I was first influenced and inspired by The Rebelution when I was 14. Doing hard things and rebelling against our culture’s low expectations of teens was exciting! But what happens to those of us who are past the 13-18 age range? I’m 19 now. I’ll turn 20 this July. Does the Rebelution no longer apply to us?
After all, if a 14-year-old goes to college or writes a book, that’s news. Once you’re an adult, that’s not as newsworthy. Of course, grabbing people’s attention should not be our goal. Yet it was neat to think that we were breaking free of the lazy up-to-no-good teenager stereotype and inspiring others to do so as well.
Are there adult stereotypes that need to be broken? Yes! Teenagers are not the only ones who need to fight against complacency and do hard things. Most adults are tired and stuck in a busy, daily grind. Many no longer have the idealistic vision of their youth. They no longer believe they can help change the world.
Well, guess what? We are the next generation of adults. It’s our job to influence our generation for Christ and the generation to come. It’s our job to pray, send, and go to reach the unreached peoples of the world and meet people’s physical needs as well. It’s our job to glorify God and put Him first in everything we do. We can set an example for those older than us, those younger than us, and those who are the same age as us.
Hopefully, by this age, we’ve learned or are learning not to do hard things simply because they’re hard or they give us a feeling of satisfaction. There are plenty of hard things that won’t make a difference for eternity and are therefore pretty worthless in the grand scheme of things. It doesn’t matter if you know ten languages, finished college by 18, or are a concert pianist if you’re not using what you know and what you have to serve God and others and make an eternal impact. God, the Word of God, and people’s souls last forever. All the other things of this earth will be gone; none of them are going to heaven with us.
Say you’re skilled at sewing. You could make the coolest fashions in the world and in the end, what difference does it really make? One way you could make a difference is by using your talent in sewing to teach poverty-stricken women how to make a living so they can escape prostitution and not be at risk for human trafficking. Even then, you shouldn’t forget that they need to hear the Gospel much more than they need money or a job. Sharing the Good News and alleviating physical needs should go hand-in-hand.
I’m not saying everything you do needs to reach someone with the Gospel or save a life. But if nothing you are doing is directly or indirectly impacting the world for Christ, something is wrong.
I know your resources are probably limited but as long as you have some, you can still give. You have more resources than the 31 million orphans in India or the 2.5 billion people who live on $2 or less a day. You can organize a fund-raiser. You can pray. You can volunteer. And God can provide the resources for you to go overseas and directly share the Gospel with people through short-term or long-term missions.
The younger you begin to embrace an eternal perspective, the better. It will make you a truly effective Rebelutionary. Every season of life is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As grown-up Rebelutionaries, by the grace of God, we have a lot to offer the world. Let’s not waste this life we’ve been given!
Very, very true. Thanks for sharing Alyssa!
Thanks Alyssa! This was very good to read, and yes that it how I think too sometimes!
Em =)
A good reminder, as I am approaching adulthood myself. Thank you, Alyssa.
That was beautiful and so true!! God bless you!
I really appreciate your insights and passion for living for Jesus. I pray the Lord keeps opening those doors for you. As in Col 3:17–whatever you do, do it unto the Lord. That means, though, even if you do a mundane job, or work in the secular world for secular leaders, if you are working as to Christ, and being a biblical and moral example for others, that’s God’s call, too 🙂 I think sometimes that job is harder: Being surrounded by non-Christians, acting as Christ called us, and reminding yourself all day long that you’re not really working for them, but for Him.
Thank you, everyone, for your comments! I love hearing from you.
Mrs. McGowan, I agree that people can absolutely serve God while working a secular job. It’s almost always those with full-time “regular” jobs who financially support short-term and long-term missionaries as well as giving to wonderful organizations such as World Vision or the Jesus Film Project, etc. I actually talked about how those who have secular jobs play an important part in the original version of my article but it didn’t make it into the final version because it didn’t flow well with the rest of the paragraphs :). I personally plan on working at a secular job (in the U.S. Air Force) for at least the first four years out of college. It’s all about striving to have the right mindset and doing what we can where we can and however we can :). Thanks for the reminder of Col 3:17!
Very true Alyssa! I hope it encourages rebelutionaries past their teenage years as it encouraged me. 🙂
(P.S. That’s cool that you served in Logos Hope! I served as port volunteer when they were in the Philippines)
I’m 14 yrs. old and I love listening to my youth leaders. Because they are older, they have more knowledge about life which in turn can help the younger generation gain more knowledge. In Proverbs 13:20 it says, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” We need wise leaders, so no, doing hard things doesn’t end when you graduate it only the start.
*great sigh of relief* I’ve been thinking the same thing, also being 19 and facing the sobering prospect of 20– “what now? are things going to be different when I’m no longer a teenager?” Thank you for the insight Alyssa!
Great post. I needed this reminder. I am a recent college grad who read Do Hard Things when I was in high school. I have a question…does anyone hear know of a good Christian forum for post-grads?
Thanks!