The year 2009 has come and gone, though it seems only yesterday it was December of 2008 and I was empty; my heart was crying out for a greater purpose in life; and my head wasn’t even aware something was missing.
Was my cry answered? In the last twelve months have I seen an answer to my prayer? Yes, I have. It was an answer I never expected, an answer I never asked for. The answer to the unexplainable stirring in my soul, the answer I was waiting for, when I didn’t even realize I was waiting. This answer came, not in the form of a vision, or a revelation, but in the form of… a book. A simple book that I received for Christmas would turn my world upside down — if I would let it.
Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations. An interesting title for a book. My parents actually want me to read this? But it seemed the most unique book in the stack I had received for Christmas, so I decided to read it first.
All of New Year’s morning was spent sitting on my bed methodically turning the pages of Do Hard Things. As I read I felt the stirring inside my soul, the stirring that I had never realized was there. It grew with the passing of each page, I realized something that had never before crossed my mind: I could be doing so much more.
“I was content inside my ‘good kid’ bubble.”
I was what people would call a “good kid.” At 14 and a half I obeyed my parents, could have an intelligible conversation with an adult, had never seen a PG-13 movie, was homeschooled, and had never had a relationship with a boy. I wasn’t rebellious, I was content inside my “good kid” bubble.
But while I didn’t do anything bad, did I really do anything excellent either? I was just “good.” As the pages turned and the stirring grew I realized that I had not been called to be “good,” Jesus Christ had not given his life on a cross to make me “good.” I had been called, my Master had summoned me, to excellence.
Toward the middle of the book I came across these words: “The complacency of fools destroys them. – Proverbs 1:32” Over time, refusing to reach higher, try harder, and risk more robs us of the glorious purpose and wonderful future God has created us for. POP! My “good kid” bubble had just been done away with, the protection was gone, I was out in the open, and I would never be the same.
The Lord expected great things of me, and I was determined to deliver. As I continued flipping pages there was still a stirring in my soul. But it was no longer a searching sort of stirring, it was an excited stirring. “What can I do Lord? How can I further your Kingdom? What would you have me to do? What is my hard thing?” As I read the last page it hit me. Not like a tap on the shoulder, not like a slap on the cheek, but like a semi-truck running over me, I discovered my hard thing.
“With those words I gave my teenage life away…”
Memories came rushing back, painful memories. Twelve years old, reading a school assignment like a good kid. What I encountered scarred me forever. It was an explanation of abortion, the different methods, and dangers. Before I got through the first method tears streamed down my face, and sobs shook my twelve-year-old frame. Now, over two years later, the wounds that had been cause by seeing the words “baby” and “suction” in the same sentence were opened anew as the Lord revealed my hard thing to me. “No Lord, that can’t possibly be it,” my heart cried. “I can’t handle that, it’s too painful, it’s too hard!”
I couldn’t sleep that night, instead I lay awake with ideas and plans running through my head. I didn’t put them there, He did. All I could think of was trying to get them out. But finally surrender was necessary, or sleep would never come. “I trust you Lord, do as you will with me.” With those words I gave my teenage life away, and I would never get it back (and I don’t want it back).
Now, a year later I have endured struggles and rejoiced in victories in my fight for the unborn. I have started a nonprofit organization called Coins and Quilts 4 Life that is dedicated to being,”a voice for those who cannot speak and a love for those who have been given the chance.” To find out more about what this organization does, or to offer you support please visit our website.
So much has happened in a year, sometimes it is difficult to remember how things were before I read Do Hard Things. Nevertheless, when I do succeed in remembering I cannot help but praise my Saviour for rescuing me from the clutches of complacency, giving me a Holy Ambition to pursue, and opening my eyes to the vast potential that I hold as a young person…
Some questions for discussion:
- Reflect back on 2009. How are you a different person than you were a year ago? Do you see growth?
- What is one of the major lessons God has taught you the past year?
- How have you stepped outside your comfort zone this past year?
Definitely a well-written post and an encouraging story; we can all benefit from challenging ourselves to be the best our Abba has for us to be. The Proverbs verse is well-chosen, and throughout she talks about God as the initiator… It was just the very last line that made me a little uncomfortable. It’s God that changes everything, not Brett and Alex’s book; although I will grant that my brothers have been very bold and obedient in their work for God and that He has been able to change many lives through them, it’s still Him at the center…
But now I’m just preaching to the choir, all of you know this stuff. Happy New Year! Take this one for Jesus.
