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Make it Happen: Surrender Your Fear. Take the Leap. Live On Purpose.
"You know all those things you've always wanted to do? You should go do them!"
In the constant chase for perfection women find themselves worried, anxious, and completely overwhelmed. Working women want to take their careers to the next level, but are struggling to "do it all." Stay-at-home moms look for relief from burning the candle at both ends. Aspiring entrepreneurs and artists seek the courage to jump into a new venture. Make It Happen is the tool these women need to finally let go of the chase for perfection and take the leap of faith towards God's perfect plan.
Author Lara Casey was once a burned-out workaholic buried by debt, depression, and a failing marriage. Now thriving as a wife and mother, and running a booming business that fills her with joy, Lara is on a mission to share her experience and help readers find the spark that lives inside them. "I believe in the impossible. I'm living it," Lara says. "Life is too short to wait to take the leap!"
Written for women who want to live a life of meaning, Make It Happen rescues them from being overwhelmed by endless to-do lists, paralyzing fears, and other obstacles that stand in the way of cultivating the rich life God desires for them.
With seasoned advice, wisdom, and encouragement, Lara helps them pinpoint what isn't working and how to get there from here so they too can make it happen!
235 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2014
338 people are currently reading
5548 people want to read
About the author
Lara Casey
12 books229 followersHi! I’m Lara. A mom to three–one through the gift of adoption—a grateful wife, and a believer in the impossible! She is the Founder and CEO of Cultivate What Matters and created the PowerSheets® Goal Planner–an intentional goal-setting planner to help women break down their goals into manageable action steps and start living on purpose. She founded Southern Weddings magazine a decade ago and is the CEO of Cultivate What Matters. Lara is also the founder of the Making Things Happen movement, a nationally-acclaimed workshop that has been sold out for the last eight years and has toured over 40 cities. Lara frequently speaks on goal-setting, faith, mission-centered business. Lara authored three books through Thomas Nelson Publishers: Make it Happen: Surrender Your Fear, Take the Leap, Live on Purpose, Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life, and her most recent children's book Gracie's Garden available now! Lara lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband, Ari, and their children, Grace, Joshua, and Sarah, and spends her free time in the garden...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 191 reviews
January 12, 2015
If I could buy a copy for everyone I knew I would.
August 11, 2016
Let me begin by saying that I LOVE Lara Casey. I've followed her blog for ages, I've taken her Making Things Happen workshop, I'm a huge fan of Southern Weddings. Lara is a woman I look up to and admire - both from a business perspective and a spiritual one - and I was really excited when I heard she was working on a book. I purchased Make It Happen the day it was released and ran straight home to read it.
That said, this book left me feeling a little …. underwhelmed. I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as I thought I would. I was expecting more of a memoir with some business/branding advice thrown in. While Lara does share snippets of her personal journey in Make It Happen , the book is primarily about focusing on what matters most (ie: God) and developing a relationship with Him. It kind of reminded me of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life , only directed specifically toward business owners and career women. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the message here, but as someone who has spent the past 10+ years building a relationship with God I can't say that anything Lara shared was "news" to me. A good reminder, yes, but not life changing for me at this point in my journey. Maybe my expectations were just a little too high, but this book didn't have the impact I was hoping it would.
That said, this book left me feeling a little …. underwhelmed. I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as I thought I would. I was expecting more of a memoir with some business/branding advice thrown in. While Lara does share snippets of her personal journey in Make It Happen , the book is primarily about focusing on what matters most (ie: God) and developing a relationship with Him. It kind of reminded me of Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life , only directed specifically toward business owners and career women. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the message here, but as someone who has spent the past 10+ years building a relationship with God I can't say that anything Lara shared was "news" to me. A good reminder, yes, but not life changing for me at this point in my journey. Maybe my expectations were just a little too high, but this book didn't have the impact I was hoping it would.
February 1, 2018
I love Lara Casey. I love Powersheets. I'm reading this after it feels like everyone else has read it. I'm also reading after she has share a good chunk of the book on her various social media outlets. I think that's why I struggled so hard.
The information is good! Yes, it is. But if you've accomplished the Powersheets prep work a lot of this will sound familiar to you. Too familiar. For it did, and I just was bored.
If you are just picking up this book and have never heard of Lara Casey or read anything she has posted then this book will be fantastic for you. But I'm good.
The information is good! Yes, it is. But if you've accomplished the Powersheets prep work a lot of this will sound familiar to you. Too familiar. For it did, and I just was bored.
If you are just picking up this book and have never heard of Lara Casey or read anything she has posted then this book will be fantastic for you. But I'm good.
January 7, 2018
2.5 stars
In my expansive planner research I came across Lara Casey, and loved her graphic design! I found her website and realized she was a serious Christian who wanted to spread "God's word". I was disappointed by how religious she was but I wanted to read her books anyway. Unfortunately, "Make It Happen" was bogged down with Christianity and Jesus talk, which isn't great for the 5 billion of us who aren't Christian.
If this book had been her personal story, and her thoughts on how to lead a "purposeful life", MINUS all the Bible religious talk, I would have given it 4 (or maybe even 4.5) stars. But I couldn't get over how sad it was when good advice was ruined when it was injected with "God this" and "God that". Casey says in her book she had no experience with writing; if she wanted her book to appeal to a larger audience she could have toned down the religiosity of it.
Her personal story covers her struggle with anorexia, not being fulfilled in life, her first marriage, her second marriage, and having her first child.
As a whole, the book has some good ideas. I liked her metaphor of life as a garden, and I liked reading her personal story, the story of her business, and her ideas about living 'on purpose' (most of the time). It also had ideas that made me roll my eyes or cringe - some of the quotes are detailed below.
Things I Liked
"1. Start with Active Rest during your day"
- Work for 60 mins, take a break for ten (with no Internet)! "Take some deep breaths. Get some water, stretch, eat some healthy food, read a few pages of a good book." (Casey, 115). [Quote conveniently cut off before the part about God!]
