Editor’s Note: as TheReb as an active site draws to a close, we wanted to give as many rebelutionaries as possible a chance to share how the movement has impacted them. Our hope is that as you read the following testimonials, you will be encouraged to live out the message of TheReb—rebelling against society’s low expectations and doing hard things for the glory of God—even after it closes. Stay tuned over the next four weeks (Tuesdays and Thursdays) to see more posts like this one as we celebrate 19 years of TheRebelution!
“The Rebelution has been a blessing from God in my life. I’ve always wanted to be a countercultural teen who shatters society’s expectations by rising far above and beyond them, but for most of my life, I didn’t know anyone who shared that goal. For so long I felt like I was the only teenager who was interested in following God wholeheartedly. When I discovered the Rebelution movement, it was a huge jolt of encouragement to me to find out I wasn’t the only one: thousands of teenagers all over the world shared the desire and passion to impact the world for Christ during our youth and not give others a reason to think less of us because of our age. TheReb has been one of my favorite blogs to read ever since I first discovered it. I eagerly looked forward to a fresh dose of practical, spiritual encouragement from fellow Rebelutionaries each week. Reading Do Hard Things also motivated and encouraged me to pursue the path of counterculture faithfulness. Looking to the future, one way I plan to continue doing hard things is by choosing an alternative path to college. But the main way I plan to continue choosing the path of the Rebelutionary—which is also the main lesson I have learned through the Rebelution—is to keep pursuing daily faithfulness in the small hard things, trusting that in time God will bring a harvest. Even though the Rebelution’s days as an active website are ending, I know the movement will go on. I have hope that generations still to come will rise up and carry on the call to do hard things for God’s glory.” – Hannah Grace
“The Rebelution has provided me with interesting and often needed insight into the word of God, and even the different perspectives of Christians around the world. I really appreciate all the hard work that goes into the website and all the other resources. It has often been a reminder of God’s faithfulness and an encouragement of perseverance for me.” – Hannah
“I subscribed to the Reb in March 2023. Since then, I have graduated and am currently in college. Through all the ups and downs of my gap year and starting the process of earning my associates, the writers at the Reb have always brought courage and wisdom to my inbox every weekend. Even though I haven’t done much with my life in the way of ministry and missions, the Reb and my fellow Rebolutionaries have definitely helped me be more faithful and dedicated in the little hard things each day brings. So, my thanks to the Harris brothers, Mrs. Starkey, and the rest of the old guard for showing me that I am not alone in my efforts to bring glory to the kingdom. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. To the evocati of the movement, thank you for all that you have done and all the wisdom you have shared. To the legionaries who joined up after me, I hope my simple words inspire you to carry the torch and bear the flame. To Abbi Langille, Rue Arrow, Summer Culver, and many others. I wish I had more eloquence to describe how I have been helped by y’all’s writing over the years. I wish I could individually thank everyone who has been a part of the blog and the movement, but I realize that would take more space than I have. So: ‘May the seas lie smooth before you. May a gentle breeze forever fill your sails. May sunshine warm your face, And kindness warm your soul.’” – Noah
“There’s a reason Peter Pan is a classic. It contains timeless themes that resonate through generations. I suppose we all fear growing up in our own way. I certainly did. Not because I didn’t want to get older, learn to drive, have responsibility, get a job, and buy a house—actually, all those things were pretty exciting to me. But in the week leading up to my thirteenth birthday, childish excitement turned into profound misery (many tears were shed) and abject dismay (I felt things deeply). I’m sure this was partly due to adolescence, but mostly, it was due to an overwhelming thought: ‘I don’t want to be a teenager.’ My view on teenagers was built by what I had heard from everyone around me—mostly negative—’lazy, sleepy, disrespectful, unproductive.’ (This wasn’t always explicitly said, but strongly implied). When people at church or family friends learned I was turning thirteen, their jesting exclamations of ‘Oh no!’ stung deeply. I felt stuck and frustrated by the opinions that my culture seemed to have on teen years. My birthday came and went. Of course, nothing drastically changed. I rebelled in my own way—I refused to submit to the stereotype of teens staying up late and sleeping in, so I cheerily held as best as I could to the mantra ‘early to bed early to rise’ and forced myself to get up early no matter what and didn’t complain about feeling tired. In hindsight, I realize that teenagers need more sleep due to actual developmental needs, and not just because they like to sleep, but at the time, it felt like a way to prove myself. At fourteen, I discovered the Young Writers Workshop and subsequently, Do Hard Things. I ordered the book and read it over one weekend (I had a stomach bug and was confined to the couch). I still remember my excitement as I devoured chapter after chapter. The more I read, the more I felt seen, heard, and understood, but also convicted, challenged, and invigorated. I can say with absolute certainty that next to the Bible, Do Hard Things was the most influential book I read in my teen years. It shaped me profoundly as a person and a Christian, and it set a trajectory for my life. It has influenced me in the big things: accepting opportunities, sending emails, giving speeches, taking jobs, and stepping out of my comfort zone. And even more so in the small things: reading my Bible, accepting challenges, writing stories, attending church, having conversations, choosing the harder path, and making unpleasant decisions. In daily choices, big or small, this book’s message guided me. But the question must be asked—why? I believe the reason this book made a difference in my life and thousands of others is because Alex and Brett Harris didn’t just write about an idea they thought would be cool. They wrote a book on Biblical principles. The driving idea wasn’t ‘do hard things so people think better of us’ but, ‘let’s do hard things for the glory of God.’ That makes all the difference. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this book and this mission. In my small corner of southwest England, the challenge to rebel against low expectations shaped me profoundly. Every day, in both the little and the big decisions, I am continually reminded not to slip into complacency but to remain faithful in the hard things—all for the glory of God. For that, I am very grateful.” – Sandrina