Tabitha, that was a moving story! I am so glad to have been able to read it. I don’t know you as well as I’d like, but this was a unique and touching glimpse into your rebelutionary spirit. Keep it up! I love the phrase, “With those words I gave my teenage life away.” Awesome!
Yes, thank you, Tabitha. Wonderful post. It’s such an encouragement to hear from others doing hard things. Thank you for stepping out and doing amazing things through Christ.
For your questions, yes, I see growth. I graduated from college early. I traveled across the country, and learned way more than I’d intended.
Major lessons for me: Encourage… means to put courage in. That’s my purpose in life. I’ve discovered that encouragement, not new information, is what everyone needs. And unlike new, cool, and profound, encouragement takes a lot of hard work.
Secondly, I’ve learned the importance of gratefulness. It’s not just some nice feeling – it’s the motivator for everything I do… or at least it should be. I love God and others because He first loved me. I’m driven by thankfulness.
Those two lessons on encouragement and thankfulness have changed my perspective and direction radically… more than anything I remember changing my life in 2008.
And finally, I’ve stepped outside my comfort zone multiple times, probably the biggest was teaching on a Sunday morning at my church. Still, though I’ve certainly been led by Jesus in many things, I’ve failed in many more. I’m taking this as a motivator to follow Jesus more closely and genuinely give Him every part of me – fearlessly – in the coming year.
Thank you again for posting. It’s fantastic to see posts here again.
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Ahhh, Tabitha, thank you so much for posting this! This is exactly what is going on in my life right now. This was a great encouragement to me! Keep on doing hard things!!!
~Kaitland
Thank you all for your encouragement. 🙂
What Zach says is very true, and I am very glad he brought that up. The Lord alone, and the power of the Holy Spirit changes lives, and gives us the boldness to do things we never thought we could. Nevertheless, the Lord does use the work of others (like Do Hard Things) to give us a wake-up call, this was the case for me. It was only by the grace of God that my parents bought me Do Hard Things for Christmas, it was only by the grace of God that my heart was open to its message, and it was only by the grace of God that I had the boldness to put it into action. Do Hard Things has changed every point of my life for sure, but only by the grace of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Soli Deo Gloria! 🙂
I knew it was you Tabitha 🙂
It’s such a blessing to see how God has worked in and through the Rebelution to change hearts. 🙂 He is so good! Praying that He continues to bless your efforts in fighting for the unborn.
Thank you Tabitha, that was lovely. I nearly cried reading it, since it was such a close reflection on my life this past year.
Sanctus Real has a wonderful song entitled, “Something Heavenly” And in the chorus it says, “Whatever your doing, inside of me, it feels like chaos, yet somehow there’s peace.” I think that sums up this last year, especially this last 6 months. God has done things in my life far beyond anything I could ask for or imagine! He has given me so many opportunities, and shown me areas of myself that need drastic change. For all you forum members, in the living room there is a post someone did on ‘small hard things’ that expounds on all that he has changed in me this year. I think just the phrase ‘small hard things’ wraps it all up 🙂
How have I stepped out of my comfort zone this year? Hmmm…. I have been pushed in alot of ways. I think the highlight was being an assistant at a Anti-Slavery conference. I was given way more responsibility that I had expected, but I was so grateful that the directors trusted me enough to allow me to do it.
I get so excited when I think about all that He has changed this year, and just in one year! I am even more amazed when I think about the possiblilties that unleashes for years to come! Going back a while, the Rebelutions posts, ‘Reflections on a Teenage Edwards” inspire me to continue pressing hard! May God bless all the other out there who desire to do the same thing!
Grace and Peace,
This was an excellent post, and I have commented already on Miss Tabitha’s own blog.
Thinking about the questions for discussion, here is what I have to say:
Reflect back on 2009. How are you a different person than you were a year ago? Do you see growth?
That is a very good question. Am I a different person at all? I have found myself asking this as I contemplate (rather unwillingly) a new year. I am a different person in some ways; I have been through more excitement and sorrow then I could ever remember happening at one time. God has broken me, healed me, picked me up and shaken me and put me gently down again. He has torn off my scaly skin. Again and again. Unfailing love is His.
What is one of the major lessons God has taught you the past year?
