by Ally Golden | Jun 22, 2021 | Featured, Life Advice, Sisterhood
Throughout high school and into my college years I felt unsatisfied in my friendships. I would look at those around me and think to myself, “If only I had close friendships like them, then I would feel so loved.” Social media wasn’t very helpful at the time either. I didn’t have healthy boundaries with it and it made me feel so isolated. I was constantly comparing myself and the friendships I had to others. My mind would become overwhelmed with questions and doubts about my friendships.
The enemy loved to whisper little lies in my head like, “They like her more than you” “You weren’t invited because they don’t like you” “You just aren’t a good friend.” And the list goes on…
Why was I feeling so alone when I had good friends? Why did it feel like everyone around me had a “best friend” but I didn’t? Why wasn’t the deep longing in my heart to be loved filled by my friends? Wasn’t that how it is supposed to be?
Sister, if you are reading this right now, and you feel like you relate to any of those questions or feelings above, know you are not alone. But also know, that is not what God intended for you.
The deep longing in our soul to feel loved can only be fully satisfied by Jesus.
No human, no parent, no sibling, and no friend can fully satisfy the longing in our hearts to be fully known and fully loved.
For so long I had it wrong. I wasn’t running to Jesus to be filled up, I was running to people. I wanted to feel known, seen, and heard, but I was left feeling empty and confused. I was placing the expectations on my friends to love me and provide a friendship that only God could fully fulfill.
While we were created to be in community, we weren’t created to be dependent on community. When our dependency is in Christ alone we don’t need anything else but Him to sustain us.
It took me a few years before I realized – I was trapped in a cycle. It wasn’t fair of me to place these unrealistic expectations on my friends. But, God chased after my heart. He knew the deep desire I had to be a good friend. He knew the void I had in my heart for deep friendships. He saw that I was looking in the wrong places for fulfillment.
He met me in my brokenness and restored me. He reminded me that it is only Him that can fully satisfy. It is His well of love that never runs dry!
“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14)
He is chasing you, friend. He wants to show you how He is your ultimate best friend. He will satisfy every deep longing that you have. He will fill every empty space with love and grace that never runs dry. You are not stuck where you’re at. Let Him dig up your roots and re-plant them in the soil of His never-ending love and friendship. He wants to pour His love into you so that you overflow with that love to those around you.
When we are rooted in our identity as a daughter of Christ we bloom into the sister and friend God has called us to be.
The world we live in is a very self-centered world. It is almost engrained in us to ask “well what is in it for me?” “How will I benefit from this?” This mindset has wiggled it’s way into relationships. It can be easy to walk into a relationship with a mindset that can be a little self-centered. But in the bible we are called to put on humility. Friendship isn’t about “what can I get from them?” But rather about, “what can I do for and give to them?”
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:12-14 ESV)
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 ESV)
When we meet with Jesus and make the decision that He is our best friend, He provides our every need. When we let Christ fully satisfy our hearts, through compassion and humility, we are able to outpour with that same love to those around us.
He brings the right people at the right time into our lives. He surrounds us with the community we need. He wants us to be in sweet friendship with one another. Jesus modeled how to be the ultimate sister and friend. When we meet with Him, He transforms our heart and our minds to become more like His so that we may be the best sister and friend we can be.
Maybe you find yourself in the same lonely place where I once was – meet with Jesus.
Maybe you have friends surrounding you who aren’t a good influence on you – meet with Jesus.
Maybe you are desiring deeper friendships – meet with Jesus.
Maybe you are having conflict with a friend right now – meet with Jesus.
Maybe you want to pour into your friends more but feel empty – meet with Jesus
Maybe you have been meeting with Jesus – Keep meeting with Jesus.
The ultimate and best friend we will ever have is God, and He is all we will ever need.
Ally is a pediatric nurse in San Diego, and on her off days she is writing and creating encouraging content for her Instagram page @wordsaregolden. She is a big fan of Jesus, lover of all things pink, drinks iced coffee every day, and loves to cook for and host people in her home.
