Hope – Page 5 – The Will to Wake Up

How Do You Want to Be Loved?

When you understand how you want to be loved, you will no longer find yourself drawn to inauthentic relationships.

To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.”

-Timothy Keller

We speak a lot about love in this world. In society, we are taught that self-love is most important. At church, we are taught that no one can love perfectly except God, but that true love takes sacrifice, a dying to our flesh. These ideas intermingle in our minds, but often feel unclear.

We are born with the desire to be loved. Why else would we be in community? Why else would we have friends or romantic partners and partake in ceremonies that celebrate undying love, like weddings?

There is something so beautiful and so incomprehensible about love. As humans, we want to explain what love is. We want to put borders around love. We like to say that love means acceptance or second chances or blind trust.

But we cannot explain love because God is love and God cannot be fully explained, at least to our humble minds. And God’s abilities are limitless.

However, it’s not wrong to explore what love means to you. Perhaps it can even help you grow in your understanding of God, too.

Even those who have never known or heard of God crave His unconditional love. This is the love spoken of in the quote by Timothy Keller. A love that knows, chooses, liberates, challenges, and ultimately betters us for the kingdom of God.

This love is so rare in the world. We cannot love perfectly, but we can still try. And when we fail, we can turn to the one who loves us perfectly and ask for His help.

When you understand how you want to be loved through a godly lens, you will no longer find yourself drawn to relationships that aren’t built on authentic love. You will recognize who in your life only “loves” you for what you do for them or who they think you are, even if you are someone completely different. You will no longer gravitate toward superficial love, but pursue deep, soulful love.

There might be times when there aren’t people in your life who can love you this way. Those times are lonely and painful, but they are also times when, if you allow yourself, you will experience God’s love in the deepest way possible. He will meet you in these moments. God is not afraid of the darkness because He is the light.

And these times of loneliness will not last forever.

But how do you know what kind of love God offers and what kind of love we should extend upon others?

Spend time with God and ask Him. Search His word. Study Jesus’ interactions in the New Testament. Listen to God’s promises in the Old Testament.

God promises to heal us (Isaiah 57:18), provide us hope (Romans 15:13), sanctify us (John 17:17), prepare a place for us believers in Heaven (John 14:3), and love us for all eternity, going so far as to sacrifice His own Son for a relationship with us (John 3:16).

The fruits of the Spirit are born out of the love God has for us, and He offers us these fruits when we choose to follow Him:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance [patience], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

-Galatians 5:22-23

Once we accept the love God has for us, we are equipped to love those around us. Imperfectly, yes, but through God’s grace and power, they may still experience God’s perfect love through us.

Now the question is, how are you being called to love others today?

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

-1 Corinthians 13:1-3

20 Things I’ve Learned at Age 20

As I head into a new year of life, here are 20 things God has really brought to light this year.

I hope these bits of wisdom encourage you. Feel free to comment what God has been teaching you so far in 2024!

Embracing your own God-given journey is the key to finding peace.
Not all relationships are meant to last forever. When it’s time to let go, let go and move on.
On the flip side of that, when a relationship is worth fighting for, don’t let hardships or conflict prevent you from strengthening the bond you have with your loved one.
Not everyone will understand your call or your decisions. That’s okay. God’s opinion is the only one that truly matters, so if you are following His lead, you are doing the right thing.
God speaks in many different ways. The important thing is to keep your ears open and use each opportunity to get a better sense of what His voice sounds like.
Cherish the smoother seasons, even if they feel mundane. You will long for them when hard times come.
When hard seasons arrive, remember that they don’t last forever. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus instead of the roaring waves or the storm ahead.
Surrendering your life to Jesus is a daily process which is challenging and even sacrificial at times, but it is so worth it.
Pay attention to the voices around you. Are they voices that encourage you to become the person God wants you to be? Words impact you more than you know.
An identity rooted in anything other than who Jesus says you are will lead to self-destruction and doubt.
Humility is the key to being a secure person.
You were not created to be alone.
Belonging doesn’t have to be limited to social categories. You belong simply by existing here.
Kindness is undervalued in this day and age, but it is also one of the most critical characteristics to embody.
True friendships are built on the mutual joy of simply being in each other’s presence, not about what one wants from the other or how exciting the activities are.
People can’t read your mind. If something bothers you, speak up. If something encourages you, show appreciation.
Even when the timing doesn’t make sense to you, it makes sense to God. His timing is perfect. Trust Him.
If you are discerning whether or not to trust someone’s spiritual counsel, take note of the fruit from their life. Are they of godly character? Do their actions and relationships align with their public beliefs?
You will never find joy or clarity in comparing your story to someone else’s.
One of God’s greatest gifts is inspiration.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

-Romans 5:2-5

Pamela’s Problem

Enjoy a short story about a high school senior who must surrender her future to Jesus.