God has taught me the hardest thing I have ever had to learn: to wait. I want so desperately to be an instrument in His hands to save babies, make music, and glorify His name. But after tearing me away from the only thing I had in Germany, my church, He tells me over and over, sometimes in a whisper and sometimes shouting, to wait. Wait on Him. His timing is perfect, and His plans are good.
How have you stepped outside your comfort zone this past year?
I felt God holding my hand and leading me slowly out of my bubble to lead worship for a youth group, and also to take steps on the evangelism team at our church. I also had to go far out of my comfort zone in the Spring, to realize my laziness and start tackling it. But as I have already mentioned, God took my church out of my life abruptly, and now I feel like God is shoving me back further and further into my hum-drum routine. I may not like it, but He is in control anyhow. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Soli Deo Gloria!
~Meg
Thank you so much for such an encouraging story, Miss Hems.
Tabitha, you made me cry reading your post just as I did when we had that discussion at the park! I love you girl! 😀
Reflect back on 2009. How are you a different person than you were a year ago? Do you see growth?
Yes, I see growth. When I first read “Do Hard Things” I was completely pumped up! For days, weeks, even months all I talked about was Alex and Brett Harris, doing hard things, and how I wanted to change the world. But for months… I did nothing but talk. Then after a few more months I started to do little hard things… but with the wrong motivation. I was only doing it to impress others and gain glory for myself. Thankfully, God gave me a wake-up call. He helped me suddenly realize that I had to do hard things for HIM, not anyone else. The way He did it broke my heart to peices, but it was worth it. Christ began to show me that His love was all I needed and it didn’t matter what anyone else thought of me. He showed me the true purpose of my life and that was to honor and glorify Him in all I do. Now, by the grace of God, I’m doing hard things and doing them for Him!
Sarah 🙂
Tabitha, you go girl!
In my life personally, the Lord has brought me so far – I’ve never even dreamed it is possible!
Throughout the year, the Lord has strectched me and shown me how much more He can do through someone when we take that step of faith and believe that He is in total control. He has taught me the blessedness of submission to His will. I have had many opportunities to step outside my comfort zone this year – helping lead worship at a Bible study, meeting with a U.S. Congressman to voice support for the Child Protection Compact Act – many other things. I was even featured in WorldVision! Soli Deo Gloria!
God is truly so very good to us!
Great post, Tabitha. I’m definitely going to check that website. It’s cool that you shared something so personal, and encouraging.
In response to the question, “do you see growth?”, I see a some. I’m new to the rebelution, and haven’t done any big hard things yet. I’m working on the small hard things for now, like biting my tongue instead of losing my temper. Reading all the comments and Alex and Brett’s posts help. Thanks everyone. I hope you all have a great, blessed 2010.
Wow, Tabitha’s experience was mine this summer. I read Do Hard Things and was inspired. I got our family involved in politics, was more bold in my faith, and overcame most of my shyness. I am looking forward to 2010 with anticipation and I look forward to what God has instore for me this coming year. God bless!
Good job, Tabitha; keep it up!
just reading the work of GOD in your life has blessed me…keep the fire burning!
New you, new year, new journey, new struggles, new oppurtunities to grow, abundant blessings!
Thank you, Tabitha, for your candid expression and openness. Keep your passion for life alive–and not just for the innocents, but be praying also for the souls of those who have been involved in and have had abortions. As we fight for the right to life, we must also see the great importance of spreading the gospel of eternal life. May we never lose sight of the transforming power of the gospel in any of this.
Praise the Lord for giving us another year of life on this earth to please Him!
This is a great story. I sorta find myself in a similar situation. Abortion has also always hit me close to the heart and at one point had it all planned out to write a book entitled “Letters from an Unborn Child.” I planned to write letters to a mother who’s option could be abortion from a child in the womb’s point of view. Unfortunetly, that’s as far as that plan got. I didn’t present my idea to the Lord. And Sarah Pena, I feel the same one. I feel as if I’m stuck in neutral and that I’ve been a lot of talk lately but so far no action. The idea itself excites me but the effort seems too hard and I just get too lazy or “busy.” Hope and pray that that will change for me!
Thanks so much for posting that:)
Recently I’ve had the mindset that homeschooled kids are extremly naive and vunrable. I know that this is not the true though, espically after seeing what some homeschooled kids have done and their faith and espically after reading your post. Thankfully God is tearing that sterotype of mine apart. So thanks again for your story.