Follow her on Instagram: @wordsaregolden
by Rachel Walle | Jun 1, 2021 | Featured, Life Advice, Testimonies
by Live Original | Oct 22, 2020 | Featured, Life Advice |
Note from Team LO: We are so glad you’re here! Each Thursday in October we’ll be posting different prayers for our Nation. Enjoy and meditate on this prayer for unity.
“Making known to us to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” Ephesians 1:9-10
God, we come to you today with a heart posture of thanksgiving for your plan for the fullness of time. In a culture and day and age that asks questions like, “What is God doing?” or “Is God still with us and for us?”, we can know that we know that we know that you are still on the throne.
We thank you that we can know that you are still furthering your plan for unity. We can know that you will bring our life to completion at the day of Christ’s return (Philippians 1:6).
But God, we need your help for this. Above that, we just need you. Nothing else. Would you, in your power and strength, give us hearts that align with your heart for unity among us? Would you pour heaven down on us and continue to give us, your people, the mind of Christ to look for what we have in common, more than dwell on what we disagree on?
God, thank you that you are still advancing your plan, and that nothing can stop that.
A global pandemic cannot stop it.
Natural Disasters cannot stop it.
Division cannot stop it.
An election cannot stop it.
God, have your way and be magnified among us, and through you being magnified, unite us.
“..that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, that they world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” John 17:21-23
Father, we thank you that we have a Savior that could empathize with our weaknesses, but all the more, through empathy, set the perfect example for us on Earth. We agree with Jesus’ prayer found in John 17, that we would be one, even as Jesus is one with you. Out of the love that you have poured out on us, give us the desire to pour out love and unity onto other’s. We don’t have the ability to carry out the act of godly unity on our own (Romans 7:18). We need your help each hour, each second of each day to carry out your mission for unity.
Lord, we trust that you will call us up in the coming month.
We trust that you will increase our dependence on you to love those around us.
We trust that you will increase our prayers for those that are difficult to love.
We trust that you will equip us with the words to use that give you glory in the tough conversations.
We trust that through our unity, you will bring others to you through seeing that the people of God operate differently than the rest of the world.
We trust you, we trust you, we trust you.
Unify us, Lord, for your name and your renown is the desire of our souls (Isaiah 26:8)
by Live Original | Sep 24, 2020 | Featured, Life Advice |
Note from Team LO: Thank you so much for joining in our Proverbs study that we’ve been going through as a community! This post is packed with goodness and biblical truth. If you want more from this study, or want to start from the beginning, click HERE to get started. Enjoy today’s post!
Have you ever heard the phrase, “I don’t know what I don’t know”? This saying is often used for people who lack experience in a certain areas of expertise, or even sometimes used by the humble to say that they’re just doing their best with the tools they’ve been given. To be honest, it really is a valid excuse… but an excuse, nonetheless.
As we continue in our Proverbs study, one thing is certain: “I don’t know what I don’t know” isn’t going to be as believable as an excuse as it once was. Packed with detailed instruction, the breakdown of wisdom v. foolishness, and the un-deniability of what stirs up evil and what brings about good in friendship, Proverbs 17 will leave you with a mindset of “I DO know what I DO know.” We’re excited for this one, friends! Let’s dive in.
Verse 4: An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Have you ever had those friends that have “selective listening”? Sometimes it’s funny because those friends will ask the exact question or repeat the exact phrase that someone just said, and if you’re close enough, you get to call them out and have a good laugh (lovingly, of course). But in verse 4, this is referring to people who have selective listening only for the words that don’t lead to unity, but instead lead to strife. Here’s the truth: Your flesh is always going to pay attention to words of flesh, and the spirit is always going to pay attention to words of the spirit. So which ones are you drawn to? This will tell you which “self” you’re living out of.