"2. Schedule a day off"
- Her idea is that if you know you're going to have a day off, you'll work harder in the time you have so stuff can get done.
"3. Plan a full weekend off [social media]" (Casey, 115-116).
Living legacy. Lara's mother gave her a detailed cookbook with recipes and tips, and Lara called it her mother's "living legacy". "Make a list of "seeds" you can plant now--perhaps in the next few weeks--of the living legacy you want to pass to others." (Casey, 186). This is a great idea - don't wait until you die to leave a legacy!
Things I Didn't Like
"Common lies" addressed by bible quotes
"The lie: Your life is out of control. Everyone thinks you are a failure. No one likes you.
The truth: God is for you. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31)." (Casey, 34).
"True or false: "Follow your heart" is a verse from the Bible.
False. God doesn't want us to follow our feelings. He wants us to be still with our feelings and see if they align with His heart. If they don't, they can lead us astray.
Before you make any big decisions, ask yourself this question, 'Am I acting on faith or feelings?'" (Casey, 70).
>> Uhh, how do you know if your 'feelings' align with 'God's' heart?
"With my marriage lying in ruins amid our secrets, anger, and now physical separation, was there any hope that God could save it?" (Casey, 77).
>> Yes, because God is the only one who has any power to fix a relationship. Not like the spouses have a role or anything. Just God!
One of Lara's strategies is to break everything down into micro tasks.
For going to the dentist, she wrote:
"1. Open my computer and open Google.com
2. Google the name of my dentist and find the dental office's phone number.
3. Pick up my phone, dial the number, and call while I open my calendar." (Casey, 172).
>>Maybe this works for her, but I know it wouldn't work for me. The hard part (I would assume for most people) about booking a dentist appointment isn't the TIME it takes you to book it (that's like 2 minutes. seriously.), but the fact that you have to GO to the dentist and suffer through an unpleasant teeth cleaning! I would go insane if all my tasks were broken down in such tiny steps; for the average person who has many things to do each day, it would get overwhelming (even though it is trying to do the opposite)!
The author recommends praying about everything as a viable "action step" that is a big step in solving your problems; simply asking 'God' about it will fix everything!
"There's no better how-to book for business, finance, parenting, marriage, and making life happen than the Bible. Read the instructions, do what they say, and watch what grows." (Casey, 146).
>> Um, there are many books better than the bible for those, especially marriage and parenting.
"Make a list of three purpose-filled things you will do when you find yourself lost in the "I am not as good as ____" talk. Examples: read the Bible, pray, sing worship songs, use one of the creative gifts God has given you to serve others, or encourage someone in his or her faith." (Casey, 165).
>> This book is so filled with Christian propaganda! As if I would be doing those things in my new spare time. It's just not realistic to think everyone can stop comparing by going and reading the Bible instead. Not how it works!
Quotes I Hated
"Read verse 30, though, and you will see the truth: "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."" (Casey, 23).
"The fear of the Lord changes what we want. The fear of the Lord--giving him respect and influence over our lives above all else--is a positive fear that refines our hearts..." (Casey, 24).
In conclusion, my opinion is mixed. Lara seems like she's on the right track but gets derailed and goes to the Bible instead of properly dealing with emotions and realizing the deeper issues. Some of her ideas may work though, and she has some important things to say (not the religious part). I will read her newest book because there was enough good content in this book for me to be interested.
In my expansive planner research I came across Lara Casey, and loved her graphic design! I found her website and realized she was a serious Christian who wanted to spread "God's word". I was disappointed by how religious she was but I wanted to read her books anyway. Unfortunately, "Make It Happen" was bogged down with Christianity and Jesus talk, which isn't great for the 5 billion of us who aren't Christian.
If this book had been her personal story, and her thoughts on how to lead a "purposeful life", MINUS all the Bible religious talk, I would have given it 4 (or maybe even 4.5) stars. But I couldn't get over how sad it was when good advice was ruined when it was injected with "God this" and "God that". Casey says in her book she had no experience with writing; if she wanted her book to appeal to a larger audience she could have toned down the religiosity of it.
Her personal story covers her struggle with anorexia, not being fulfilled in life, her first marriage, her second marriage, and having her first child.
As a whole, the book has some good ideas. I liked her metaphor of life as a garden, and I liked reading her personal story, the story of her business, and her ideas about living 'on purpose' (most of the time). It also had ideas that made me roll my eyes or cringe - some of the quotes are detailed below.
Things I Liked
"1. Start with Active Rest during your day"
- Work for 60 mins, take a break for ten (with no Internet)! "Take some deep breaths. Get some water, stretch, eat some healthy food, read a few pages of a good book." (Casey, 115). [Quote conveniently cut off before the part about God!]
"2. Schedule a day off"
- Her idea is that if you know you're going to have a day off, you'll work harder in the time you have so stuff can get done.
"3. Plan a full weekend off [social media]" (Casey, 115-116).
Living legacy. Lara's mother gave her a detailed cookbook with recipes and tips, and Lara called it her mother's "living legacy". "Make a list of "seeds" you can plant now--perhaps in the next few weeks--of the living legacy you want to pass to others." (Casey, 186). This is a great idea - don't wait until you die to leave a legacy!
Things I Didn't Like
"Common lies" addressed by bible quotes
"The lie: Your life is out of control. Everyone thinks you are a failure. No one likes you.
The truth: God is for you. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31)." (Casey, 34).
"True or false: "Follow your heart" is a verse from the Bible.
False. God doesn't want us to follow our feelings. He wants us to be still with our feelings and see if they align with His heart. If they don't, they can lead us astray.
Before you make any big decisions, ask yourself this question, 'Am I acting on faith or feelings?'" (Casey, 70).
>> Uhh, how do you know if your 'feelings' align with 'God's' heart?
