rebelling against low expectations
Pain has been a recurring and unwelcome theme in my life. I’ve struggled with nervous system disorder for years. Complications from this disorder have directly caused my inability to work and necessitated that I drop out of college during the semester I planned to graduate. Everything in my life was turned upside down. Every plan I ever made for myself was painfully dismantled. All of this...
“God won’t give you more than you can handle.” It’s one of those well loved and, in my opinion, overused, cliche phrases of Christianity. When we think critically, this phrase can raise a lot of important questions. Where did this idea come from? Why does it sound so nice to our ears? Most importantly, is it even biblical? I’ve come to the conclusion that this...
Editor’s Note: Throughout the years, TheReb has published thousands of articles, each challenging and encouraging Rebelutionaries to do hard things and seek God. But among these posts, some have especially resonated with you, our readers. So over the next few weeks and months, we’re bringing back these classics, reposting our most popular and well-read articles every Thursday. May they encourage...
My dad is one of my favorite teachers. He taught me all the classic “dad stuff” when I was little. I cringed a little the first time Dad taught me how to bait a hook to catch a fish. He taught me to love football, and thanks to him I can throw a spiral that still scares my brothers. I never shared his intense passion for baseball, but he wouldn’t let me off without teaching me how to throw a good...
I really like being in control. I always have. I enjoy knowing exactly what is happening, when it is happening, why it is happening, and how I can change it. I know everyone values different things, but I’m pretty sure most people can relate to some extent. Because of my obsessive (and often sinful) desire for control, there was one question that graced my lips more often than any other. Why...
Life is hard. Although “hard” is relative and looks different for everyone, this is an inescapable truth to which we can all relate. Pain. Depression. Grief. Heartache. Anxiety. These are just a few of the things that can knock us down, hold our attention, instill fear, and test our faith. There are real reasons to hurt. We as Christians should never minimize that. But friend, there...
Independence is championed in modern culture. Being self-sufficient is seen as the ultimate goal of success. We’re pushed to rely on ourselves and make decisions based on our own good and preservation. This has led to some major problems in life, because we were created by God for community. Consequently, I have noticed a general trend among young people. They’re searching for...
Pain is a recurring theme in my life. That statement is not meant to garner pity, nor is it meant to add shock value to this particular article. In fact, I do not even consider it worth a special or unique pity. Pain is a commonality that all humans face. It is simply a part of life. Pain has been a more prominent part of my life since 2016, when I became ill with a nervous system disorder that...
Lies are tricky things. They’re often disguised to us as truths or half-truths. Other times, they can be easy to call out as false. Some of the most sneaky lies I’ve seen myself believe recently all had one miserable catalyst … pain. When our feelings and emotions take a front row seat, lies rejoice. Pain has been a part of my daily life as I fight through a pain disorder that causes my nerves to...
“No matter how much or how badly you mess up, just keep playing!” These words were ingrained into my brain before every recital in which I’ve performed. When I play, my teacher knows I have the tendency to back up and right whatever notes I might have played wrong. No matter how hard I tried to keep going, my brain could only process the horrid, discordant sounds my hands had just produced...
rebelling against low expectations