For further study of the new self v. the flesh: Colossians 3
Verse 9: Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
THIS ONE GETS REAL! Friend, are you quick to want people to know the mistakes of others? It’s like a game of telephone, gossip gets passed further and further down the pipeline, and by the end of it, everyone’s heard something, but it gets further and further away from what’s actually true.
There is SUCH a blessing for those who honor others by working to cover an offense of a friend. This doesn’t mean that you help a friend hide sin, it means that you don’t take it further outside of the circle of the ones who witnessed it. That way, your friend can focus of repenting to God and those who he/she hurt without having to further their shame. What a beautiful thing it is when you work to honor your friends by holding back your tongue.
Verse 14: The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
Do you ever just need someone to grab your face and say “quit!” Quit stirring things up, stop repeating what was told to you in privacy, stop sacrificing others on the altar of your own insecurities.
This verse references water seeping out of a dam in the beginning phases. The way it works is once a dam has been breached, there is no holding back the water – there’s no turning back once it’s cracked.
Same way with our words: once we’ve started down the path of stirring up conflict with our words, it’s like the dam that will eventually completely erupt.
This causes division, brokenness in relationships, and a lack of peace. Let’s be people who won’t even entertain the beginning stages of gossip. Let’s not fool ourselves to think we can start and then just stop whenever we’d like. Jesus commands holiness, and when we let divisiveness in, we aren’t strong enough to hold it back. Seek his ways, his words, and his walk.
On further study on the impact on our words: James 3
Verse 22: A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
The “good medicine” of our culture are things like Netflix, binging on ice-cream, online shopping, scrolling on Insta, and any other way of distraction. But this scripture says that the OG good medicine was and still is a “joyful heart”. And isn’t it true?! When you’re looking for what can sooth your soul, you’re never going to find it through someone’s IG story or in your favorite Home Edit episode (although all good things in their rightful place!), you’re going to find it in restoring your joy in the Lord. Don’t hand over your fragile, crushed spirit to what can’t actually mend your heart. Let the One who was crushed for you restore to you a joy in your salvation.
For further study on a joyful heart: Psalm 51:7-12
Verse 28: Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise, when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
This verse sums up this chapter so well. To paraphrase: YOUR WORDS MATTER, FRIEND.
It’s so easy to live in our own world, thinking we know best, and that we’re always right, or that we can say things flippantly without consequence. But Jesus says that we will be held accountable one day for every word we say (Matthew 12:36). It would be a shame to interpret this verse as saying that we shouldn’t ever speak, but it a charge to make sure that the words we speak are ones filled with the power and truth of the Holy Spirit in us. We have a helper to give us words, and his words are perfect, why would we not choose words in the Spirit? And yes, we will mess up, but even our words of repentance are just as powerful as saying all the right things.
Above all, let’s be people who love, are quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry with one another. If this Proverb shows us anything, is that the abundant life is seen through a life of honoring one another, living in unity, and being quick to learn the ways of righteousness.
Let’s turn away from being people who don’t know what they don’t know to people who know that we know that we know how to love God and love people.
And that’s Proverbs 17! We hope you loved it and have loved this study! For more proverbs, click HERE and check out the study as a whole.
And follow us on Instagram @liveoriginal
by Chrys Howard | Aug 27, 2020 | Featured, Life Advice, Sisterhood
We learn by watching. That’s just a fact. Our newest baby, John Shepherd, at ten months, is so fun to watch as he is learning something new every day. His learning comes from observing those around him. Recently John Shepherd and my grandson, Will, who is his uncle, had a yelling match. Not a loud yelling match, but cute yelling match. Will would yell, then John Shepherd would imitate that yell. By seeing his uncle, John Shepherd would imitate his actions. As John Shepherd grows, he will do and say more things he sees others do and say. That’s the natural learning process.
Research shows that babies as young as 14 months old will copy what they see on television and that children who are two years old are more likely to be imitating what they see, even when it is a stranger, such as on a television show. Wow! This is evidence that what we see and hear matters! And who we see and hear matters! Right?
