Hello, blog! Long time no see… I admit I’ve been putting off writing another blog for however many months now, mostly because I couldn’t decide on what to write about. So many things have been happening, so I figured I should give a quick summary like they do at the beginning of a new season of a show. You know, the ones that start with “previously on…” and recap the whole history of the characters’ lives. So here it goes…queue the speedy narrator’s voice cause I’m about to rapidly sum up the last 6 months…
I went to Cuba and had an amazing time and realized missions is the greatest thing ever and got super pumped about next year then there was thanksgiving and the Christmas season and all that jazz which was insane as always and then I went to Passion 2018 where I worshiped with thousands of young adults and my mind was blown and then over 100 people bought my t-shirts which is the coolest thing ever and then I started my last season of track and toured colleges and eventually decided I wanted to go to UGA after the race (go dawgs) and then I had the sweetest spring break and here I am now
PSA: I promise I know how to write, there is just no time for punctuation and grammar rules right now
And that’s what you missed!
Now, that is a MAJOR overview of my life since my last post. If I had enough time and brain power I could go on and on about some of my favorite moments. The truth is, these past months have been so, so good. I’m not saying I haven’t had those days where you just gotta skip school cause getting out of bed is too hard (seniors wya?), or where I have struggled to see God’s plan through the cloud of worries in my mind. I have had my fair share of tough days. But, I am saying that the Lord has truly opened my eyes to life-changing practices, that have allowed me to live in freedom and really enjoy all He’s blessed me with.
I feel like this season of my life could best be described as a long process of unlearning. Unlearning what the world has been teaching me for 18 years, and trading it out for the truth that’s found in God’s word. Unlearning fear of failure and taking on the spirit of confidence in God. Unlearning how to hold onto shame and accepting the grace Jesus has offered me.
Freedom.
That was my word for the year. When I picked it, I didn’t know how transformative it was going to be in my life. I’ve seen the Lord give me complete freedom from things I didn’t even know were holding me down. I have this re-occurring picture of God just ripping layers off of me. Throughout my life, I’ve taken on layers of who I think I should be, sealing off things I never thought I could become. I became suffocated by the weight of trying to be someone I’m not and please people who will never be satisfied.
But God says no. He ripped off the layer of fear in missing his calling and reminded me that He will equip me with all I need for doing His will. Next was the layer of striving, as He reminded me that He is already pleased with me; I can stop trying to please the world. He saw I was ridden with anxiety and called me to cast it all on Him. Slowly, one by one, the Lord has been peeling off the layers until He reveals my true identity; An identity that is only found in knowing the Father.
That is how I’ve been finding true freedom. I’ve been allowing God, and God only, to tell me who I am and give me a real purpose. This can only be done as I immerse myself in the truth of His word. I know this is a long process, but it is so worth it. I encourage you to allow God to begin chipping away at the layers because who He created you to be is so much greater than who the world has told you to become.
Cast off the layers and step into the freedom He has for you.
Thanks for reading 🙂
