Tag: Christian

Nothing Will Be Wasted

Do you struggle with finding purpose during seasons of waiting?

Last weekend, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit a dear friend in Pennsylvania. I had to schedule the trip around my classes, which meant I was only there for one full day.

As I was waiting at the airport on my way home, I thought, “Wow, I’ve spent almost as much time at the airport and on planes as I have with my friend during this trip! How irritating!”

During the five hour flight back, I started writing in my journal about the events of the past two days. Chuckling, I realized many of the humorous stories occurred during my time at the airport.

Without the flight, I wouldn’t have had the time with my friend, nor would I have a complete story. I might even argue that the airport time was as essential to the trip as the time in Pennsylvania itself.

When we are waiting for something, whether it be a breakthrough, the achievement of a goal, or a simply happier season, the waiting period can feel endless and purposeless. But in reality, all of it is essential to the story of your life.

Without the waiting, you wouldn’t be prepared for what’s ahead. You wouldn’t have grown or changed or discovered the things you were meant to. The waiting is essential to the story because it reveals God’s faithfulness.

And when you look back, aren’t some of the funniest, most humbling moments during the waiting process? God uses those moments to bring us closer to Him as we embrace our humanity.

It can be very irritating to be waiting. But as you wait, take time to rest. Take time to discover and learn. Take time to simply be.

You will never get this time back, so why not make the most of it?

We will always be waiting for something or someone, even after we’ve gotten what we were previously waiting for. That doesn’t mean our whole lives are a waste. It just means we always have something to look forward to.

So today, trust God that He will come through in your life. Trust that this season will not be wasted and take the time to cherish every moment of it.

Throw yourselves into the work of the Master (God), confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (MSG)

Holding Onto Hope

Don’t let anyone steal the hope you have in Jesus.

Have you ever been overwhelmed with disappointment and discouragement, maybe even to the point of despair?

The closest I’ve come to despair was last summer. It felt like one disappointment after another kept hitting me on the head. The final straw was losing a close friend over a petty argument and regretting everything. But it was too late. Nothing I could do would solve this catastrophe.

Disappointment is often tied to two things: our inadequacies and lack of control.

When we fixate on what we can’t do, we are left feeling helpless and afraid. Afraid because we are faced with the sharp reality that we can’t dodge pain. We will never be unbreakable. We are, in fact, fallible.

And when we realize we aren’t perfect, we must admit that even if we were in control, things wouldn’t work out the way they were meant to. We weren’t created to be in control. Now that’s a hard pill to swallow.

I bet Jesus’ followers were in despair when they saw Him on the cross. They had faced constant persecution from an oppressive government, but they finally found a Savior. They finally had hope.

Disappointment requires a dashing of hope. That glimmer of light fading into nothingness.

And then, to see their only hope dying a humiliating death…reminding them that we are all breakable…well, that would just feel like the end, wouldn’t it?

But Jesus isn’t fallible. Jesus is perfect. Whole. In control.

And that’s why, three days later, their hopes would never be dashed again. Jesus’ resurrection makes all things new. All things alive, even our hopes and dreams.

Sure, their earthly desires wouldn’t often come to pass. They may have lost many close friends, regretted misspoken words or deeds, and suffered great losses.

But in the end, they could still have hope, and so can we. Hope that we have someone watching over us who loves us so much that He was willing to die for us.

Don’t lose hope. Something greater is coming. In fact, He’s already here. ❤

Happy Easter! He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25-26

Don’t Brush the Pain Away

Do you feel pressured to make everyone think you’re okay?

I always thought I had to be happy at church. Put on a smile, say everything’s okay, and make people sure that God is working everything out in my life.

Well, God may be working everything out in my life (in fact, I know He is), but that doesn’t always make the day-to-day feel like a breeze.

Recently, I allowed myself to cry at church during a particularly moving sermon. That was the closest I’d felt to God in a long time. In fact, I even wanted that experience again.

And honestly, I think God would take our tears and our grief over fake happiness any day.

Sometimes, Christian culture makes us think that we have to be happy when we are in pain. We’re told that we aren’t trusting God when we allow ourselves to be upset by our pain, to feel those deep emotions.

But when we brush off our pain, we are hurting our relationship with God. We are also discouraging non-Christians by making them falsely believe we are perfect.

