rebelling against low expectations
There are two things that seem to fly out of everyone’s mouths when they hear that you’re struggling–read the Bible and pray. Surely those are the most obvious answers, and they’re genuinely the best suggestions. Right? But for some reason, those answers can still feel empty. They can still feel hollow. How will reading a book, or talking to someone that I can’t hear help me with this...
I’d love to travel on a sailboat. To hang out over the railing, the wind whipping the rigging, flying fast and free over the foamy blue. Sun, salt, and sea-spray lightening the red of my hair, utterly unbridled joy and excitement. This water-daughter has lived most her life by the sea, and would love to sail upon it, to reach glorious lands yet unknown (at least to me). And in a way, that’s what...
Life seemed like it should be full. True, the first semester had been absolutely insane. I was at a new school, yet I had adjusted fairly well all things considered. Everything was picking up speed as we approached the mid-terms and consequently, Christmas break. I was constantly studying and making sure my end of term grades were perfect (or as perfect as they could be). Friends wanted to hang...
My favorite Biblical character at the moment is Moses. Not Moses the deliverer, leader and lawgiver of Israel, but Moses the shepherd for forty years in the desert of Midian. It’s a part of his life we often gloss over or forget, but it speaks to my heart, because I too am in a bit of a desert season. (Again.) Deserts are tough. They’re dry and lonely, and they feel never-ending. To our human...
It’s usually easy to live as a set-apart Christian teen on Sunday morning. We’re quick to conquer the church checklist: Wake up. Read Scripture. Go to church. Read more Scripture. Listen to a sermon. Talk to Christian friends (usually about Scripture). Check. Check. Check. But between the church doors and the safety of home, something happens. We’re assaulted by our culture. Singing Christ’s...
Tears. I flittered around a bit while considering what I should write about until one topic brought tears to my eyes. And that topic is tears. We look all around us and observe and experience sorrow. Why do we have trials when we pray for blessings? Is God is looking out for our best interests? When will all this suffering end? We all ask these questions when our lives seem to be covered with...
Faithfulness is an important part of our Christian lives. It’s one of the fruits of the spirit listed in Galatians 5, and is a vital biblical concept. But what really is faithfulness? How do we live it out in our modern world? Faithfulness is so much more than many of us realize. It’s not just trusting in Christ, or having faith, although those are some of its main features. Being...
“Do you ever settle?” I asked myself the question and sighed. I know I do. All the time. Why do I always settle for less than my best? Why do I always do the easy thing? Unfortunately, I like to make excuses for doing less than my best. Or maybe I do what’s required of me, but I don’t put forth full effort. “Oh well, I can do it later,” or “Let me hurry up and get it over with,” are some of my...
Do you dream about stepping out one day to do something really big? Me too. I don’t know about you, but I burst with excitement when I hear the phrase do hard things. As I think of going on a mission trip or running a marathon or publishing a book, a huge smile appears on my face. Yet God has not opened those doors for me right now. In one year, I’ll graduate from high school. I have to admit...
“I should be there right now.” The thought crosses my mind for a moment before I refocus my attention on the task at hand: working on the rough draft of a scholarship application. I reject the rising tide of self-pity and disappointment that threatens to wash over my will. I will determine to do my best where I am. An Unexpected Detour During my first year of college, I invested my efforts...
rebelling against low expectations