The long, dark hallway loomed ahead of Pamela. Yellow lights flickered overhead. Her imagination ran wild as her heart thumped in her chest. She half-expected the fuzzy lime-green monster of her childhood nightmares to pop out of the doors lining the hallway. She couldn’t quite explain why this monster was scary to her as a child. He just was, as many things continued to be. Hence, why she was here to begin with.

You see, Pamela was not exploring a haunted mansion or creeping through an abandoned warehouse on a top secret mission. She was visiting her therapist, Dr. Jennifer Stevens, who went by Jenny even to her clients, and whose building manager frequently forgot to change burnt lightbulbs in his building.

Pamela rapped on the door three times before it swung open. Jenny sat at her desk with a perky smile on her face. Thunder, Jenny’s hound dog, lay on the pet bed by the desk, thumping his tail rhythmically.

“Welcome, Pamela,” Jenny said. “How are you doing today?”

Pamela shut the door behind her and slumped into the chair across from Jenny’s desk. It wasn’t the most comfortable chair, and it certainly wasn’t some Freudian couch. But it was better than the stiff plastic chairs at Pamela’s high school, and the company was worth it.

“I heard back from all the colleges I applied to,” Pamela said. She reached into her backpack and handed Jenny a stuffed manila envelope full of letters. Mainly rejection letters.

Jenny filed through the papers while Pamela stroked Thunder’s slick head. Jenny smiled as she held up the one acceptance letter Pamela received. It was from a small state school just a few miles up the road. Pamela’s safety school.

“Congratulations!” Jenny said.

“Didn’t you see all the rejections?” Pamela asked.

“Well, sure, but it’s not like you could’ve gone to all those schools at once,” Jenny said. She waved the acceptance letter in the air. “Doesn’t this count as a victory?”

“All my friends got into the other schools. The better schools,” Pamela said, crossing her arms.

“They all did?”

“Well…most of them.”

Jenny nodded. She never made fun of Pamela’s exaggerations or held it over her head when she was right.

“Are you planning to attend this school?” Jenny asked. “Or will you take a gap year?”

“There’s no way my parents would let me take a gap year,” Pamela said with a laugh.

Jenny smiled. She had met Pamela’s mom in college. They were even roommates one year. She could understand Pamela’s problems better than Pamela even realized, despite how much Jenny adored her long-time friend.

“So what will you study? Or is that the most annoying question to be asked?” Jenny said.

“Creative writing,” Pamela said. “It’s actually the only school I applied to with a creative writing program.”

“That sounds like the perfect program for you,” Jenny remarked. “You’ll get to study what you’re passionate about.”

Pamela nodded, but she still felt a heavy burden on her chest.

“It’s just hard when I think about how my future will look different than my friends’ futures,” Pamela said. “My parents are making me live at home since the dorms cost so much money and we live close to the school. And I won’t have a very prestigious name to put on my resumé. All my friends will live near each other while I’ll have to start over.”

Jenny rested her elbows against her desk and folded her hands together.

“Senior year is certainly a year about thinking through the future,” Jenny said. “We’ve talked about surrendering your future to Jesus this year, haven’t we?”

“I know!” Pamela burst out. “But it’s not fair. What if Jesus doesn’t have as great of a future for me as He has for my friends?”

“It’s all about trust,” Jenny replied. “Do you remember Jesus telling his disciples about how when a son asks his father for a fish or an egg, the father certainly won’t give him a snake or a scorpion instead? The father cares about his son, just as Jesus cares about his children.”

“Then why can’t I go to the same college as my friends?” Pamela asked.

“Jesus knows what’s best for you,” Jenny replied. “Our wants and desires fluctuate like our emotions do, but Jesus knows the path that will lead us closest to him and allow us the opportunity to grow into our full potentials.”

Pamela sighed. She knew this was true. Her emotions often curved high and low like a rollercoaster track.

“The question now is, do you trust that Jesus loves you enough to provide you with a beautiful future, even if it doesn’t look the way you anticipated?” Jenny asked.

“I want to,” Pamela said. “but it’s really hard.”

