No, Sorry this isn’t some weird buzzfeed quiz you can that tells you the type of sponge you are. (although fun fact there are like 5-10,000 different types of sponges)
Now I’m not a wordsmith, or a know it all, and I sure has heck don’t claim to be some biblical scholar. So bare with me when I write these posts. Sometimes God just gives me these little epiphanies and I feel like now as I’m going through this weird journey with the World Race I should share them.
What Kind of Sponge Are YOU?
Being a leader in youth ministry for the past 5 years has taught me ALOT. About the generation being raised up and about myself. With high school kids you can get them to do just about anything with the right kind of encouragement. I’ve gotten kids to snort lemonade powder, jump into pools in the winter, eat rotten things till they puke. I’ve seen kids go up to random strangers on a dare and try and convince them that they are his mom ( I’m talking to you Trip). Kids will do just about anything with the right kind of encouragement.
On the flip side of that I’ve had girls call me at 3 in the morning weeping telling me they’re done with life because everyone around them has made them believe they aren’t good enough, I’ve seen innocent sweet girls be trapped in borderline abusive relationships because of the amount of people who love the way they look on social media but have no idea what is actually happening, I’ve seen kids with arms scarred from wrists to elbows and down their legs because thats the only relief they found from the bullying they experienced at school and at home. With the right kind of encouragement, kids will do just about anything.
For as long as I can remember I’ve always heard adults says “Kids are like sponges, they absorb everything”. After many years of loving kids I can say that is the dang truth, y’all. But its not just kids. Its adults too. I catch myself constantly trying to stay up to date with the new makeup, fashion, lingo, dance moves (I fail miserably at all of these things but its aight). What does that say about me as a 24 year old woman? I feel like as we age and grow we never really stop being sponges.
What is the purpose of a sponge?
To absorb and then once full to release what has been absorbed into the desired area.
To Absorb –> To Release
What are you absorbing?
Are you absorbing the world? The parties, boys or girls, unhealthy relationships, lies from people who don’t know you? Are you absorbing all the likes you get on social media and using that to fuel your self worth? Are absorbing the amount of alcohol it takes you to not feel anymore so you don’t have to deal with the shame and guilt that the brokenness from your past has caused you? Are you absorbing the pain of peoples words and thinking that its truths?
OR
Are you absorbing God? Are you absorbing His word, His promises, His Glory! Are you absorbing the unconditional love of a Father, even if you’ve never felt that once while in our temporary home? Are you absorbing the salvation our Savior Jesus Christ brought down to earth so that we can have eternal life in Him? Are you absorbing the fruits of the Holy Spirit? Are you absorbing the Armor of God so you can fight the lies the enemy so desperately wants to defeat you with?
What. Kind. Of. Sponge. Are. You.
I can honestly say I’ve been both. I’ve lived a life of defeat. I thought that peoples opinions mattered, that drinking all the time was the answer, that being angry and defensive and hateful made my hurt hurt less, that every rude inconsiderate and disgustingly mean thing anyone has ever said to me defined me and what I was going to amount to. I absorbed that, I soaked it in and I went around drenching everyone I met with the gross dirty water my life had become. I was hurt and broken, scared and alone, and I felt like I had a right to bring others into my self loathing.
BUT, I met a man. He hung on a tree, He died and rose again, and wrung my sponge out dry so that He could dip me down into his cool clean waters so that I could absorb a life that I didn’t deserve. He cleaned me, filled me back up, and placed me exactly where I am so that I can cover everyone I come in close proximity to with His grace, love, forgiveness, compassion, and redemption.
Friends, I pray that you decide to be someone who is absorbing the things of God and distributing that goodness to everyone you come in contact with. My hope in these ramblings is that you become aware that you have a CHOICE in what you absorb. That you can choose a good and meaningful life. When we follow the Lord its not guaranteed to us that it’s going to be sunflowers and daffodils with picnics on a rainbow with my little pony. No, you will suffer, you will hurt, you will go through extremely hard times.. trust me. But you will be FILLED with joy, love, peace, patience, kindness and the Lord with give you everything you need to handle every obstacle that life throws at you. Choose what you absorb wisely loves. It’ll change your life and potentially someone elses with the right kind of encouragment.
Jesus, Thank you for speaking to my heart to allow me to realize the fullness that you bring to your children. Thank you for simple things like sponges that we can learn from. Lord I pray that whatever I write is not for my benefit but for your Kingdom and Glory! I pray that if someone received anything out of the ramblings of a crazy girl, that you bless their life in abundance and that you wring them out and make them new just like you so graciously did with me. Father, thank you for the cross and for a life that I will never deserve. We ask all of these things in the name of Jesus.
Amen
xo- Marge