When we don’t allow ourselves to be in pain, we miss out on an opportunity to grow closer to God, to trust Him more deeply. We are instead resentful towards God when we believe He wants us to bury our feelings.

But God doesn’t want us to do that. Through Jesus’ own example, it was when He was tried and tempted, bruised and beaten, in the face of impending doom and death, that we witness God’s presence most in Jesus’ life while on earth.

Just think about Jesus at the Mount of Olives. Right before His death (and later resurrection) Jesus called out to God, seeking relief even though He knew what He had to do. Just because Jesus wished for a less painful way and allowed Himself to feel pain, doesn’t mean that there’s anything less in His sacrifice.

You are no less of a believer if you are in pain or grief right now. You may not even know what you are feeling, and that’s okay. God knows and He cares. God will take care of you.

And I assure you, the sooner you take the brave step of being honest about your feelings, the sooner you will find the healing you need.

 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Luke 22:39-44

Staying Grounded in a Shaky World

Is your mind often consumed by anxious thoughts?

There are days when everything feels up in the air. Your career, your relationships, your faith even. It can feel hopeless, as though you’re stuck in a swirling sea of uncertainty.

The wisest bits of wisdom often come from children, even if they are unaware of what they are truly saying. Last night, I asked a preschool child what she is most afraid of, and her answer resonated most with the adults in the room.

She replied, “I am afraid when there is something new because I don’t know what will happen.”

She hit on the exact mark of why we are so often afraid: Because we don’t know what’s out there.

Another kid added, “I don’t think we’re afraid of the dark itself; we’re afraid of what’s in the dark that could hurt us.”

We are afraid of what could be.

According to Medline Plus, anxiety is characterized by feelings of fear, dread, or uneasiness. That impending doom lurking before us when we forget that God has an even bigger plan for our lives and won’t leave us behind.

But even with God’s help, we know that pain is just a part of life. We will certainly experience it before our time comes. So how can we stay grounded when anxiety consumes our thoughts?

There are a few simple actions I have found helpful when experiencing fear for the future. I’ll call them the three G’s.

Gratitude

Writing down a list of ten things that you are thankful for each day can help remind you that while bad things do happen, so do wonderful things. It can remind you that God has taken care of you and will bring you through this new season too.

Another gratitude related activity that I love is writing down something that you are thankful for related to your senses. For example, this morning I wrote that I’m thankful to feel my dog’s fur, see the beautiful sunshine, and taste fresh baked bread.

Keeping in touch with your surroundings is key. When you feel overwhelmed in a chaotic atmosphere, it can be relieving to start listing out what is close to you and focusing on the little details.

Growth

Keeping a journal of where you are at through different stages of your life is an excellent way to remember how far you’ve come. After a year, or even a shorter time than that, it can be encouraging to reflect on how God has helped you grow. Often, God uses our fear and lack of control over the future to help us trust Him more and more throughout our lives. It’s incredibly beautiful to see.

Grace

Have grace for yourself when feelings of fear rise up within you. You are not a failure for feeling that way.

In the end, we shouldn’t beat ourselves up over our fears. Yes, God told us not to fear countless times in the Bible. But God also knows us and the situations He has planned for us. That means God knows that we will ultimately have moments of fear, and that doesn’t make Him love us any less.

Rather, God wants us to use those moments as opportunities to develop an even richer, deeper faith in Him.

They say you can’t be brave without having fear, because if you weren’t afraid of anything, then nothing is a risk for you.

The same goes for faith. If you don’t have any fear, then you have no reason to trust God.

Today, have grace for yourself, even when you feel yourself slipping. Instead of focusing on what you are disappointed about, remember that each day that you follow Jesus, you are becoming more and more like Him.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Romans 8:14-16

Discerning Voices

Do you ever feel troubled by voices that discourage you?

It’s late at night. You had a decent day before, nothing to worry too much about. But suddenly, it hits you. That one phrase that came out too fast, that one awkward moment, that one cause for slight concern.

And it haunts you for the rest of the night, maybe even trickling into the days that follow.

I thought of the idea for this post around 5 a.m. last night, as I lay awake in bed thinking about when I overshared during a meeting yesterday. At least, I thought I overshared. Nothing really indicated that I did, apart from one slight twinge of fear during the meeting. But the rest of the meeting was encouraging, uplifting, and hopeful.