Zach and Tabitha have summed up the biggest discovery in my own life this past year. During this year I finally realized that it is not what we accomplish that is most important. It is what God accomplishes in us through the gift of the Holy Spirit that counts. Our Saviour gave us many hard things which we must do in His teachings:
1. John 14:21: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.”
2. Matt. 10:37-38: “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
3. Luke 14:33: “He that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
I believe that true repentance and belief in Jesus Christ require that we live up to the HIGH expectations of our Lord, and I am now convinced that WE MUST HAVE HIS SPIRIT TO DO THESE THINGS. St. Peter said, “The Holy Gost is given to them that obey Him (Acts 5:32.) Christ set the bar much higher than most people are willing to admit. He said further that, “Whenever ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” That verse cleared up my understanding of Ephesians 5:8-9 where it is made clear that we are saved by faith and not by works, “lest any man should boast.” Since Jesus said that obedience is required, yet we are unprofitable servants when we have done all that is commanded, it finally dawned on me that if we have truly repented, it is His Spirit dwelling in us that accomplishes the work, and we have nothing personally of which we can boast.
In Romans 8:7-9, Paul writes, ”The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
So we must have His Spirit to do His will. I strongly believe that our Father which is in heaven, who is all powerful and all-knowing, hears the prayers of anyone on the face of this earth who is “hungering and thirsting after righteousness” and our Saviour promised, “they shall be filled” (Matt. 5:6.) Jesus said emphatically in Mat. 7:21 that “Not everyone that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Our very salvation is at stake!
Thank you for the thought you put into this post, Tabitha; it really blessed me. It was really thought-provoking, as it made me think about how much Do Hard Things and the Rebelution have changed me this past year, through God’s gracious allowance.
Tabitha, your story reflects my own in many ways. Like you, I was the good kid. I graduated from homeschooling at the age of sixteen, taught homeschool classes, started college, was polite to adults, babysat for friends and neighbors, and worked two jobs. (Not all at the same time, though!) From that list you might be under the false impression that I am something special. That is not the case.
The problem is that I never really did anything exceptional. I never felt as if I were making a difference. I also received “Do Hard Things” as a Christmas gift, and I believe that God used it to change my attitude. I realized that I needed to continue to push myself to do things that I consider difficult or scary, so that I can grow stronger spiritually and mentally, and become more like Christ. I needed to rid myself of the complacency and timidity that has kept me doing nothing for so long.
This past year has had many changes, some frightening, some pleasant. The program that I had enrolled in for college closed, but God worked it out for me to get into it anyway. My family had a scare with my sister ending up in the hospital, but God has kept her healthy. My grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer. I have been able to join a small group for a weekly Bible study, and continue in my spiritual growth. My parents are in the midst of a horrible divorce, and I worry about my seven siblings who are stuck in the middle. In my job, I started out as a cashier, but I now frequently work in other departments, and sometimes act as manager. I started a blog, and applied to write for a local newspaper in 2010.
Looking back over the past year, I see God’s hand working in me. Though I have not done any one particular thing that is noteworthy by itself, I realize that doing hard things does not necessarily mean doing something that will get you into the news. Sometimes it means surviving in a trying situation. Sometimes it means working doubly hard in an area where mediocrity would be acceptable. Sometimes it means just stepping out of my (small) comfort zone for a little while, which has the benefit of expanding it at the same time.
Though I do not yet have a single, focused passion for which to work, I know that God is working through me in many ways, and if I continue to let Him, I will be able to do hard things for Him, and Him alone in 2010.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Chanel V.
Intresting post but I don”t agree with you on everything
wow! that is really moving!! i have deep respect for people who fight for the rights of the unborn. it’s great to see a person really DO HARD THINGS!
This is 2010. This is the next decade. This one is ours!
This is a very edifying post! I believe you are going to inspire people to do hard things for the glory of God and make an impact for his Kingdom. Recently, I have slacked down from doing hard things and have gotten lazy. I need to get back in a routine or I am in big trouble (Not very much with my parents, but with my future job, spouse, and God.). Concerning abortion, I know somebody who made bracelets representing pieces of God’s picture that has been lost through abortion. You can check it out at; http://www.brushstrokesoflove.com/Brushstrokes_of_Love/About_the_Bracelets.html
That was so touching. You’ve really inspired me to do something great with my life too. I wish you the best and GOD bless you.