"With my marriage lying in ruins amid our secrets, anger, and now physical separation, was there any hope that God could save it?" (Casey, 77).
>> Yes, because God is the only one who has any power to fix a relationship. Not like the spouses have a role or anything. Just God!
One of Lara's strategies is to break everything down into micro tasks.
For going to the dentist, she wrote:
"1. Open my computer and open Google.com
2. Google the name of my dentist and find the dental office's phone number.
3. Pick up my phone, dial the number, and call while I open my calendar." (Casey, 172).
>>Maybe this works for her, but I know it wouldn't work for me. The hard part (I would assume for most people) about booking a dentist appointment isn't the TIME it takes you to book it (that's like 2 minutes. seriously.), but the fact that you have to GO to the dentist and suffer through an unpleasant teeth cleaning! I would go insane if all my tasks were broken down in such tiny steps; for the average person who has many things to do each day, it would get overwhelming (even though it is trying to do the opposite)!
The author recommends praying about everything as a viable "action step" that is a big step in solving your problems; simply asking 'God' about it will fix everything!
"There's no better how-to book for business, finance, parenting, marriage, and making life happen than the Bible. Read the instructions, do what they say, and watch what grows." (Casey, 146).
>> Um, there are many books better than the bible for those, especially marriage and parenting.
"Make a list of three purpose-filled things you will do when you find yourself lost in the "I am not as good as ____" talk. Examples: read the Bible, pray, sing worship songs, use one of the creative gifts God has given you to serve others, or encourage someone in his or her faith." (Casey, 165).
>> This book is so filled with Christian propaganda! As if I would be doing those things in my new spare time. It's just not realistic to think everyone can stop comparing by going and reading the Bible instead. Not how it works!
Quotes I Hated
"Read verse 30, though, and you will see the truth: "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."" (Casey, 23).
"The fear of the Lord changes what we want. The fear of the Lord--giving him respect and influence over our lives above all else--is a positive fear that refines our hearts..." (Casey, 24).
In conclusion, my opinion is mixed. Lara seems like she's on the right track but gets derailed and goes to the Bible instead of properly dealing with emotions and realizing the deeper issues. Some of her ideas may work though, and she has some important things to say (not the religious part). I will read her newest book because there was enough good content in this book for me to be interested.
January 15, 2019
This was a good choice to read at the beginning of a new year. It was both inspiring in big picture illustrations and extremely practical in detailed action steps. I really appreciated the author's vulnerability in sharing the hard details of her life. I read through without doing the prompts but will go back through to focus solely on that.
May 3, 2020
A very useful book for every woman and a must for Christians women. A book who empower you to find your purpose in life in order to get a meaningful and fruitful life. To make it happen you have to find your purpose. And this is what Lara Casey helps you to do.
February 10, 2022
If this book didn’t light a spark in you I think you may be dead inside, in which case all the more reason to read this!👌🏻🙌🏼
January 29, 2015
I give this book three stars - really more like 2.5 but I rounded up. There was nothing amazing or great about it. It was pretty ok. I am not really sure when I finished it, but I have spent most of the month mulling over it and my Powersheets (laracasey.com for more info).
The book is divided into two sections: her testimony and application.
My thoughts:
*At first I was concerned Lara Casey was teaching a prosperity gospel but that wasn't the case which made me feel better since I've been reading her blog for so long.
*No where does she lay out the gospel. She dances all around it but never puts it out there. This was a huge disappointment since she has been given such a large platform. Yes, she focuses on relationships and I agree with her on that, but I feel she missed an opportunity. It could have been as simple as one sentence when she mentioned her husband's conversion. This really disappointed me.
*For someone who is a type A, organized, project manager, I didn't really learn anything. She shares methods we're all familiar - download thoughts, break into small actions, set blocks of time to work undisturbed, etc. However, I did like her focus of tying all of these goals/projects back to whether they promote God's kingdom or yours. That's something you don't get in secular books (of course) so it has caused me to really think about what I want to do and why and has encouraged me.
*I recommend her Powersheets over the book. I walked through them and they're a little easier to digest. She sort of lists the Powersheet steps in the book, but they're not detailed and she uses a garden analogy that frankly at times, I wondered if we were gardening or not. It was a bit confusing.
*One thing I really, really liked was that she suggests setting boundaries - social media/email free weekends, office hours. I've started doing this a bit and am finding it really nice. I also feel as though my productivity has increased and I don't feel as overwhelmed. I do find it ironic that there is a hashtag for #socialmediafreeweekends.
So, basically, if you're like me and you know all the time management secrets, you won't get anything out of this book other than the idea to align what you're doing with God's word. Like I said, I've read her blog for a while and have the Powersheets and feel as though those two combined do a better job than the book and would recommend them instead.
And, I don't have a negative view on Lara Casey just to be clear. I do enjoy her blog and Powersheets. I think I was just hoping for so much more from the book, but it was really what I already knew.
The book is divided into two sections: her testimony and application.
My thoughts:
*At first I was concerned Lara Casey was teaching a prosperity gospel but that wasn't the case which made me feel better since I've been reading her blog for so long.
*No where does she lay out the gospel. She dances all around it but never puts it out there. This was a huge disappointment since she has been given such a large platform. Yes, she focuses on relationships and I agree with her on that, but I feel she missed an opportunity. It could have been as simple as one sentence when she mentioned her husband's conversion. This really disappointed me.
*For someone who is a type A, organized, project manager, I didn't really learn anything. She shares methods we're all familiar - download thoughts, break into small actions, set blocks of time to work undisturbed, etc. However, I did like her focus of tying all of these goals/projects back to whether they promote God's kingdom or yours. That's something you don't get in secular books (of course) so it has caused me to really think about what I want to do and why and has encouraged me.
*I recommend her Powersheets over the book. I walked through them and they're a little easier to digest. She sort of lists the Powersheet steps in the book, but they're not detailed and she uses a garden analogy that frankly at times, I wondered if we were gardening or not. It was a bit confusing.
