You may have heard of the hit series Thirteen Reasons Why that made its debut on Netflix recently.
If you haven’t, it is based off a novel and has sparked tough conversations. Indeed, conversations that need to happen. It is the story of a high school student, Hannah Baker, who takes her own life amid suffering. Before she does so she records herself on thirteen different tapes explaining the thirteen reasons of what drove her to end her life.
While watching this my heart broke over the reality and just how raw the story was that was unfolding. I personally do not know that feeling of depression and anxiety to the point of taking my own life. I do know that it is real and is happening in our society today. The bullying, the betrayal, the loneliness, and the pain that just wouldn’t go away was the cause of Hannah’s depression.
The issues are real.
I would love to share with you eleven reasons why my faith (through the Fruit of the Spirit and then some) has played such an important role in my life and how it could give anyone a glimpse of hope in times of loneliness, betrayal, and even hate.
Eleven Reasons Why…
Love. The greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13) I have learned that through this I have been able to faithfully abide in the ones to follow on my list. Loving others the best that I know how to and feeling more convicted of that daily. My heart and my love for other cultures is big. The desire to serve to all the ends of the earth is real and I look forward to this adventure with Jesus. In 90 days to be exact.
Joy. This is gladness that is of itself of the good or bad things that happen throughout the day. I can remember looking at someone in their time of worship and I saw the joy that excluded from their face. I knew that I wanted what she had and that was the joy that only came from the Father.
Peace. There is a peace that passes all comprehension. (Philippians 4:6-7) One of the most trying times in my life and I’m sure in anyone’s life has been losing a loved one. Death is hard. Even when someone may take their own life and feel like they are taking their pain away it causes so much more pain to their loved ones. It can cause us so many seasons of grieving and quite often those seasons never end. I found peace when I began to praise Jesus in my time of loss.
Patience. I remember in 2013 I had applied to go on the World Race. I learned that God had a different idea as that was not the right time for this mission trip to take place. My patience has developed throughout my relationship with Jesus and I continue to learn more about it every day.
Kindness. When we have kindness in our life then we look for ways to look and change things to help others when they are in need. As I travel to other countries and potentially have language barriers I prepare to extend kindness in any way that I can.
Goodness. While kindness is the soft side of good, goodness reflects the character of God. Goodness in your desires to see goodness in others. Giving grace and showing compassion has allowed me to see that goodness in all walks of faith.
Faithfulness. We read in God’s word that faith is the element of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. I met the Lord at a young age and my faith has been growing in ways ever since. Many trials and struggles that have happened that would have been much harder if I didn’t know Him.
Gentleness. God has shown me how I want to do things in my own ways and my owns strengths at times. I have learned that to be gentle in the spirit, I need to place my strength under His control. I want to be gentle with others and myself so I don’t let my pride get in the way. Giving up my right to be right has allowed this gentleness to shine through.
Self-Control. My fleshly desires, Scripture tells us, are continually at odds with the Holy Spirit and that we always want to be in charge. We must set our power in focus at the right time and the right place. It is hard and interesting at the same time as God knows that eating boundaries is difficult. Self-control is a daily struggle, but I do know that it is something I pray and work on daily.
Leadership. Not a Fruit of the Spirit. 🙂 The leadership that I have developed in leading my children’s ministry and through my master’s degree has given me more confidence to know that I am a leader. To be a leader for the Kingdom I must first be a follower.
Relationships. Not a Fruit of the Spirit. 🙂 My family and friends have always shown me love and encouragement in everything that I do. Having and knowing this love is something that I can’t ever imagine living without and I know even more that God’s love for me is even greater.
These are eleven reasons why my faith has played a part in getting to where I am today.
My hope is that everyone I encounter on the race will desire to know the Jesus that we serve. My prayer is that I can be an example to anyone desiring to know and follow Jesus through my stories, testimonies, and photos here back home. I already know that it will be one of the most challenging trips that I have taken as I won’t be able to physically see my family and friends for eleven months, but this will only strengthen my relationship with the Lord.
Dear Reader,
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus and desire to know Him then please reach out to me.
Love,
Kricket
