience would grow into a harvest of peace.

And you know what? It did.

The Last-Minute Syndrome

Now, while God was working on my finances, He also exposed another area in need of deliverance — my “last-minute syndrome.”

Oh yes, I was one of those people. You know them. The ones who start packing five minutes before the flight. The ones who hit “submit” right at 11:59 p.m. on a deadline.

Two people actually called me out. “You’re such a last-minute person,” they said. And it stung — like lemon juice on a paper cut. I wanted to say, “No, I just work well under pressure!”

But then God said, “No, you work well under guilt.”

It wasn’t adrenaline that made me procrastinate — it was lust. Not the romantic kind, but the lust for options. The craving to keep every door open because I was scared to commit to one. I’d delay decisions thinking, “Maybe there’s something better. Maybe I’ll miss out.”

That fear of missing out made me miss in — miss excellence, miss peace, miss God’s timing.

And then He reminded me:

“A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” — James 1:8

So, I decided to stop being “unstable” and start being “unshakable.” I chose a path. I said, “Lord, this is the lane You gave me. I’ll drive it faithfully — potholes and all.”

And let me tell you, when you choose your lane, God paves the road.

From Excuses to Excellence

It wasn’t easy. Excellence doesn’t just happen; it’s built. Brick by brick. Choice by choice. Payment by payment.

Every time I faced a tough decision, I prayed, “God, give me excellence in all I do.” Not perfection — excellence. There’s a difference.

Perfection is about performance. Excellence is about obedience.

When I started walking in obedience, doors began to open. Opportunities found me. People began to say, “There’s something different about you.” And I’d smile and say, “Yes — it’s called accountability.”

Because excellence without integrity is just arrogance in disguise.

And through it all, I held onto one verse that became my anthem:

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” — Colossians 3:23

A Funny Thing Happened…

Now, let me tell you something funny. When you start changing, people start watching.

I remember paying off one of my debts — it wasn’t much, but it was a start. I sent the money and said, “There, I’m free.”

The person replied, “Wow, I didn’t think you’d actually pay.”

That’s when I realized: my witness was tied to my wallet.

You can’t preach about faithfulness when your bank account preaches avoidance. You can’t talk about integrity when you owe five people and answer none of their calls.

Sometimes, your biggest sermon is your receipt.

Becoming a Voice of Change

As I kept walking in obedience, people started coming to me for advice. “How did you turn things around?” they’d ask.

And I’d laugh — because I was just the same person who used to panic when I saw “low balance” on my screen.

But I’d tell them: “I didn’t just fix my finances — I fixed my faith.”

I learned that money is a tool, not a treasure. When I stopped worshipping it, I started managing it.

I learned that discipline is divine. The Holy Spirit doesn’t just make you shout in church; He makes you show up on time and pay your bills.

And I learned that obedience creates overflow. God doesn’t trust His treasures to those who ignore His truth.

Before I knew it, people were inviting me to speak — churches, conferences, even corporate events. They said, “We want you to talk about faith and excellence.”

And every time I step on stage, I remind people:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33

The Power of Choosing God’s Way

Friends, when you stop running from responsibility and start walking with God, you’ll find freedom you never knew existed.

You’ll realize that your fear of losing is just your faith waiting to grow.

You’ll see that paying your debts isn’t just financial — it’s spiritual. You’re clearing space for God to bless you.

And when you let go of the lust for “more,” you make room for the joy of “enough.”

God doesn’t want you to be perfect — He wants you to be faithful.

Because at the end of the day, success without Christ is just stress in disguise.

Conclusion: Baby Steps to Breakthrough

So, take it from me — a once fearful, last-minute, option-obsessed person turned Christ-centered motivational speaker — it’s not too late to change.

Start small. Pay one debt. Make one commitment. Choose one lane. Trust one God.

Baby steps with God lead to giant leaps in purpose.

And when people see your life, they’ll say, “Wow, you’ve changed.”

And you’ll smile and say, “Yes, I finally let God handle the timing — I just showed up on time.”

Thank you, and may your faith be richer than your fears, your integrity louder than your excuses, and your excellence proof that God is still in the business of transformation.