“That’s okay,” Jenny said. She offered her hands to Pamela, which she accepted. “Let’s ask Jesus for help. Even if it takes years to learn to trust him, we worship a very patient God. Every day, the more you lean on his strength, the more natural it will be to trust him.”

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹²Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:11-13

Fixing What is Broken is Hard — and It’s Worth It

We all have once choice: healing or remaining in our brokenness. Which will you choose today?

When we notice our cracks, our emptiness, and our voids, we have one choice. Will we choose healing or will we choose to remain in our brokenness?

Healing seems like the obvious answer. The word itself brings to mind waves lapping against smooth sand and the rushing sound of water washing us clean. Healing sounds peaceful, and there is a glorious aspect of peace in healing.

But healing is also hard work. It requires us to be honest with ourselves about our brokenness. We often have apologies and reparations to make. And healing isn’t a linear process.

The latter has been the hardest for me to grasp recently. My healing journey began five years ago when I made the decision to surrender my brokenness to Jesus and beg for His help. He listened to me, as He always does, and has helped me grow and let go and discover more of Him since.

There have been fleeting moments of such strong peace that tempt me to wonder if my healing journey is over. Perhaps I am finally the person I have wanted to become.

And then an incident occurs or an unhealthy emotion rises up, and I find myself once again at the mercy of Jesus on account of my deep brokenness.

The hardest part about returning to that place is the sense of failure that accompanies this vulnerable posture. Sitting there in the darkness, I fight doubts over whether or not I’ll ever heal.

And the truth is, we aren’t able to experience complete healing on this side of Heaven because we live in a broken world. We may fully repair one crack just to have a dent appear.

Does that mean healing isn’t worth it?

Absolutely not. Healing is a vital part of sanctification, which is the process we undergo on earth where God helps us become more holy as we grow closer to Him.

While healing isn’t easy, the process itself allows us to trust God on a deeper level and let go of our pride and self-sufficiency. This can deepen our relationships with others because we recognize our need for them, too.

When we arrive at the feet of Jesus in humble submission, He doesn’t shame us. He welcomes us with loving arms. It is a courageous act — not an act of failure — to return to Jesus and ask for His healing. We are often rewarded with His comfort and peace, even if our external (or internal) circumstances are still quite messy.

Another aspect of healing that makes it difficult is the hope it requires. We must believe that we are worth the work it takes to heal. You may not feel worth it right now, and that’s okay.

There is someone who believes you are worth it: Jesus. He was willing to die and rise again to allow you the opportunity not only to experience healing on earth, but to heal fully in Heaven.

I also believe you are worth it. There are others in your life, even if you don’t realize it now, who love you and want you to embrace your God-given identity as a beloved child of the Most High King. None of the lies you believe about yourself, or that have been inflicted upon you by others, are strong enough to remove your identity in Christ.

Call out to God and trust that He hears you. Ask Him who in your life can support you during this time. Then reach out to them and keep your heart open to healing.

You will always be loved. You do not have to embark on this healing journey alone.

When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.
Luke 9:10-11

And a little bonus Marvel advice 😉 I hope this little scene encourages you as it did me last night:

Loki Season 2 Clip

Honoring Easter Every Day

Practical ways you can cling onto the gift of Easter even after the holiday has passed.

Easter is a unique holiday because its lead-up is often difficult. Whether we’re abstaining from a specific pleasure or bad habit for Lent or participating in church services that remind us of the suffering Jesus experienced, our excitement is saved for Easter morning.

Do you still find yourself experiencing post-holiday blues? It’s a strange phenomenon when the meaning of Easter is meant to be carried with us each and every day. I’ve found myself frustrated time and again when my awe and gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice becomes muddled throughout the year.

How can we best honor Jesus’ death and resurrection when the Easter service concludes and loved ones head home?

Besides being intentional about spending time with Jesus each day and embracing others with His love, here are a few more specific ideas for honoring Easter after the festivities are over.

Read Through One Gospel Each Season

There are four gospels and four seasons — how convenient! You can certainly choose the order in which you want to read them, but one example is reading John in the winter, Matthew in the spring, Mark in the summer, and Luke in the fall. This keeps Jesus’ ministry, teachings, and sacrifice present in your mind throughout the whole year, not just during the holidays.

Keep a Gratitude Log

You could get really creative with this. Consider decorating a jar, journal, or box and writing something specific you are grateful for every day to put inside. Constantly in the Bible, we are commanded to remember all God has done for us. This is one of the many wonderful ways to praise Him!

