33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 ESV
8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV
Summer is drawing to a close and even the roadways and traffic are giving evidence of the changing season. Schools are beginning to receive their students, backpack sales are off the charts.
These days give me cause to pause and reflect about my own personal experiences as a child growing up. The feelings and emotions that would ebb and flow with each new school year, full of anticipation but also filled with anxiety about the unknown.
The hard adjustments we had to make, learning to adapt to a new teacher, new classroom environment, and the hardest of all: a new group of classmates (that you hope would like you). By GOD’s grace, we survived what we thought at that time was the death-defying moments of our lives.
And then we became adults.
Looking through that rearview mirror, life seemed so much more simpler and less complicated (and certainly less tiring) back then. But no matter how much the grown-ups around us tried to convince us that these were the easier times of our lives, we were dead certain they had no idea how traumatic our daily lives really were.
Adulthood has a way of making us humble when we reminisce.
As I take a moment to think about how that young girl in the mirror worried about how her life was going to pan out ~ what kind of career she would end up in, if she would get married and have kids, where she would live … I want to look deep into her eyes and lovingly tell her, “It’s going to be alright, because you’re going to be alright. GOD has His Hand on your life ~ trust Him with it.”
I grew up with a lot of religion, and less of relationship with Jesus. I was taught to pray to Him, but couldn’t get up close and personal with Him because I didn’t rank (among the priests and nuns). I knew He existed, I knew He died on the cross ~ but I didn’t understand that He did that on a personal level ~ for me.
I would tell my younger self, “Jesus is absolutely the only trustworthy one ~ get to know Him sooner. You can get up close and personal with Him, in fact, He wants that. Don’t compromise, don’t settle for anything less. No one gets between you and He.”
Perhaps some of the heartache I’ve lived through would not have been so devastating. Maybe I could have avoided some of the awful mistakes I made along the way. I could have made much better decisions for myself. My perspective on certain things may have been vastly different.
I would want to comfort my younger self with GOD’s words earlier on. Speaking life and hope, praying that she would heed the warnings and take refuge in the shadow of His Wing when the storms of life hit.
While I did make it to this season of life, it wasn’t without the wounds, scars and bruises. I am thankful that GOD did have His Hand on me all the way through. Those scars are to be remembered as the times when He and I were inseparable and oh, so close.
“Dear Younger Self, don’t stop doing what GOD has given you to do. Those dreams and desires you have, and the skills and talents that continue to develop, He placed those in you to do His Work. Don’t question it ~ offer it to Him in obedience and keep going. You were meant for this.”
Sweet Friend, take some time today to think about the advice and counsel you would give your Younger Self ~ and then write that out. Take a look at those words of wisdom. Then pray about the ones coming up behind you who just may be needing to hear some of that.
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend `
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
Titus Two 