So a little update:
I am still in BG in this summer- taking classes, working, growing up, "trying" to be an adult, taking strives in my faith, all of that GREAT stuff! What have I learned so far? WELL LET ME TELL YOU.
Being an adult so far has consisted of living in my own apartment, grocery shopping on my own (clearly I'm not any good at this. I feel very bad for my future husband..), paying bills, living paycheck to paycheck, learning the value of a dollar, managing my time, and the list could go on! Sounds fun, right? Yeah I didn't think so. Sometimes I get so bogged down by this adult lifestyle, but what do I have to be bogged down by, seriously? Through all of this, God has been by my side. I've been going through a little bit of a season of feeling a little distant from God. I believe everyone goes through these seasons, and unfortunately, I'm going through it right now.
Even through this distant feeling, I know my Father is looking out for me, growing me, pushing me, and challenging me. To this day, I struggle with confronting my past and forgiving those who have hurt me, wronged me, etc. I struggle with forgiving myself and realizing that in the Lord, my salvation rests. Ahh, I get chills just thinking about the undeserving love that is forever pouring over us. But anyway, through this dry season, I am truly learning that a life without Jesus is a life I do NOT want to live. I'm experiencing a little bit of distance, and I am going crazy over here! I want the intimate, close, deep relationship with the Lord ALL THE TIME! My heart craves Him.
Throughout this season of my life, full of stress, life changes, personal struggles, I have been reminding myself of all that I am grateful for and every time I go through this list, I am so thankful for having a Savior, someone who is so perfect, so incredibly vast. So let me just share some of the blessings that the Lord has and continues to shower me with:
- The opportunity to declare my faith as my own. For so long, and to this day, I struggle with wanting to please people all of the time. It's probably not too hard to believe that pleasing people sometimes looks very different than pleasing God. But you know what, no person can take your faith from you. It is your own for as long as you declare it. Living the life God has planned for you is a choice. I am continually reminded of this. If those around me can't understand my priorities, I'm beginning to be okay with that. This life does not belong to me. I owe this life to the One who died for me.
- Fellowship. Fellowship is sooooo powerful in my life. It is the difference between thriving and slowing withering. Mostly all of my friends are home for the summer so I have been thrown into a whole new pond to mingle in. Let's just say, I struggle with this. But God has really been working on my heart in the sense of bringing new people into my life. While friendships are still being formed, I feel so connected with the Lord through these friendships. The girls that are slowly coming into my life- I am truly speechless. I am blessed to have them to grow with and learn from. God has most definitely challenged me in this area, but he is surely rewarding me along the way. I am truly being blessed with the people in my life.
- My man. Through the ups and downs, my man has been by my side. He has experienced some crazy things with me, emotionally and spiritually, but he has never left nor been shaken. I believe that God has given him to me as a rock to lean on. I am a very lucky girl to have someone like him :) We've had our hard times, but I will continue to cherish what it is that God has given me to love, protect, and grow. God is teaching me sooo much through this relationship and through every step, I am amazed by God's grace and power.
- The opportunity to share my faith openly. Throughout this last spring semester, and into the summer, God has opened some amazing doors for me to share His love. In one of my classes this summer, I have had the amazing opportunity of sharing my faith with the class. Even further, having the opportunity to talk to someone much older than I am in the class, about what healing God has done in my life. This has been a way cool experience and I can feel God working in my conversations with her. Prayers would be appreciated that God continues to reveal Himself to her. She needs Him and I believe, she wants Him. I have been so blessed to witness God working in broken places.
- Finally, I am blessed to be able to rejoice in being beautifully broken. I have been reminded (consistently, lately) that I am completely broken and it's only by the grace and mercy of our Savior that the cracks and breaks can be mended. For so long I have sought perfection, I have compared myself with others, I have criticized myself (God's own creation).. Something I believe that every girl struggles with. Well, I am absolutely no different. I feel that as I am learning and growing in my faith, and especially through this dry season, I am glancing over myself and seeing the mended parts and recognizing the scars, yet being able to rejoice over the beautiful brokenness. I want to be the woman that God wants, I want to be fitted as the Bride of Christ. I am going to continue to fail and mess up on a daily basis, but that is why I need Jesus. I need Christ because HE is the perfect One, not me. I rejoice over my Savior, I can take pride in who He is, and I can be beautifully broken in His name. WE are the children of the One who saves.
When I go through this list over and over again, God is present in every blessing. It's His hands that are working in my life. What more can I ask for? I don't need an easy life here on this earth. Sure, there are definitely times when I wish the stress wasn't so high, but I can ultimately conclude that this isn't the place where I belong. We are here to make a difference, to be a light in the darkness, to spread love to the abandoned. Next time the day is dragging or you find yourself getting caught up in the stress and strain of this life, remember the beauty that is this life with Christ.
Well, readers, my coffee is nearly empty and I have a night of homework ahead of me so this will have to be farewell for now! If you need me, I will be in my blanket fort, coloring, continuing to procrastinate. My adult life may just have to be on hold for a night. Shhh..
Until next time.