So why focus on that one moment?

Well…that’s a good question that we all ask ourselves when we feel like we’re spiraling. Should we listen to the voice that tells us we aren’t good enough, or that we’re just an embarrassment? Is that the voice of God?

One of the hardest things about listening to God is knowing what God’s voice even sounds like. There are too many voices in our heads to discern sometimes. Even when we know a voice doesn’t sound like God, the words linger in our minds, affecting our actions and images of ourselves.

So what can we do about this? Live forever in fear of listening to the wrong voice? Allow negative voices to keep us from living to our fullest potential?

I think not!

Instead, we need to be prepared for the next time we hear something. We need to know what God would and wouldn’t say.

Based on what we know to be true of God’s character, here are a few things I think about when trying to decide whether or not the voice I hear is God’s.

God’s Voice Will Always:

  • Affirm God’s love for you, even if He’s helping you grow or learn from a mistake
  • Ask you to trust Him rather than fear
  • Focus on what can be done, rather than something out of your control
  • Remind you that you are God’s creation, precious and sacred in His eyes
  • Make you feel motivated to become who you are meant to be, even if that change is hard
  • Show you that you are not alone

God’s Voice Will Never:

  • Make you feel worthless
  • Deny a biblical principal, especially Jesus’ example or sacrifice
  • Put something before God or His love for you
  • Make you feel ashamed
  • Refuse a second chance for forgiveness or a fresh start
  • Tell you to hurt someone else or do something that God wouldn’t do
  • Affirm something in you that goes against God’s will or ways
  • Make you feel like anything about you cannot be redeemed through God’s grace

I’m sure you could look through your Bible and think of even more examples–in fact, I encourage you to do so! The best way to know what God wants for us is to figure out what the Bible says about God’s character.

I believe that we both can stand up against the lies of the enemy. The lies that want to bring us down can be used by God to strengthen us instead.

You are needed. You are loved. You are more than any mistake, any embarrassing moment, any moment of guilt. God will take who you are at this very moment and transform you into the person you are meant to be. All you need to do is let Him.

Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

John 5:25

You Have Grown In Remarkable Ways

Do you feel like you haven’t made much progress recently?

Do you ever wish you were further ahead in the journey than you currently are? Perhaps you made a bucket list or a set of goals that have yet to be achieved. Or maybe someone’s critical comment continues to sting.

It’s important to look back and see who we were at different points in time. Ten years ago, one year ago, one month ago, even one day ago.

We are often told that looking back means we are living in the past, but I don’t see it that way when we do it to remind ourselves of how far we’ve come.

When we look back reflectively, we won’t want to be the same person we were back then. Instead, we can appreciate how we’ve already grown so much.

There are certainly things that God is still doing in you. Pruning the rough patches, adjusting your mindset.

But God has already done so much. You have already come so far.

As a photographer, I am reminded of how little changes make a great difference. When I find a picture that needs editing, a simple adjustment of light or shadows can make a huge difference.

I don’t make many large edits to most of my pictures, so when I’m through, it can feel like I barely did anything to improve the photo.

Yet when I compare the original to the transformed version, I see how much clearer the beauty is in the new photo. All the distractions are removed and the beauty that was always there is finally revealed.

You have always been beautiful. You have always been God’s treasured creation.

But as you continue to grow, those innate qualities will be more and more clearly revealed.

Don’t give up. You are changing in remarkable ways. Even if you can’t see it now, it’s there. Don’t lose hope. ❤

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18

Reactions Versus Reality

Do negative reactions cause you to doubt your purpose?

The perfect gift: a little heart-shaped box filled with colorful paper strips of personalized compliments. I had worked so hard on it and I was so excited to give it to my friend. I was a little nervous to see this friend’s reaction, but I just knew it had to be encouraging.

But when I handed it to him, all I got was a “thanks” before the box was chucked into the back of the car and never to be spoken of again. Afterwards, I wondered if my act of kindness wasn’t really so kind? Perhaps I was in the wrong for thinking I could be encouraging.

Years later, as chuckle ruefully at the memory, I am reminded of how important it is to not allow others’ reactions remake reality.