It’s also true that as we get older, we learn the very important skill of discernment. Discernment helps us weed through what we see and hear and hang on to what is beneficial to us while throwing out what is not beneficial. And, here’s another important part of development—we can choose to imitate what we see and hear. Even as a baby, John Shepherd can choose to imitate Uncle Will’s actions. John Shepherd is not forced to do what Uncle Will does because of anything in his “wiring.” In fact, God wired us the opposite. We are wired to be able to choose our actions, which includes imitation. That choice will become more and more valuable as we age. For now, John Shepherd learns by imitation and that’s important too. As he gets older, discernment and choice will become more valuable.
Watching others and allowing others to watch us is also part of our Christian walk. In today’s world, it’s called “mentoring” or “influencing.” Mentoring wasn’t a word used when I was growing up. In fact, a quick search in biblegateway.com shows that the word “mentor” is not even in the Bible, except in the newest versions, such as The Message. Likewise, the word “influencer” wasn’t used when I was growing up and isn’t found in the bible. Still, we know mentors and influencers are valuable and are valued by God because of verses like this one I Timothy. It says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12. Or, here’s another one in Philippians 3:17. Paul says, “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.”
Instead of the word “mentor” or “influencer” we are challenged by the word “example”. And the challenge in these two verses is two-fold. 1. To be a good example and 2. To follow good examples. When I looked up the definition of mentor I found that a mentor is “an experienced and trusted adviser.” So, a mentorship is when someone who is more experienced or knowledgeable helps to guide, or be the example for, someone less experienced or knowledgeable. It isn’t always an age thing, it’s more about experience or knowledge. The definition of an influencer is someone who has the ability to have an effect on the character, development or behavior of someone or something.
So, back to our John Shepherd and Will example. John Shepherd was learning the fine points of yelling from a more experienced and older uncle, who clearly had yelling figured out. Will, for his part, was influencing the behavior of John Shepherd.
So, how do we carefully choose someone to listen to and watch? And how do we become that someone another person can safely listen to and watch?
Good questions.
While you can find mentors and influencers in every aspect of your life—work, hobbies, school, etc.—today we’re talking about a spiritual influencer, so let’s go back to the bible for the answer to finding one and being one.
I firmly believe there is no one better to listen to and watch then Jesus Christ. While the bible mentions watching others a few times, it mentions watching Jesus over and over again. I Corinthians 11:1, Paul says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” Paul knew an important fact—his ability to lead others to Christ and to live Christ-like himself rested on his ability to imitate Christ, not on his ability to speak well or decipher scripture or be an encourager. It depended on how he watched the actions of, listened to the words of and imitated Jesus Christ.
So, as you are seeking a mentor, look for someone who walks the walk and talks the talk of Jesus. If you’re looking to be mentor yourself, do the same. Walk the walk and talk the talk of Jesus.
Of course, no one is actually Jesus and people are people and no one is perfect and all of that, but that’s where your gift of discernment and choice comes in. Whoever you choose to follow and listen to, be sure their actions, advice and assignments align with God’s word. If they do, then you have found an influencer worth following. And, if you do the same, you’ll be an influencer worth following.
Hugs,
Chrys (2 mama)
Chrys Howard is the mother of three adult children, Korie Robertson, who is one of the stars of the A&E® hit TV show Duck Dynasty®, Ryan Howard and Ashley Nelson. She has fourteen grandkids, including Sadie. They call her 2-mama and her husband, John, is 2-papa. Chrys directs a Christian youth camp in the summer, spends time serving in the mission field, and hosts a weekly radio show titled It’s a Mom Thing. She has edited and co-written more than 100 books and is the author of nine books with more than 1,000,000 copies in print in six languages. Her more recent book is Rockstar Grandparent. Stay connected with Chrys on Instagram: @chryshoward, on her websites: chrysHoward.com and RockingItGrand.com, and Facebook: Chrys Shackelford Howard.
by Miles Fidell | Jan 24, 2020 | Featured, Life Advice |
Note from Team LO: We are SO blown away and encouraged by what God is doing through Pastor Miles Fidell! Our team had the honor of attending his church last week and got to witness firsthand how he and his church community are reaching this generation for God’s glory and His name! If you want more from Miles, check out this weeks episode of the WHOA That’s Good Podcast where he, Sadie, and Christian talk all things college, church planting, and Jesus!
