rebelling against low expectations
Did you know that being counter-cultural doesn’t stop when you exit your teen years and enter young adulthood? Oh no! Going against the grain of culture and the world’s expectations is a lifelong endeavor. As Christians, God calls us to be different, to stand out and stand up for what’s right– to be counter-cultural. So just because you’re no longer a teen doesn’t mean that doing hard...
Imagine yourself in the perfect place. You have a wonderful family, fabulous friends, a perfect house, a great town. You’re almost always happy. And then you find out you’re moving. What do you do? Hide? Run? I panic. I’m panicking right now. But that panic is helping me realize that my relationship with God isn’t as strong as I thought it was. I didn’t really trust him with my life. I always had...
Sometimes it seems as if God ignores us. As if our pleading and prayers mean nothing. As if the sleepless nights don’t count and our tears are lost in a pool of a million others. Three months ago I was there, feeling ignored by God. Trixie was a big, black and grey scruffy mixed breed. She was loyal to a fault (taking after the sheepdog in her, no doubt). You would pet her and she would burrow...
I’m afraid of vulnerability. I’ve always been the strong one. Always tried to have it all together—my actions, attitudes, emotions, circumstances: my life. I cover up my fear with excuses. It’s just my personality. With the right people—in the right circumstances, at the right time—I can be vulnerable too. People need me to be strong. I’ve even bought into the lie that I need to appear strong...
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4) This is stupid, but I used to want bad things to happen to me. I thought my faith wasn’t strong because I hadn’t gone through a tough time. I...
Have you ever felt overwhelmed and frustrated with your life? I definitely have! Just recently, I received a call from my best friend, where he told me I could have his car for a mere fraction of what it was worth. It was an answer to prayer, because in about a month, I would be heading off to school, and didn’t have a method of transportation (other then asking other students for a ride). And...
Youth is an exciting time of our lives. We have flexibility, strength, passion and energy. There is an excitement as you wonder what you are going to accomplish, what you will reform in the world around you, whom you will meet, and what career you will work toward. Maybe you are like me, passionate for Jesus, ready to do something big for Him–but then you hear the hard, yet refining, answer...
Recently, we’ve published quite a few articles on TheReb about faithfulness in the small things. Different teen authors have tackled the idea of what it means to be faithful in the everyday services which are no less important or less glorifying to God, but can nevertheless feel mundane or even boring. You could call it a rebuke of society or culture or the unrealistic expectations placed on...
It’s easy for me to sit here and say I’ll follow God, and be willing to give it all for him. But when the rubber hits the road, it’s incredibly hard. Life is messy. We don’t live in a neat little world, where if something goes wrong, we can just move on, forget, heal, and all our problems eventually fade away. This is real life. One thing is crucial for those who are suffering right now to...
Have you ever had a friend who seemed to have everything come easily to them? Maybe they were really popular, had a rich family, were the most athletic, or even just the best looking? Maybe they were the smartest in school, or the most promoted at church, or the funniest at parties. Maybe they just always seemed better then you. I know I have. In fact, I’ve had my fair share of experiences on...
rebelling against low expectations