When we do a kind act, but we are not appreciated for it, we are less inclined to go the extra mile in the future. When we wear something that makes us feel special, but someone teases us, we aren’t encouraged to express ourselves. When we choose to reach out to a lonely person, but that person doesn’t respond the way we intended, we regret our brave choice.

But that doesn’t make any of those actions bad or wrong. It doesn’t mean we should regret helping others or being true to ourselves.

It just means that people’s reactions shouldn’t dictate the way we live our lives.

Think about someone who inspires you. Someone who is kind, even on an off-day. Someone who forgives and is willing to move on. Someone who uses their talents to bring hope and light into the world.

What if that person let one negative reaction stop them from caring? What if that person chose to follow the crowd instead of shine their light?

Well, you know personally that the world would be far less beautiful without their gifts.

You are just as capable of making a difference as the people you admire. But we are all susceptible to being torn down by negative reactions.

So how can we combat discouragement?

By following a different guidebook for life. And I think you know which guidebook I’m talking about!

When we follow God’s calling on our lives (through reading the Bible, the best guidebook there is), we are able to live without regret. Even if people laugh at us, don’t understand us, or pretend like we don’t matter, we will know that our presence and our faithfulness is making a difference.

Today, I hope that you can rest assured that every single kind thing you do matters. Every smile, every check-in, every time you do something extra. It all matters, both to God and to greater humanity, whether you realize it or not.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

1 Peter 5:10

Embrace, Not Tolerate

As disciples of Jesus, we are called to a higher form of love.

            These days, the nicest thing you can do for someone is tolerate them. We are told over and over again as we grow up that we need to create a world that is centered around inclusivity and tolerance. While I fully support inclusivity, I have a huge issue with the word “tolerance”.

            According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, when referring to relationships, the definition of tolerate is this: “To put up with.” Not to love, not to help, not to show empathy. Just to “put up with” them.

            If we want to follow Jesus’ example, toleration isn’t the way to respond. Jesus included people from all walks of life: little children, outcasts, disgraced individuals, and regular folks. He invited them all to the table, encouraging them to abandon the ways of the world and commit themselves to being His disciples.

            This wasn’t an easy invitation. It required sacrifice, diligence, and compassion, even for enemies. Yet this invitation is still extended to us today.

            Within that invitation, Jesus doesn’t ask us to mutter under our breath as we allow certain members of society into the hallways of our churches. He doesn’t tell us to force a smile and pretend like people haven’t done wrong. Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us.

            That means recognizing our faults, but looking past them to the heart of the real person inside, essentially unconditional love. A warm embrace after an epic mishap. A tender smile after an embarrassing moment. A gently worded piece of advice after we make the wrong choice.

            After being with Jesus, we are changed forever. We won’t want to sin anymore. We won’t want to be the same people we used to be. But that doesn’t come from Jesus denying our past lives or giving us angry reprimands. Instead, Jesus helps us to address the root of our pain and guides us on the path to deeper healing.

            So how can we extend similar love to others? While we don’t have the power of Jesus, we do have the Holy Spirit working inside us. If we listen and obey what the Holy Spirit tells us to do, whether that’s reaching out to an isolated person or volunteering to restore people’s lives, we will be able to see where our gifts are most needed.

            Most of all, we can let go of mere tolerance and instead warmly embrace the people God places in our lives, no matter what stage of life they are in. We can go one step further than putting up with people. We can point them to the grace and truth of Jesus Christ, the only one who can truly save them.

            Today, be intentional about how you interact with others. See where God might be calling you to more. And who knows? Your life may change forever too.

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John 13:34-35

College: Expectation Versus Reality

Are you struggling to decide where to go for college or what to do in your next stage of life?

This post is a little different from the norm, but that’s okay! I have experienced so much stress (and growth) through my time in college so far, and I know that younger-Hannah would’ve appreciated some down-to-earth advice about what college is really like when making the big decision.

Here I’ll go through a few college expectations I (or others) have had and how they compare to the truth.

Expectation

I need to have a lot of transfer credits in order to save time in college.

Reality

Transfer credits are only helpful when you have a clear idea of what you want to pursue in college. They can definitely save a lot of time, but the truth is it will likely still take 2-3 years to get an undergraduate degree.