*One thing I really, really liked was that she suggests setting boundaries - social media/email free weekends, office hours. I've started doing this a bit and am finding it really nice. I also feel as though my productivity has increased and I don't feel as overwhelmed. I do find it ironic that there is a hashtag for #socialmediafreeweekends.
So, basically, if you're like me and you know all the time management secrets, you won't get anything out of this book other than the idea to align what you're doing with God's word. Like I said, I've read her blog for a while and have the Powersheets and feel as though those two combined do a better job than the book and would recommend them instead.
And, I don't have a negative view on Lara Casey just to be clear. I do enjoy her blog and Powersheets. I think I was just hoping for so much more from the book, but it was really what I already knew.
March 17, 2016
Official Rating: 3.5 stars
Had I read this about 18 months ago, there's the possibility it would've been a higher rating.
Lara Casey is an incredible woman. She's been insanely successful in business and the encouragement she shares with others is contagious. But more than that, her faith and trust in the Lord is contagious. Make It Happen is partly the story of Lara's life -- where she started and how she got to where she is today -- and partly her encouragement for you to go out and make the things you want to happen happen.
She says it in the beginning that it's not a passive book, that she wants you to actually answer the questions she asks and such, which is not what I expected going into it. That wasn't something I particularly enjoyed, but again, part of that was due to my expectation. If I want to just read a book, I expect to be able to just read a book. If I want to read something more like a workbook, then I will do that. I expected to read a book, what I got was part book and part workbook.
Also, the entire fourth section is very similar to the prep process for her PowerSheets, which I had just completed about a week prior to getting to that point in the book.
All of my issues with the book though, were purely due to timing. Like I said, if I'd read it about 18 months prior (and known it was part book, part workbook going in), I probably would've given it at least four, possibly 4.5 stars. I would highly recommend it for anyone who's feeling a little lost in their life and wanting to make big things happen but not knowing where to start. Be aware that Lara is a believer and a huge part of her story and advice relates directly back to her faith.
Had I read this about 18 months ago, there's the possibility it would've been a higher rating.
Lara Casey is an incredible woman. She's been insanely successful in business and the encouragement she shares with others is contagious. But more than that, her faith and trust in the Lord is contagious. Make It Happen is partly the story of Lara's life -- where she started and how she got to where she is today -- and partly her encouragement for you to go out and make the things you want to happen happen.
She says it in the beginning that it's not a passive book, that she wants you to actually answer the questions she asks and such, which is not what I expected going into it. That wasn't something I particularly enjoyed, but again, part of that was due to my expectation. If I want to just read a book, I expect to be able to just read a book. If I want to read something more like a workbook, then I will do that. I expected to read a book, what I got was part book and part workbook.
Also, the entire fourth section is very similar to the prep process for her PowerSheets, which I had just completed about a week prior to getting to that point in the book.
All of my issues with the book though, were purely due to timing. Like I said, if I'd read it about 18 months prior (and known it was part book, part workbook going in), I probably would've given it at least four, possibly 4.5 stars. I would highly recommend it for anyone who's feeling a little lost in their life and wanting to make big things happen but not knowing where to start. Be aware that Lara is a believer and a huge part of her story and advice relates directly back to her faith.
May 27, 2015
I read this book over the course of several months, so I am not remembering all the early chapters as easily and the ones I jut finished - but I remember getting frustrated at the beginning of the book, because everything Casey said just seemed too vague. I wanted more specific examples and encouragement right from the start, but I plugged along and soon got interested in Casey's testimony/story that she shares through most of the book. The last several chapters of the book were exactly what I felt was missing from the beginning - specific encouragement and motivation to clear the clutter in our lives, set goals on things that matter and match up with God's goals for us, and make them happen.
March 16, 2020
It's so weird because I'm struggling between giving this book 2-3 stars (because I liked it and it was ok) and 4-5 stars because I kept thinking about it and it even made me pick up my powersheets again.
The only thing I disliked was the focus on God and Jesus. don't get me wrong, I am a believer myself, but for me the start of a good life is believing in yourself. Sometimes I had the feeling you were not allowed to be proud of yourself in this book, because only God's approval was the right one. And I did not like the feeling those passages gave me. Further it is a very strong book, but I just wish it was less about what god wanted. I rather print a nice motivational quote that a psalm verse that doesn't mean a thing to me.
The only thing I disliked was the focus on God and Jesus. don't get me wrong, I am a believer myself, but for me the start of a good life is believing in yourself. Sometimes I had the feeling you were not allowed to be proud of yourself in this book, because only God's approval was the right one. And I did not like the feeling those passages gave me. Further it is a very strong book, but I just wish it was less about what god wanted. I rather print a nice motivational quote that a psalm verse that doesn't mean a thing to me.
November 15, 2020
Lara has written an incredible book. It's not like some other 'make over your life' books--Lara has made mistakes, and she's not afraid to tell us about them. She writes honestly and unflinchingly about how she changed her life for the better and her journey with God. To me, the spiritual aspects of this book are what makes it rise about the others. God is an integral part of her process--it's not just about throwing out clutter and setting goals, it's about doing what God has in mind for your life.
It's a hard book to describe, so just read it. And then get her power sheets!
It's a hard book to describe, so just read it. And then get her power sheets!
April 5, 2018
This is a great book for anyone looking for religion! Unfortunately, I was looking for more of a book that would inspire me to take action and make my goals happen. I found the cover to be pretty misleading. The author goes as far as to say that following your heart leads to heartbreak and you need to surrender everything to God... not sure how that’s making anything happen...
January 13, 2016
After meeting and falling in love with Lara in person, I knew I had to read this book. It was nothing short of perfection. I am so thankful that Lara followed the calling on her life and shared this book with us. I would recommend this book to everyone.