Memorize an Easter Verse

To be honest, I’m not the best at Bible memorization, but there is something beautiful and authentic about learning a verse word-for-word to recall when times are tough and we need to be reminded of Jesus’ promises. Here are a few suggestions of verses to memorize, though you should choose a verse that particularly resonates with you!

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)
“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’” (Matthew 28:5-6)
“‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” (1 Peter 2:24)

Volunteer for Those in Need

The love we receive from Jesus is meant to be shared. Serving others, whether through church, a humanitarian organization, or in organic relationships, brings such joy to not only us, but Jesus. Needs can vary, whether they are physical, emotional, or spiritual. Don’t discount someone God is calling you to serve just because they don’t fit your perception of being “in need”. Whoever you are helping, if you do with the love of Christ, your gifts and time will not be wasted.

Acknowledge Jesus’ Gift of Life in Prayer

Do you have a typical format in which you pray? Regardless of how structured or unstructured your prayer time usually is, consider being intentional to thank Jesus for saving you and offering you a life with Him. We often get caught up in asking Jesus to bless others or meet our needs, which is important. But we will experience greater peace when we remember that He’s already met our greatest need with His love.

I hope this Easter is particularly meaningful for you! Remember, Jesus loves you so much and He is ready to walk alongside you as you grow to trust in Him.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
John 20:19-21

Our Stories Matter

Listen to wisdom and encouragement from four of my friends and take comfort in knowing your story can inspire others too.

Earlier this month, I had the immense pleasure of interviewing four close friends of mine who have inspired me in their walk with Jesus. Hearing one another’s stories reminds us that we aren’t alone in what we are going through. As the body of Christ, we are meant to lift each other up. Often its through our words and listening that we best show others we care.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2

Below are a few quotes from my amazing sisters in Christ featured in this video. I hope it encourages and inspires you to hold onto the hope that Jesus will use your story. No story is too messy or complicated to be used by Him. In fact, when we are vulnerable and honest about our stories, others will witness Jesus’ genuine and authentic love.

“There is always hope.”

~ Dorothy

“Being surrounded by people who share the same faith in Jesus…points me to His hope when I can’t see it myself.”

~ Charlotte

“Resilience…reminds me of a cord being able to hold something or withstand something for a long period of time.”

~ Ruthie

“Giving everything to [God] is definitely one of my anchors.”

~ Ashley

The Beauty of Insignificant Work

Who are we serving when we show others kindness and love, even in the smallest of ways?

There’s no blow quite as resonant as learning someone doesn’t remember you.

Running into an old acquaintance and hearing them say, “Um…what’s your name again?” Bumping into a kid you taught for five years in Sunday school or a beloved childhood friend who stares blankly back at you as you recount fond memories with them. I’m sure you can think of your own example.

When we are forgotten, we wonder if our kind actions toward these people had any significance, any lasting impact. We were designed to crave purpose.

We like to pretend that we don’t deem certain work insignificant. But come on, if someone told you they spent a summer rebuilding a children’s home in an needy area versus playing with toddlers in your church’s nursery, your reactions would differ based on allocated significance for each activity.

Our tendency to rank our charitable acts, hopefully acts that stem from our love for God and His people, has its roots in comparison. We enjoy volunteering to babysit for the single parent next door until we learn our friend is traveling abroad to minister to hundreds of students on the brink of accepting Christ.

The final nail in the coffin is realizing the people we are impacting, even if we can count the number of them on one hand, may not even remember us. Does our service mean nothing?

Well, yes. It does mean nothing.

It means nothing if the reason why you are serving is to be remembered or feel significant, regardless of what you are doing. The what really isn’t important. It’s the why that counts.

I know that sounds incredibly cliché, but hear me out. We have no meaning without Christ, our Creator, who has redeemed us through His own sacrifice on the cross. Through His resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are given the opportunity to powerfully impact others.

Understand this (read it a few times if you need to): The only reason why we are able to make a difference is because of Jesus living inside us.

Anyone can do good works. A neighbor who has never met Jesus can cook you a spectacular meal after a terrible day or comfort you after the loss of a loved one. A stranger can plan a community-wide event that helps kids have a safe place to play. And no doubt, these works are wonderful. But they do not have the potential to be miraculous because they are not done out of a heart for God.