However, getting general education credits before starting at a university is very helpful and just getting a feel of what college level classes are like may ease your level of stress while making that transition.

The best thing to do is check with the universities you are interested in and make sure they will take the credits you are transferring! Don’t stress either way. No matter what, this will be a learning experience for you.

Expectation

I have to make all my forever friends during my first year of college and I have to let go of my high school friends in the process.

Reality

Honestly, it’s true that you will likely drift apart from many of your high school friends if you aren’t going to colleges near each other. However, that doesn’t have to be the case for all your friendships. If you really care about the relationship, then you will be able to make it work. It will just feel different, but different isn’t always a bad thing!

And don’t put pressure on yourself during your freshman year of college, especially when it comes to making friends. You may meet life-long friends during your first year, but a lot of people are in an adjustment period and want to get to know as many people as possible without making lasting comittments.

Though it hurts when people move from one person to the next, that’s unfortunately part of starting fresh in a new place. But that’s okay–you have plenty of time to make wonderful friends during and after college, and over time people will start to value lasting friendships.

Expectation

College has to be the best time of my life.

Reality

Wouldn’t it be sad if you limited yourself to thinking that it’s all downhill after age 21? You have so much of your life ahead of you. Don’t think that college is the “be all or end all” of life.

Honestly, my first few quarters of college were pretty rough. The college experience is different for everyone. But one thing I can promise you is this: No matter where you go, you will learn, find your people, and grow into who you are meant to be.

Expectation

I have to find the perfect college in order to be happy.

Reality

There is no perfect college. Instead of stressing yourself out over where you should go, ask yourself these six questions:

  • Can I see myself living here for a year or more?
  • Have I talked to someone similar to me who went here and enjoyed it?
  • Do they have programs that I’m interested in?
  • Does the school’s values and priorities align with mine?
  • Is the surrounding area a place I’d like to explore or become familiar with?
  • Do the other students seem like people I can learn from and feel comfortable with?

It can be hard to answer all of these at once, especially if you’re unable to visit the campuses you’re looking into. But community, campus environment, and the programs themselves matter so much, way more than I anticipated when choosing a college.

If after doing as much research as you can, you still feel lost, remember that you can’t do anything to mess up God’s plan for you. He will use you wherever you go to do great things.

To sum it all up…

Ultimately, no matter where you go or what you do, you will always be:

–Loved

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:12

–Made for a Purpose

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

–Treasured

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 7:6

–Chosen

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

1 Peter 2:9

–Beautiful

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

And so much more. ❤ Best wishes on this next exciting chapter!

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.

Colossians 1:9-11

Not Too Late

Do you feel like you’ve run out of time to pursue your purpose?

We always start out with a plan, right? If events will simply follow the outline, then everything else will fall into place. But as things begin to fall apart, we are left with worthless blueprints and a shattered spirit.

When things don’t go our way, we may think it’s too late. Too late for anything good to happen. Too late to achieve our dreams. Too late even for God to work through us.

We feel lost. Stuck. Abandoned. Hopeless.

But trust me when I say, it’s not too late. Not for you, not for me, not for anybody. For every moment we are breathing, we have a second chance.

And you might be thinking, “Sure, it’s easy for her to say.”

But no, it’s not any easier for me to believe this truth than it is for any of my readers. I’ve been experiencing one of my most directionless times, unsure what to move forward with and what to leave behind.

Even when God has made the best out of my unplanned situations, I tend to doubt that He will follow through in the end. It’s like I forget all He’s done when I’m faced with a new unknown.

But here’s the thing: God uses each of our experiences to help shape us and prepare us for the future. We are more prepared than we think.

And even if you don’t feel like God is listening, I promise you He is. It’s just hard to hear a still, small voice when the world’s worries are pounding in our ears.

Pay attention to the small reminders of His grace. Soak in and accept the unexplainable peace that follows. Surround yourself with wise counsel and supportive friends. Listen to what you know to be true about God’s character.

No matter where you’re at, God has a plan for you. You haven’t done anything to mess it up, no matter what others say. You have not missed out on what’s meant for you. Your story is just beginning. ❤

What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?

Romans 9:22-24

Song recommendation: Not Too Late, by Xander Sallows: https://youtu.be/nomUnxG7MAA