Goodbye Roaring 20s & Hello Thriving 30s!
The excitement that I have for my thirties is literally unexplainable. Half of me feels like 29 is basically 30 so it’s not much of a difference and than the other half of me is ecstatic to be starting a whole new decade!
The night before my birthday I actually got to share my testimony with a friend at a coffee shop and it felt like I was reviewing my twenties before my “big day.” So many things that have shaped my life has happened in my twenties and it astounds me. I feel like my twenties were not only my shaping years but my solidifying my identity/who I am years.
I have seen my fair share of heartbreak, loss, devastation, poverty, weakness, overwhelming sadness, endless questioning of why, anger, disappointment, let down, fear, hopelessness, and some other negative emotions and experiences. However, I have also seen more than my fair share of unshakable strength, unexplainable faith, hope that anchors my soul, miracles that cannot scientifically be explained, supernatural healings, divine appointments, undoubted risk taking, supernatural wealth, true generosity, unwavering courage, peace that surpasses all understanding, tears of joy, and many other positive emotions and experiences. But, even with all of my experiences and emotions, I believe that my twenties were the stepping stones for teaching me all about the all encompassing emotion and experience of Love.
I’ve learned that Love is not always safe, delightful, easy, fun, or even a feel good sensation. Love in its rawest form challenges us to sacrifice something of ourselves for someone else which in return can be scary and painful if not done healthily. Love is what we are ultimately called to do as Christians. When we truly understand how He loves us, believe what He says about us, and are so filled by that so much so it overflows on everyone we meet and know it is then when we have experienced true Love.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” -Matthew 22:36-40 ESV
Love, in its most common form, is something that we are constantly seeking to find especially if you are “single.” The whole world is constantly seeking for Love no matter their age, gender, or race. I feel that my twenties was pivotal in teaching me that because of our own life experience, perceptions, and realities Love can become a perverted concept and therefore make us believe lies about what Love is. Our perception is our reality and our reality is what we walk in everyday. We were created to Love and to be Loved and if our perception of Love is perverted so many things in our life will be false truths. Love is such a powerful thing. Everyone longs to experience, encounter, give, receive, strive for, wait for, hope for, long for, dream of, learn about, read about, chase after, etc. however if misunderstand Love because of our perception we could have it right in front of us and still miss it.
My early twenties I went through a terrible breakup which has become a huge part of my testimony of learning how to forgive and receive supernatural healing, Love, and peace. In my early mid twenties I felt like it was a roller coaster of supernatural highs and lows of learning about how big God is and learning to believe that He is a good good father even through hard times. In my later mid twenties I learned that relationships are hard and communication is such a huge key to Loving someone well. It also taught me a lot about how even if you are Loving in Love it can be perceived differently either because they don’t know how to receive it yet or you haven’t learned how to give it yet without skewed perception.
My late twenties I feel like I finally understood that I needed to first Love myself before I could Love anyone else well. This season I learned how to take time for me, learn how to hear His voice and believe what He said about me, and learned how to accept that not everyone is going to understand or see me for me. I have enjoyed learning to understand my wants, my needs, my desires, my dreams, and pursue them and I feel like it’s been the final stepping stone into my thirties.
The past couple of days being 30 have been amazing! I have had friends from all over the United States and around the world help me celebrate my birthday. It has truly showed me how much I am Loved and how well I have Loved others just by of their presence in my life. I have also realized that I have gained a new perception of “not caring anymore.” Another way to say it is “I Love Him, He Loves me, I Love myself, and I Love others and I really don’t care what other people think about me because His opinion is the only one that counts.” So with that being said I am very excited to say goodbye to my roaring twenties and hello to my thriving thirties!
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” -John? ?13:34-35? ?ESV