The beauty of insignificant work is its innate humility. When we botch up sharing our testimony to the youth group, but have a teen come up later and reveal how it inspired them, we know that only God could’ve used our words in this way. When we serve children who are too young to remember our time with them, but later watch them grow up with a solid understanding of God’s love for them, we trust that God was working even in the forgettable moments.

All works that point to Christ are used to transform lives, even if we can’t see it at the time. Some of us plant the seeds, others of us water them, but God is the one who created the seeds that bloom into fruitful plants. We are merely God’s workers, which is a relief because when we feel burdened by others’ problems, we can hand those burdens directly to God.

God is the best boss you could ever have. He doesn’t ever give you busywork or send you off to fetch His coffee. Every calling He places on our hearts is meaningful. He is not the one who suggests “smaller” deeds are insignificant. So what right do we have to call His work insignificant?

Today, keep your eyes open to the Spirit’s nudges on your heart. Remember that everything you do for Jesus is significant. Even if others can’t recall the kindness you’ve shown them, Jesus sees you and knows everything. Therefore, nothing we do out of His love is in vain.

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁶I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. ⁷So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. ⁸The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. ⁹For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Let Your Will Be Done

Do you long to surrender your life to God, but you aren’t sure where to start?

If you’ve been a follower of Christ for a while, you’ve likely wondered what decisions God wants you to make. Certain decisions are quite clear in the Bible: do not steal, do not murder, do not commit adultery. But other decisions, the specific ones that may lead to two good outcomes, are difficult to determine.

I’m not sure where you are on your journey. Perhaps you are just entering the job market or anticipating retirement. Maybe you have been single your whole life or you are in a serious relationship. You could be figuring out where to move or when to have kids or who to stay close with as you enter a new season of life.

As for me, I’m wrapping up my second-to-last quarter of college and trying to figure out where God wants me next. Does He want me to find a full-time job related to my major? Would He rather have me pursue another degree? Should I try exploring a different career path entirely?

A piece of advice I received related to this conundrum has stuck with me:

Acknowledge your desires, then surrender them to God.

While this advice felt solid and biblical, I wasn’t quite sure how to surrender to God. I was left with a list of all the things I wanted and a burning feeling of guilt for holding onto them.

If you are in a similar place, I assure you that you shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting things, especially things that God desires for you, such as joy, purpose, community, and love. I assumed that the surrendering process would be significant and perhaps even physical, and while it is significant and can lead to physical actions over time, the surrendering process may actually feel quite gradual.

The best person to learn from in any situation is Jesus. When crucifixion loomed overhead, He drew near to God in prayer.

³⁶Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

³⁹Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Matthew 26: 36-39

Jesus didn’t deny what He wanted, but He surrendered His will to God through prayer. Sometimes, we can feel distant from God because we are afraid of telling Him what we want. We are ashamed that we have desires that haven’t been met yet. Perhaps it even seems symbolic of a lack of faith.

The pendulum can swing the other way, too. We fall into the temptation of treating God as Santa Claus, demanding what we want and feeling utterly disappointed and hopeless when He doesn’t deliver in the way we wanted.

Jesus’ model is the perfect approach to take to prevent distance and disappointment. Come to God honestly with all of your feelings and hopes and dreams. This reveals great faith and vulnerability. Admit what you long for and what weighs heavily on your heart. Then ask for God’s will to be done no matter what and pray for peace in any outcome.

You may not see instant results the first time you pray (though I hope you are filled with peace). But if you continue this practice day after day, you may find yourself shedding your old perspective and embracing one of hope and anticipation for all the amazing things God has in store for you.

If you find yourself desiring things that don’t align with God’s will, ask Him for help in this process. Slowly, but certainly, you will find yourself eager for what God has planned for you. And when you face fear, sadness, or chaos, you will always know to whom you can turn. Your loving Creator, the one who knows you best.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵he predestined us for adoption to sonship^[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. ⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace ⁸that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, ⁹he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, ¹⁰to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
Ephesians 1:4-10

Life at Different Speeds

Do you feel frustrated by the pace of your progress?

Sloths typically live between 20-30 years, sleep 15-20 hours a day, and move at such a slow pace that algae grows on their backs¹. Over the course of their lives, they may be able to travel across 100 trees. Meanwhile, butterflies typically live for only a couple of weeks – months at the most. Yet they make the most of their time! Monarch butterflies travel 50-100 miles per day².

Photo by Shuvalova Natalia on Pexels.com

We all move at different paces, too. Some of us enjoy busy schedules, social gatherings, and constant movement. Others of us function best after taking the time to rest and process, appreciating the quieter moments of each day.