June 21, 2017
The prescription here for how to evaluate your life and set goals is so good. Lara Casey gives a step-by-step process to examine your heart and live on purpose. It's worth a read for that alone.
February 20, 2019
This is a beautiful book designed to help you discover yourself and your purposeful legacy. I loved it.
October 22, 2024
We all must let go of where we are in order for new life to come. We must die a little. Sometimes a lot. Making it happen – a life lived on purpose – comes by surrendering control. You don’t need to be ready or perfect to make what matters happen. A life of purpose – living for something bigger than yourself – is not about achieving your dream job or the ideal circumstances or the perfect timing. It’s using what you have, where you are, right now, on purpose.
Many of us fear that if we slow down even the tiniest bit, we will no longer be productive. We fear our lives will be meaningless if we aren’t constantly striving for something bigger and better. Yet when we finally stop chasing those impossible standards and surrender our fears, we become truly productive in what matters. We experience genuine fulfillment: an imperfect yet intentional life, driven by a clear core purpose.
Know that God’s desire for you is a life of peace. He wants to free you from the chase. Wherever you are is exactly where you are supposed to be to ignite intentional change.
Fear can hold us back from making what matters happen. Fear can create a false reality where we feel threatened even if nothing has actually happened. Normal fear is a very good thing. Normal fear keeps us from jumping off a cliff; abnormal fear keeps us from taking a leap of faith toward something that matters. Normal fear makes us question potentially damaging outcomes; abnormal fear makes us question our worth.
When you get honest about what’s holding you back, you open yourself to good change. Little by little, you exchange fear for a life of faith – a life where fear does not rule you but rather motivates you to dive deeper. A life that gets you and everyone around you fired up.
Even though we are ordinary, God can make the impossible possible when we humble ourselves and surrender our fears to Him. God does not need you to be a superhero in order to use you for His great purposes. He just needs your humble, willing heart.
The thing we fear is what we are giving power to in our lives. It’s what we are allowing to influence us. When we believe in something more powerful than elusive perfection, we develop the courage to bid our fears farewell. The chase ends, and real life begins. We are going to have fear in our lives, but the fear of the Lord releases the hold that all other fears have on us.
But faith is not about following rules. It’s about letting God change your heart and then living in response to that heart change. The season of waiting might be your time of ripening. Sometimes we must submit to the waiting and keep our hearts open to what it will teach us. And sometimes we must act on the clarity God gives us, even when it doesn’t make sense. We must get on with our lives!
Being humbled is where change starts. There is a moment when we are given a choice: let our egos run the show or surrender our fears and be humbled. We define our identities – our strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, and beliefs – but this rigid definition can hinder us from seeing the potential that God sees.
Humility creates an opportunity for strength when we choose to step outside identity boxes and believe in possibilities not yet seen. Possibilities that open us to give more, create more, and see more good.
Your past and your mistakes – no matter how heavy or confusing or deep they run – do not define you. No matter what you have done or experienced, you can receive God’s grace. His forgiveness is bigger than your mistakes. His power is bigger than your past or your present. Let go and let God. He will wipe your past away.
The more we come to God with our feelings and ask, “What do I do with this?” the more He brings our emotions in line with His heart. And the more we align our hearts with His, the bigger our faith becomes, leading us to be able to take bold leaps forward without fear. A leap of trust doesn’t mean haphazardly throwing everything to the wind. A leap of trust means that you consider your feelings, align them with God’s heart, and then leap, trusting that He will catch you.
Following God doesn’t mean the path will be easy; it means it will be meaningful. When we choose to follow Him, we can trust He has a very good plan for our lives – and here’s the key – He can change anything.
Failure will get you further than fear. Failure has the potential to guide us to be better, to summon our strength, and to push forward with greater determination. Leaping is the act of taking the risk to propel yourself from one place – gliding above and through past challenges – to somewhere better.
Busy is the enemy of peace. Busy takes us away from our purpose. Busy is not truly productive in the big picture. Busy means life’s joys and surprises can’t find a way into our lives because we’re moving too fast to see and experience them.
God desires us to work wholeheartedly, giving even the mundane tasks of life meaning by giving them purpose. It’s not about rules; it’s about following God’s heart and making room for what matters. When we surrender our schedules and trade busy for bold faith, real life opens up.
Your impossible can happen, too, friend. God is big and real and good. His desire is that we would all come to know His transforming grace. No matter how lost or forsaken you feel, God’s love never fails. He can change what feels unchangeable. God is real and always at work, even if everything in your life is telling you otherwise right now. Don’t just pray about what seems logical and possible. Pray hard about the impossible.
God’s version of true happiness is so much better than what our culture presses toward. While everyone around you might be happily overspending, overindulging, or rising to the top of the success ladder at any cost, there is a much greater reward for those who follow a different path. The goal is not happiness; the goal is Him.
Purpose doesn’t go to work; it goes to love. God wants us to live on purpose – wholeheartedly with focused intention – no matter where we are. Living on purpose doesn’t mean having your dream job; it means being all there right where you are. God wants to do extraordinary things through our surrendered hearts and hands. Living on purpose is a heart change, not a lifestyle change. The change in lifestyle is a product of a truly converted heart.
Following Him means taking giant leaps of faith, giving up your ways for the way, your life for the life, your truth for the truth. Following Him may mean leaving your job, or it may mean staying right where you are. It may mean hard work, choosing to go to uncharted territory, and diving headfirst into your fears, but He never fails, and He has a very good plan. Countless people out there need you to make it happen. They need your talents, your heart, and your fullest potential to influence them for the Lord. You can’t bring everyone to Jesus, but you can bring Jesus to everyone.
Your springs, summers, falls, and winters each present opportunities to plant, tend, harvest, or make room for what matters. Whatever season you’re in, lean in. Leaps of faith mean giving something up for the sake of something better, letting something die in order for something new to be able to grow.