Oh my Tabitha! I can honestly tell you “I have been there!”
I was just looking back at the past year, going over what I have learned or the wrong paths I have taken (which unfortunately, these past few years, has been way too many)
I had stopped talking to God, it had been about a year since I’d read my Bible, and ever longer since I had gone to God for guidance in my life. I cut myself off from my family and became a rebellious teenager. Wearing clothing that is NOT appropriate for a Christian girl, and hung around with the wrong people.
I actually HATED God….my life was a dead end. I was 17, lazy and so far from God that I didn’t even hear Him anymore.
But something inside of me was longing to break out and once again return to the Christian girl I had been raised as. But the dark side that had taken over, the side that wore revealing clothing and swore all the time, fought with my parents and siblings and hated God, seemed to be in control, keeping me last sliver of Purity from getting out.
Then my mom heard about a book from a friend. She decided to buy it, and told me that I HAD to read it when it came in. I just scowled at her and told myself that I would just take it, but not actually read it. Maybe, if I was lucky, my mom would forget about it.
Then the day came, and “Do hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations” arrived in the mail. As promised, my mom handed it to me, and told me to read it. I took it, and hid in on my book shelf. For about a month, it sat there, collecting dust. When my mom found it, she told me again to read it. I was going to my Oma’s that weekend, so I stuck it in my backpack and took it with me. Of course, I still had no intentions to read it.
But then I got there, and I took that book out and I looked at the back. There I saw a picture of two guys. Regular guys, who were home schooled like me. I actually began to think “What on earth could these two guys tell me, that would make me want to read this?!” I thought, my own parents couldn’t even make me change, so why do they think that reading this book with do anything?!
So I flipped it open, and read a small splurb of the first chapter.
Then it happened, something clicked….something made sense..and I began to feel overwhelmed with a spiritual presence unlike I’ve ever known. I read that book in only 2 hours, from cover to cover, and then a second time the next day.
The whole time thinking “WOW! This is amazing! Who would have thought that two teen guys, knew so much?!”
Then two days after I had read the book, I was going for a run. Then, while I was running, I did something I hadn’t done it a LONG time. I prayed. I asked God to forgive me, and I asked Him if He still loved me for being so sinful. And not two seconds later, I was hit so hard, I almost fell to the ground crying. I had to stop running, and I stood there on the side of the road, overwhelmed both emotionally and spiritually.
After that, God spoke to me all the time. I became like a sponge, soaking everything up. I read book after book, including my dusty bible. I couldn’t believe that one book, written by two teen guys, changed my life like that. I know it was God who helped me to flip that book open, and read one little snippet,t hat caused me to, in the end, read that book FOUR TIMES from cover to cover.
Sorry for my long post, and Alex and Brett, I hope you don’t get offended by anything I had said about you…
I can’t even begin to tell you how thankful I am that you both wrote “Do hard Things”, I don’t even want to think about where I would be if I hadn’t read it.
Thank you both so much for all you are doing and I am SO excited to read your new book when it comes out!
God Bless
In HIM alone
Alesia
@Alesia – Thanks for sharing. God is so good, and in his grace he has chosen us. As we ask “who am I?” we begin to understand our sinful nature and the purpose of our lives: doing hard things for God’s glory.
Tabitha, thank you for the post. I am personally praying about becoming a missionary. Since we are into stories, New Year’s Eve I prayed that God would show me if he wanted me to be a missionary (that is, someone who shares the gospel in another country – we all definitely need to be missionaries wherever we are). The next day, New Year’s Day, a missionary we hadn’t seen in a while stopped at our house to give us something and then talked for an hour and 40 minutes about being a missionary! I still have to pray until God’s peace about a decision like this floods my life, so I would appreciate your prayers. Pray that he would help me to know for SURE if this is his call in my life.
Alex & Brett – I thank my God every time I remember you. Keep running. Thank you!
Alex
this sounds exactly like my story. thanks for posting
Tabitha,
Thanks for sharing! I am in much the same situation that you were. I was “the good kid” and nothing more. In the last year, I attended a Christian summer camp that began to change my life and then I read “Do Hard Things”. To say the least, I was inspired. Recently, however, I have become really discouraged, wondering what my ‘hard thing’ is. I’ve been working on those small hard things (and believe me–they’re hard too) but I feel like God is calling me to a bigger ‘hard thing’– I just don’t know what it is yet. So all that brings me to this…thanks for sharing your story–it encouraged me and reminded me that God has a plan for my life–ALWAYS!