Jesus is better. This massively life-altering realization hit me as a 12 year-old when for some reason (the Holy Spirit of God!), I considered all the options I could think of to live for and compared them to the life Jesus had to offer me. What 12 year-old thinks of stuff like this? I know. I was a strange kid. However, I believe at any age it’s incredibly important to consider your options. With unmistakable clarity, I could see that no treasure, popularity, accomplishment, or worldly fulfillment could possibly compete with all that was offered to me in Jesus. A right relationship with my Heavenly Father, unconditional love, true satisfaction, supernatural purpose, surpassing peace, and oh- don’t let me forget about ETERNAL LIFE after I die!!! Jesus is better and it’s not even close. For 19 years I have watched God prove Himself worthy of that claim. Jesus wins.
Very few things bring me more joy in life than seeing people make that same realization. As a pastor of a church in a college town, the group I get to watch make this discovery the most is college students. College is such a pivotal time because you are literally making decisions that will create the future you live in for the rest of your life. No pressure college students, I know you are already anxious enough, you got this! J Far too often I watch college students who call themselves “Christians,” but haven’t really come to that understanding that Jesus is better. They still want to try out the party scene, see if the right relationship comes up, pursue the right path to status/notoriety, experiment with sex/alcohol/drugs, have fun, I mean it’s COLLEGE right?!? Here’s the heartbreaking reality: every single individual who goes down that path ends up losing. At some point they discover that the fulfillment they were searching for was empty. What they thought would fix the internal void left them broken, and what promised to deliver a worthwhile life simply never delivered.
Fortunately, our God is the God who specializes in meeting us when we come to the end our ourselves! Our church has literally witnessed thousands of college students & families finally discover that what they were looking for in the world was available all along in Jesus. It’s incredibly rewarding to be a part of a movement where this happens every single Sunday. So I’ve often thought to myself, “how do we help people discover that Jesus is better before they have to deal with the consequences of destructive decisions?” The answer God has given me will surprise you.
I believe the main way Jesus wants to prove to you that He is better than any other option is for you to give Him the opportunity to. Let me explain–– Most of us reading this who would say we have “faith” in Jesus really haven’t activated our faith since the moment we first trusted Jesus for salvation. Consequently, our daily experience in our relationship with God lacks the adventure to compel us to live in awe of Jesus, so we live in awe of someone or something else. What if God wants us to experience the adventure of living a life of bold faith so that every offer the world can make pales in comparison?
When Paul wrote a letter to the church in Philippi, he was jailed in a Roman prison. Unsure of whether he will remain locked up, be executed, or be set free, Paul writes to his favorite church family to sure up their faith regardless of the outcome. Check out what he says:
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.”
Philippians 1:21-26 (NIV)
Do you see it? Paul is literally saying that he would rather die than live because Jesus is that much better to him. Notice his language, “better by far.” For Paul, the competition for his heart is not a close match, it’s a blowout. To be with Jesus would be better by far and so it has delivered him from the fear of the worse thing that could happen to him. I find it interesting that the main thing college students stress about is uncertainty regarding their future. Paul shows us here that when Jesus is better by far, your peace is no longer dictated by your circumstances, it’s dictated by your Savior!
When you’re following Jesus, uncertainty and difficulty are now the ultimate opportunity for Jesus to prove to you once again that He’s better than any option for your life. When our core team was starting Auburn Community Church we did not have a group we were a part of, no church-planting network, and no sending church supporting us. I remember complaining to God far too often about all the things that we did not have. We were a group of about 30 people gathered on Sunday nights in a hardware store to pray. What we did have was a vision that God wanted to do something new in Auburn that was bigger than each of us. Fast forward over five years to where we are today: thousands of people gathering on Sundays to worship, hundreds getting baptized, families across the country and world being impacted, and resources abounding enough to renovate one building and build another in a three year period… I am SO GLAD God did not deliver us immediately from all of that uncertainty and difficulty!! It was in those challenges that Jesus showed us how real He is!