In stillness, we are able to hear powerful wisdom that gives us clarity. And clarity produces action. That’s what we want – to know what to do. Stillness enables us to move forward with purpose. Stillness allows us to be intentional instead of reactionary. Surrendering to stillness might be the most active, life-giving step you take. Trust and be patient in the dry times or periods of slow growth. God is always at work. In every season He is at work and with you.
Distractions are what we see on the surface; they are the things that grow in our lives because of something deeper going on under the surface. Distractions may include things such as excessive social media, TV, food, shopping, negative thoughts, chasing perfection, gossiping, comparison, worry, or other negative influences and temptations.
There is boundless growth and freedom waiting for you when your distraction is no longer on you. Distractions are enticing and lure us in when we don’t want to surrender our fears, let go of control, and face reality. Distractions hold us back from lasting contentment and growth. Wherever your attention is focused is where your heart will follow. If your heart is constantly divided, how can what matters take root into rick soil? There is no such thing as multitasking – your attention is either in one place or the other. You don’t do two things at once; you just switch between tasks rapidly.
Single-tasking – do one thing at a time. Do it well. Or just get it done. Done is better than perfect, and doing one thing well is better than doing a thousand mediocre things. What you are feeding your mind is your choice and the food you choose directly affects your ability to take action on what matters. Everything we read, watch or take in seeps into our subconscious.
If God is calling you to something greater, He will equip you in His way and timing. Your gifts – the seeds of purpose God has given you – matter. You can always uproot a plant if it’s not growing well in your garden, but you won’t know until you try. You don’t have to plant a whole field of it, just one seed. One tiny seed might change everything. You have talents and gifts that were meant to be used, not stored away. God gave us talents and gifts that are meant to be used to shine His glory brightly.
When you do small things with great love, it means something. When you choose to fight through the tears and still choose love, it changes everything. It changes generations. Determine to make every day a great one. Do what you can with what you have out of a love for God, not to follow the perfect plan. Faith isn’t about following a schedule or rules; it’s about following Him – having a heart change and living that out each day.
Focus on purpose, not perfection. Perfect days do not exist, but making life happen on purpose is possible no matter what. It’s not about having a perfect house, office, or stuff; it’s about what you do with what you have. Too much of a good thing is too much. Don’t grow too much at once, or nothing will grow well. And if you get caught in a week like that, ask God to show you what to focus on. Prune your life in order to reap a good harvest. God wants us to help everyone to know Him and do whatever we can to mend relationships, but sometimes there are people in our lives who can be like kudzu. Your purposeful path is waiting to be revealed step-by-step at the proper time – waiting for you to take the leap and say yes. And when you know where you are leaping, the how doesn’t matter as much as the why.
Many of us fear that if we slow down even the tiniest bit, we will no longer be productive. We fear our lives will be meaningless if we aren’t constantly striving for something bigger and better. Yet when we finally stop chasing those impossible standards and surrender our fears, we become truly productive in what matters. We experience genuine fulfillment: an imperfect yet intentional life, driven by a clear core purpose.
Know that God’s desire for you is a life of peace. He wants to free you from the chase. Wherever you are is exactly where you are supposed to be to ignite intentional change.
Fear can hold us back from making what matters happen. Fear can create a false reality where we feel threatened even if nothing has actually happened. Normal fear is a very good thing. Normal fear keeps us from jumping off a cliff; abnormal fear keeps us from taking a leap of faith toward something that matters. Normal fear makes us question potentially damaging outcomes; abnormal fear makes us question our worth.
When you get honest about what’s holding you back, you open yourself to good change. Little by little, you exchange fear for a life of faith – a life where fear does not rule you but rather motivates you to dive deeper. A life that gets you and everyone around you fired up.
Even though we are ordinary, God can make the impossible possible when we humble ourselves and surrender our fears to Him. God does not need you to be a superhero in order to use you for His great purposes. He just needs your humble, willing heart.
The thing we fear is what we are giving power to in our lives. It’s what we are allowing to influence us. When we believe in something more powerful than elusive perfection, we develop the courage to bid our fears farewell. The chase ends, and real life begins. We are going to have fear in our lives, but the fear of the Lord releases the hold that all other fears have on us.
But faith is not about following rules. It’s about letting God change your heart and then living in response to that heart change. The season of waiting might be your time of ripening. Sometimes we must submit to the waiting and keep our hearts open to what it will teach us. And sometimes we must act on the clarity God gives us, even when it doesn’t make sense. We must get on with our lives!
Being humbled is where change starts. There is a moment when we are given a choice: let our egos run the show or surrender our fears and be humbled. We define our identities – our strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes, and beliefs – but this rigid definition can hinder us from seeing the potential that God sees.
Humility creates an opportunity for strength when we choose to step outside identity boxes and believe in possibilities not yet seen. Possibilities that open us to give more, create more, and see more good.
Your past and your mistakes – no matter how heavy or confusing or deep they run – do not define you. No matter what you have done or experienced, you can receive God’s grace. His forgiveness is bigger than your mistakes. His power is bigger than your past or your present. Let go and let God. He will wipe your past away.
The more we come to God with our feelings and ask, “What do I do with this?” the more He brings our emotions in line with His heart. And the more we align our hearts with His, the bigger our faith becomes, leading us to be able to take bold leaps forward without fear. A leap of trust doesn’t mean haphazardly throwing everything to the wind. A leap of trust means that you consider your feelings, align them with God’s heart, and then leap, trusting that He will catch you.
Following God doesn’t mean the path will be easy; it means it will be meaningful. When we choose to follow Him, we can trust He has a very good plan for our lives – and here’s the key – He can change anything.
Failure will get you further than fear. Failure has the potential to guide us to be better, to summon our strength, and to push forward with greater determination. Leaping is the act of taking the risk to propel yourself from one place – gliding above and through past challenges – to somewhere better.