Megan E.
Colossians 3:23
awesome post Tabitha! =D
i agree! that just goes to show that this book does change lives; little by little. i have just begun and i can already see a differance! #)
WOW! Thats really great, its been about a couple of months now that I have read the book and a friend and I have been planning about our non-profit orgainsation (www,fear2faith.wordpress.com) thanks so much for sharing, its given me that boost to keep going with it and really succeed, more than I would ever imagine I could, thanks rebelution for allowing her to post this! Blessings, Melinda
Great job Tabitha! Even though I am only 12 and am still young I think that there is alot we can all learn from what you said! what you said in your post really impacted me and told me that 2009 really changed alot of us! So great job!
Praise God! I, too, look back and am amazed at all that God has done for me, in me, and through me. I’ve seen Him work in other people’s lives because of me. I’ve seen Him expand my comfort zone, strengthen my faith and my relationship w/ Him and other people.
I look back at 2009 and see change in how I handle myself and situations. I see how I’ve thrown low expectations out the window and stirred up a rebelutionary passion in me and others around me.
I look back at 2009 and see how we truly serve an awesome God that is faithful and blesses us when we serve Him with everything in us. I knew it before but in 2009 He proved it to me more than ever.
Thank you, Alex and Brett, for letting God use you to wake up so many of us that were looking for something more in our lives. For letting God use you to stir up a fire in us for God. Do Hard Things, therebelution.com, and the Rebelution tour showed me that I wasn’t all alone in my rebelutionary antics after all. And praise be to God for everything He’s done for us! 🙂
Your Sister in Christ,
~Alesha
What an encouragement to read all these reactions to this great post. It’s hard sometimes when you live in an area or go to a church where there isn’t necessarily a lot of kids your age that have your same goals and desires to become more Christ-like.
I look back on this last year with some pain, as i’ve gone through a lot of stuff. My sister was diagnosed with epilepsy in april, and she’s had many seizures since. My pa was diagnosed with cancer in November, and will have to have a few major surgeries just to have a 30% chance of it going into remission. I’ve gone in and out of relationships, lost friends because i’m different, and have had to make some major decisions.
But through these things i’ve grown so much. It’s amazing to see His working through trials and the hard things that we have to go through. Praise Him!!
Saved by grace for 2 years,
Lauren
my mom made me read this book. i want to soar. so far so good
my mom made me read this book. i love it
I love this book. im so gald u wrote this book .god bless
Thank you so much Tabitha! I really appreciate that post. It really helped me to step back and evaluate my life.
Great post, Tabitha! I love DHT, what a powerful book. I myself was content in my ‘bubble’ until I read that book. I’m working on being more than just a Christian; I want to help change the world-by being a Rebelutionary.
This past year I too half seen God move in my life. Somethings that’s happened I am proud of, others I am ashamed of. But even at the beginning of 2010 I’ve seen and felt God moving He’s not only my Savior but also a dear close Friend. I would like to encourage everyone that no matter how great the storm is in our lives God is still in control and He will never leave you. Joshua 1:5
Your brother in Christ
H. Barber
This was an excellent post and I, too, have felt much the same way. Back in the spring, my mom had ordered DHT off of Amazon, and when it came in the mail, she handed it to me and said, “Here – I really want you to read this.” Now up until this time, I was a ‘good teenager’. I had my own business, was involved in speech and debate, went to church every Sunday, and had an average relationship with God. So I took the book from my mom, looked at it and thought, “Oh, well, this is going to be the most BORING book I have ever read but, hey, I’ll see if I can get through it.” I’ll have you know I read this ‘boring’ book from cover to cover in one day!!! (I quickly learned it was anything BUT boring!!) I laughed, I cried, but I had a new outlook on life. We also had the privilege to attend a DHT conference in September. Alex and Brett, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done. You have both inspired and encouraged me to do hard things for the glory of God alone!!! My Bible study group (we have actually been reading through DHT!) has been challenged by you to truly do hard things, and now we are raising money for an orphanage in the Philippines. 2009 will be a year to be remembered – it was the year that I really began to do HARD things!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for your ministry – you have truly changed my life!!