If you want to experience why Jesus is better, make decisions in such a way where He has to come through for you. Take a risk, have a tough conversation, give sacrificially, move away from comfort. Do all of this with wisdom, but make sure wisdom does not become your excuse for faithlessness. That’s not wisdom, that’s called fear.
My hope and prayer is that a generation would rise up not content to play it safe and live a comfortable, Christian life. I believe this begins when Jesus wins over every option for our minds and hearts. Let this truth resound in you today: Jesus is better. Jesus wins.
Miles Fidell is the founder and lead pastor of Auburn Community Church in Auburn, AL. ACC is a multigenerational movement inspiring thousands to live with radical faith in light of the Gospel.
Follow Miles on Instagram @milesfidell
As we spend time this month speaking and reflecting on sisterhood, I have been really trying hard to reflect on what sisterhood truly is and looks like. Sisterhood is purely about intentionality, vulnerability, and selflessness.
I grew up in a large family with three brothers and two sisters, making me the middle sister. While there are pros and cons to growing up with both an older and younger sister, one thing I have loved more than anything is the form of discipleship that we get to experience. For me I have loved getting to have an older sister who has walked a road ahead of me to counsel me and that I can learn from. I have also loved getting to have a younger sister who is looking up to me to see how I live my life, not putting pressure on me, but keeping me accountable for the way I live my life because I see that I am setting an example. I just want to take a second to be an older sister for the girl who feels lost in transition and needs to know she is not alone…
Transition can be hard. Hard to explain, hard to process. I graduated college this May, but finished my last semester online when moving to work for Live Original. I transitioned way earlier than I had ever planned. A mixture of unexpected goodbyes, but also the overwhelming excitement for working a dream job. I have loved getting to be a part of this community with such encouraging girls who lead me to Christ. While I truly have enjoyed my time the last few months on this new adventure, it has not been easy. I went from being the president of a social club surrounded by a great community, to feeling like a freshman again having to rebuild a community from the ground up. I was new and I REALLY don’t like being new. I moved away from my hometown where all my family live and missed out on many family moments not being home. On top of it all I was working on finishing school and balancing being mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. BUT I can confidently say that despite everything I felt in the beginning, it has been good and the Lord is such a faithful, steadfast, Father through all the changing and growing.
I realize how I spent 3 full years of college setting up my perfect plan for my perfect life only for the Lord to drastically change my heart and open up doors that called me to a life that is almost unrecognizable. MY plan was not to say yes to a job & then move to Louisiana. MY plan was not to work for a ministry, and MY plan was for sure not to leave campus early to finish school online.
Looking back it wasn’t until I stepped outside of MY plan and looked at where the Lord was leading me that I recognized HIS plan was met with nothing but peace, love, growth, and yes uncomfortable moments, but also moments that I have been able to recognize His faithfulness like never before.
So instead of resenting the time and plan that was “taken from me,” I get to rejoice about the most influential season that was college. I thank Jesus for the conversations had, memories made, tears shed, and hard decisions made.
When I am doubting where the Lord has me I have learned to dive into scripture to flood my heart and mind with truth. These are only a few scriptures that I have written on my heart these last few months that allow me to put this season into perspective.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)
“If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6: 30-34)
“’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love the Lord your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-38)
I’m thankful and in awe of a God who answers prayers, changes hearts (specifically mine), and doesn’t waiver or flee in confusing times. And while, yes, the current goodbyes are hard; the renewing and healing of my heart is all because of Jesus.
To the girl who is in a season of change: you are not alone, embrace the in between, run to the Father, and find confidence in the Gospel because there is so much beauty to be found.