Busy is the enemy of peace. Busy takes us away from our purpose. Busy is not truly productive in the big picture. Busy means life’s joys and surprises can’t find a way into our lives because we’re moving too fast to see and experience them.
God desires us to work wholeheartedly, giving even the mundane tasks of life meaning by giving them purpose. It’s not about rules; it’s about following God’s heart and making room for what matters. When we surrender our schedules and trade busy for bold faith, real life opens up.
Your impossible can happen, too, friend. God is big and real and good. His desire is that we would all come to know His transforming grace. No matter how lost or forsaken you feel, God’s love never fails. He can change what feels unchangeable. God is real and always at work, even if everything in your life is telling you otherwise right now. Don’t just pray about what seems logical and possible. Pray hard about the impossible.
God’s version of true happiness is so much better than what our culture presses toward. While everyone around you might be happily overspending, overindulging, or rising to the top of the success ladder at any cost, there is a much greater reward for those who follow a different path. The goal is not happiness; the goal is Him.
Purpose doesn’t go to work; it goes to love. God wants us to live on purpose – wholeheartedly with focused intention – no matter where we are. Living on purpose doesn’t mean having your dream job; it means being all there right where you are. God wants to do extraordinary things through our surrendered hearts and hands. Living on purpose is a heart change, not a lifestyle change. The change in lifestyle is a product of a truly converted heart.
Following Him means taking giant leaps of faith, giving up your ways for the way, your life for the life, your truth for the truth. Following Him may mean leaving your job, or it may mean staying right where you are. It may mean hard work, choosing to go to uncharted territory, and diving headfirst into your fears, but He never fails, and He has a very good plan. Countless people out there need you to make it happen. They need your talents, your heart, and your fullest potential to influence them for the Lord. You can’t bring everyone to Jesus, but you can bring Jesus to everyone.
Your springs, summers, falls, and winters each present opportunities to plant, tend, harvest, or make room for what matters. Whatever season you’re in, lean in. Leaps of faith mean giving something up for the sake of something better, letting something die in order for something new to be able to grow.
In stillness, we are able to hear powerful wisdom that gives us clarity. And clarity produces action. That’s what we want – to know what to do. Stillness enables us to move forward with purpose. Stillness allows us to be intentional instead of reactionary. Surrendering to stillness might be the most active, life-giving step you take. Trust and be patient in the dry times or periods of slow growth. God is always at work. In every season He is at work and with you.
Distractions are what we see on the surface; they are the things that grow in our lives because of something deeper going on under the surface. Distractions may include things such as excessive social media, TV, food, shopping, negative thoughts, chasing perfection, gossiping, comparison, worry, or other negative influences and temptations.
There is boundless growth and freedom waiting for you when your distraction is no longer on you. Distractions are enticing and lure us in when we don’t want to surrender our fears, let go of control, and face reality. Distractions hold us back from lasting contentment and growth. Wherever your attention is focused is where your heart will follow. If your heart is constantly divided, how can what matters take root into rick soil? There is no such thing as multitasking – your attention is either in one place or the other. You don’t do two things at once; you just switch between tasks rapidly.
Single-tasking – do one thing at a time. Do it well. Or just get it done. Done is better than perfect, and doing one thing well is better than doing a thousand mediocre things. What you are feeding your mind is your choice and the food you choose directly affects your ability to take action on what matters. Everything we read, watch or take in seeps into our subconscious.
If God is calling you to something greater, He will equip you in His way and timing. Your gifts – the seeds of purpose God has given you – matter. You can always uproot a plant if it’s not growing well in your garden, but you won’t know until you try. You don’t have to plant a whole field of it, just one seed. One tiny seed might change everything. You have talents and gifts that were meant to be used, not stored away. God gave us talents and gifts that are meant to be used to shine His glory brightly.
When you do small things with great love, it means something. When you choose to fight through the tears and still choose love, it changes everything. It changes generations. Determine to make every day a great one. Do what you can with what you have out of a love for God, not to follow the perfect plan. Faith isn’t about following a schedule or rules; it’s about following Him – having a heart change and living that out each day.
Focus on purpose, not perfection. Perfect days do not exist, but making life happen on purpose is possible no matter what. It’s not about having a perfect house, office, or stuff; it’s about what you do with what you have. Too much of a good thing is too much. Don’t grow too much at once, or nothing will grow well. And if you get caught in a week like that, ask God to show you what to focus on. Prune your life in order to reap a good harvest. God wants us to help everyone to know Him and do whatever we can to mend relationships, but sometimes there are people in our lives who can be like kudzu. Your purposeful path is waiting to be revealed step-by-step at the proper time – waiting for you to take the leap and say yes. And when you know where you are leaping, the how doesn’t matter as much as the why.
January 11, 2020
FIRST, let me start by saying that I purchased this book well over a year ago and I am literally kicking myself in the ass for not reading it sooner. If I could give this book 10 🌟STARS I would. Everyone and when I says EVERYONE should read this book I honestly, wholeheartedly❤️ mean this !!!!! This book will speak to you on so many different levels. It will make you questions, think, and have you digging deep into your soul for what you desire in life. Please and I mean it. Please read this book! You will NOT regret it! 💖💕 Lara Casey is a wonderful Author. She is real, honest and down to earth. You won’t be disappointed. ☺️
January 15, 2020
Great motivation to accomplish your goals- but also to make sure your goals are aligned with God. Loved all the scriptures and challenges she added. Great ideas.
January 21, 2015
This is a very interesting book. Are you ready to set some goals and take a big leap of faith? Are you on the fence? In both cases, I think you would enjoy Lara Casey's Make It Happen: Surrender Your Fear, Take the Leap, Live on Purpose.
As you can see from the table of contents, the book is divided into the following sections:
PART ONE: SURRENDER YOUR FEAR
1. Stop Chasing Perfect
2. Meet Your Fear
3. End the Extremes
4. Find an Anchor
5. Decide You Can
6. Let It Go
PART TWO: TAKE THE LEAP
7. Leap into Trust
8. Take a Leap of Faith
9. Leap into What Matters
PART THREE: LIVE ON PURPOSE
10. Follow the Real Success Equation
11. Make Room for Grace
12. Follow Him
PART FOUR: YOUR GUIDE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
How to Use This Guide
Step 1: Evaluate Your Life
Step 2: Clear the Clutter
Step 3: Set Purposeful Goals
Step 4: Take Action
Step 5: Encourage Others
I found this to be a powerful book for me to read. It is very encouraging. I am at a stage in my life where I am thinking about how I am going to spend my time over the next few years. Am I going to work? Part time or full time? What else can I be doing to purposely fill my time? How I can I make a difference? Is it all about helping elderly family members or is it something else? So many decisions to make.
Right off the bat, the first chapter spoke to me...Stop Chasing Perfect. As an admitted perfectionist, I often get bogged down right from the start. I appreciate the Take Actions sections at the end of each chapter. This book is perfect as a personal bible study. It could be used as a group study but I found this book to be very personal and probably is best handled on its own.
This is a great book. It is helping me along the path to be more courageous about the choices I am going to be making over the next little while. Highly recommend.
As you can see from the table of contents, the book is divided into the following sections:
PART ONE: SURRENDER YOUR FEAR
1. Stop Chasing Perfect
2. Meet Your Fear
3. End the Extremes
4. Find an Anchor
5. Decide You Can
6. Let It Go
PART TWO: TAKE THE LEAP
7. Leap into Trust
8. Take a Leap of Faith
9. Leap into What Matters
PART THREE: LIVE ON PURPOSE
10. Follow the Real Success Equation
11. Make Room for Grace
12. Follow Him
PART FOUR: YOUR GUIDE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN
How to Use This Guide
Step 1: Evaluate Your Life
Step 2: Clear the Clutter
Step 3: Set Purposeful Goals
Step 4: Take Action
Step 5: Encourage Others
I found this to be a powerful book for me to read. It is very encouraging. I am at a stage in my life where I am thinking about how I am going to spend my time over the next few years. Am I going to work? Part time or full time? What else can I be doing to purposely fill my time? How I can I make a difference? Is it all about helping elderly family members or is it something else? So many decisions to make.
Right off the bat, the first chapter spoke to me...Stop Chasing Perfect. As an admitted perfectionist, I often get bogged down right from the start. I appreciate the Take Actions sections at the end of each chapter. This book is perfect as a personal bible study. It could be used as a group study but I found this book to be very personal and probably is best handled on its own.
This is a great book. It is helping me along the path to be more courageous about the choices I am going to be making over the next little while. Highly recommend.
March 2, 2016
I started this book on January 1st because I knew I wanted to make 2016 a year of making changes and begin living on purpose. Of course, before you can live on purpose, you have to determine what your purpose is. This book, as Lara says herself, is an action book rather than a reading book. It took me awhile to work my way through it because it does require a lot of introspection, questioning, actioning, and praying. This book is part autobiography, part guidebook to really focusing on what matters. What makes Lara's guidance so valuable is that not only has she been where you are, but she shows you how she started to make things happen in her own life - making changes that sometimes worked and sometimes didn't. Her authenticity and continued journey that comes through on her blog and on Periscope really strike a chord with me. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to start making things happen in their own life. Not only did this book help me define what matters most to me, it also provided me with clear and actionable steps to move toward those things.
June 16, 2025
You were created for a purpose—and it’s time to live it fully. This inspiring book is a heartfelt invitation to surrender fear, stop chasing perfection, and embrace the meaningful life God has planned for you. Through honest stories and thoughtful questions, the author shares her journey of leaping into a “perfectly imperfect” life as a mama, working woman, and grateful wife.
This was my second time reading Make It Happen, and it resonated just as deeply as the first. Reflecting on my answers and progress reminded me how far I’ve come—and inspired me to keep stepping into my purpose with courage and faith.
If you’re ready to say “yes” to your calling and trust God’s plan for your life, this is the perfect encouragement to get started today.
This was my second time reading Make It Happen, and it resonated just as deeply as the first. Reflecting on my answers and progress reminded me how far I’ve come—and inspired me to keep stepping into my purpose with courage and faith.
If you’re ready to say “yes” to your calling and trust God’s plan for your life, this is the perfect encouragement to get started today.
January 10, 2015
I loved this book. I've been following Lara Casey for a year and some change now and everything she writes is always inspiring. This book is no different. She's all about being transparent on what she's been through to let you know that her life is not and has not been as "cookie cutter" as you might think. This book challenges the reader to let go of the fluff and other things that you may be involved in just to say that you're busy, or to gain exposure, or to "make it". It challenges you to zone in on what truly matters. Lara walks you through the process of discovering what it is that you're afraid of, what's your purpose and how to make it happen. I absolutely love this book.
February 8, 2016
I love Lara Casey's powersheets and organizing/goal stuff and when I saw that she had a book I decided to grab it also. I thought it would help me with my goals and motivate me to move foreword to, "Make It Happen." I was expecting a book that was more like what part 4 (the guide to make it happen) was in the book. I didn't realize it was more of a mini life bio on how Lara found God and it transformed her life. Her story took up about 75% of the book. She does have an amazing story, and great gold nuggets that she weaves throughout her testimony. Overall it's a good book, and I would encourage someone who is struggling to read it.
January 12, 2015
I love hearing back story. This book was a great mix of story and motivation.
January 10, 2017
I took a lot of notes in this Biblically-based instruction on goal-setting. Reading it provided a good foundation to the new year - a year in which I want to "live on purpose"!
June 7, 2017
Just read it. Now.
November 3, 2018
Too religious for me.
December 6, 2019
Honestly, I like her book Cultivate better, but that may be because I read it first. Great wisdom and inspiration in here.
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