~Rebekah
P.S. I can’t WAIT to read your new book!!!!!!
I read Alex and Brett’s awsome book. I loved it!!
I’m a 16 year old in high school. I’m a musican with a passion for music, and the Lord. I grew up going 2church and I love it. But for about 3 to 4 years I felt the lord pulling @ my heart 2 play more music and i got this idea. “what if he wants me to make a CD?”
So the past few months my dad and I have been looking 4 a recording studio and a band and just in the past few weeks he has given us the path 2 follow.
Im so greatfull to serve JESUS!!!
I will hopefully reach the wounded and bleeding people with my music.
God bless,
Alizabeth
God has done lots of things in 2009
i jjust finished the book it realy changed me
Wow, Alesia, your comment was so encouraging! I have read the book at least three times cover to cover, and countless times I have gone back to read one section or so… I’ve aslo shared it with several of my friends!
~Alli
Chanel V:
you’re very honest, which I like.
So many people on this website have definite callings and passions in regards to one area, eg. abortion, youth work, etc. It is nice to hear of somebody who also doesn’t have their big mission in life yet.
Keep slogging it out and God will take care of you. I know there’s probably a lot of rebelutionaries praying for you.
How have I grown this past year?
When I heard that question I nearly had a heart attack because I didn’t think I had grown!
I spent much in a state of complete stress or frustration or guilt, or usually all three at once.
I have been a Christian (and a serious going-for-God one!) since I was four, and nothing on the outside of my life had changed. So I didn’t know what was going on.
God used my mental torture to teach me some very important things.
1. I never ever have to feel guilt because Jesus has forgiven everything, even any sins I might be doing right now! ‘In Christ there is no condemnation.’ (I dunno where that’s from in the Bible.)
2. I don’t have to be perfect, or even close to it. It’s ok if I’m not the hardest working or smartest person. Too high expectations of myself tire me out.
3. I needed to start taking God at his word when He said I don’t have to stress, otherwise I’m essentially calling Him a liar. If He says he’ll take care of me and everything’s for my good, then it is. Really, I never have to stress again!
4. I’ve learnt about trusting God.
5. Even if I feel completely disgusting and selfish, I’m a work in progress. God is making me a beautiful work of art, so even if I see nothing good, He does!
Writing it like this makes it sound easy. It took months and months of pain to learn this.
But nobody give up! Trust God! He does really have it all taken care of. We’re just along for the ride.
PS if anyone wants some verses about trusting God and not being afraid or stressing, etc, comment and tell me. I have a great list I found that I can put up.
That was a truly moving post. It’s wonderful that we have a God who cares so much about us that He prods us to do things we would never do on our own. I read Do Hard Things last year and it just amazing to see how, when Christians put their life in God’s hands, He just opens doors we never knew existed and blesses us in ways we never thought of. Please check out my blog at http://www.cip31.wordpress.com 🙂
i love the book dht & i totally agree with this post i can relate
Katie said, “I never ever have to feel guilt because Jesus has forgiven everything, even any sins I might be doing right now! ‘In Christ there is no condemnation.’ ” I would recommend that we exercise some caution when we presume on the mercy of God when we have been forgiven for our past sins. Jesus told the woman who had been caught in the act of adultery, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” ( see John chapter 8). Also when He healed the man who had been lame 38 years ( John 5:14), he admonished him, “Behold thou art made whole; sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee.” I firmly believe that when we truly repent of our sins and believe on Jesus Christ as the Son of God, we are given the gift of the Holy Ghost (which Peter said In Acts 5:32, “whom God hath given to them that obey Him.” I believe that even after we have truly repented, we will find ourselves inadvertently building up “wood, hay and stubble” upon the foundation of gold, silver and precious stones which the Lord has laid (see I Cor. 3:10-15.) St. Paul tells us that “the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss,; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” But according to Hebrews 10:26, we are told that, “if we sin wilfully, after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, [which comes from the Holy Spirit] there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” I believe God looks down very harshly if we sin in blatant disobedience to His commandments in a premeditated fashion. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15.)
That’s fantastic, Tabitha.
Do Hard Things changed everything for me, too. I read the book, and it kicked me into gear in my relationship with Christ. No more complacency for me! Thanks for sharing your story.
The bok chaged my life thanks for writing it!
You’re welcome!
Thank you so.much. Even though this was written years ago, it still is motivational!