These differences go beyond personality as well. Some people seem to be on the fast track to success, whether it be worldly success or relationship development or spiritual transformation. Those of us who are late bloomers may feel frustrated that we’ve been working on the same thing for longer with less to show for it.

Humans are judged differently than animals. If you were to go up to a sloth and demand that it move faster, you would look silly. Similarly, if you were to tell a butterfly to slow down and smell the roses, you would also seem ridiculous. We have accepted that animals were created intentionally and uniquely. They have been functioning this way for thousands of years, and it’s only human interference that disrupts their life cycle. Thus, who are we to criticize their way of life?

However, we often feel inclined to question human growth rates, especially our own. Why didn’t we get into the same college as our friends? Why don’t we know which career path to take? Why haven’t we been promoted? When will we finally meet “the one” for us? How long until we become as successful or significant as the person beside us?

The questions shift through each stage of life, yet they are all rooted in our broken understanding of identity. God created us with unique gifts and personalities that benefit others. While we are meant to become more like Him the longer we walk in faith, we will also develop into one-of-a-kind creations. When we lose our broken understanding of who the world tells us we are, we can embrace the beautiful identity God designed for us.

There are benefits to our individuality, just as there are for sloths and butterflies traveling at their own paces. Sloths are able to camouflage due to the algae that develops from their slow speed, which protects them from predators. Butterflies’ migration patterns gives us a sign of how our ecosystem is doing, while also providing us hope and encouragement with their beauty³.

We may never know why life is moving at the rate it is right now or why it’s taking a different shape than we had imagined. However, we can always trust that with God in control, we will end up where we need to be in good time.

Today, breathe and rest in God’s presence, like sloths. And also keep an eye out for opportunities God offers you to bless others, like butterflies. No matter who you are, you were created intentionally and designed with a unique purpose that’s meant to be shared with the world.

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-6

When Nothing Gets Better

Hope for when hardships don’t cease.

I had a more “poised” post planned out for today, but I’m going to be real with you. I’ve had a really difficult past few weeks and every time it seemed like things were improving, something else happened to make it worse. There were moments when staying in bed or zoning out behind a screen seemed safer than continuing on with my day.

Maybe you’re in a similar boat right now or perhaps you can recall a time when you were stuck in a negative cycle. I believe God wants us to express our emotions and be honest about them, but I don’t think He wants us to stop there.

I don’t have all the answers for why life is difficult or when your problems will be solved. We live in a broken world which will remain imperfect until Jesus comes again.

But I have been reminded again of our need to cling to the truth that there is always beauty to be found and we are not alone in our struggles. Here is my process of overcoming ongoing obstacles, which I hope resonates with you too.

Acknowledge the Pain

You are not a failure or overly sensitive for admitting when you are struggling. In fact, when we distract ourselves or pretend like everything is okay, we are depriving ourselves of deeper healing. Allow yourself to feel your emotions and share them, whether with a trustworthy loved one or in a diary, and especially with God.

Admit to God Your Humanness

Difficult times can draw us closer to God. He is here for you and wants you to call out to Him in all seasons. Admit that you can’t do this alone and ask for His steady hand to guide you through.

Reflect on Previous Trials and Restoration

This likely isn’t the first storm you’ve encountered. Remember a time when you thought nothing would improve and take notice of how this mindset shifted. Can you see God at work in that situation? What did you learn from that trial? Is there anything you can use from that experience to help you through this one?

Read God’s Promises for Your Life

Though we live in a broken world, God still created us with intention and love. Therefore, we can experience joy and fulfillment while living into the calling He has for us. Open your Bible and read passages that bring you hope. Notice passages about Bible characters who faced difficulties, but relied on God for strength. What got them through their battles? God never changes. He will help you, even if His response shows up in unexpected ways.

Do Something You Enjoy

While this step isn’t meant to be an escape from real life, taking time to have fun and focus on other aspects of our lives can help us process and release our pain. You are worth moments of rest and enjoyment.

Allow Yourself to Embrace Newness

Life might look different for you right now, but that doesn’t mean you have to freeze and wait for everything to be over. You can live out your God-given calling right now, even as you hope for better days. We may avoid embracing newness because it means we have to keep moving forward, but it also means we won’t be stuck in this season forever. Things will get better, one step at a time.

I hope and pray that you know how much you are loved. No matter what, God is with you and fighting for you. Don’t give up. ❤

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 5:3-5

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, ¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²²And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 1:18-23