this is awkward

Sometimes it feels as though life has changed so much, yet barely anything has changed at all. I have been in this weird place where everything feels upside down, and as awkward as this sounds, I feel like a spiritual thirteen-year-old. It is uncomfortable, and I feel like I always have a spiritual zit that I just can't seem to cover up. It is a new feeling that has left me struggling to figure out what is going on and what am I doing. Maybe you've been here, and it could be a new job, recent grad, or things right now just feel weird. I'm not going to say I've figured it out. However, I am learning a few nuggets of wisdom along the way.

1. Embrace the SUCK

I am probably way too fascinated by the military training or stories of the underdogs rising to the top. I am continually watching motivational videos, speeches, and documentaries. I was watching a video about this soldier that was discussing how to be successful and stay motivated; one colossal thing he mentioned was embraced the suck. This military concept or phrase is truly about accepting the things that are going on and going through them. There are things in life that do suck, and you can avoid them, but eventually, you will either chose not to grow or go through it. Embracing the suck in our spiritual lives means acknowledging that this is hard, but doing it and doing it to the best of your ability. I honestly believe God is an embrace the suck kind of God, and sometimes there are things that sucky and we just got to go through them. God, though never ridicules or looks down upon us because it is hard or we do not like it, but instead, he grabs our hand and walks through it with us. This is probably a bold statement, but I think when we chose not to walk through these things, ONE we are disobedient and TWO miss out on a blessing/promise God had for us on the other side.

2. What is in your hand?

I like to work out, and a big reason I love to work out is that I know that the temporary pain or dislike of the work out will pay off later. There is always a promise to our pain or discomfort, but if you do not know the promise and take hold of it, it is pointless. One scripture, I hold on to is in Philippians 1:6, "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns". When I do art projects, I get super upset if it doesn't look specifically what I want it to look like and usually just quit on it, but God does NOT do that.

He is always working on us and bringing us closer to him, and we know that he isn't going to work on us or place us uncomfortable positions without a purpose. There are tons of promises in the Bible, and I know one will speak to you, so find some verses write it down, memorize it, and hold on to it.

3. You just got to trust

Last point, but honestly most important. Sometimes you have to trust God and know how much he loves you. God cares about what you are going to do in your life and accomplishing the dreams he has given you more than you, but he DOES NOT care or love them more than you. He wants us to walk in what he has designed us to do, and sometimes that means things are uncomfortable and awkward. If things feel awkward or very different/weird, we can hold on to the fact that

is God is steady and unchanging. We can cling to his security and his presence, and when our souls feel uneasy or chaotic, we can allow him to quiet and still them. It is a choice, we have, and it requires a daily action of allowing him to work in our lives how he wants.

So everyone when life is weird, and everything feels like it is changing embrace the suck, hold on to God's promises, and know that God is good, loves you, and is always present.

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress; I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

Psalm 62:5-8 NIV

“However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him—”

1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV