I have never been more happy in my life I don't think. Do I still have my moments? Of course. But when I'm happy, I am SO happy.
I've learned a few things in the past month or two. Do not live a life that you are unhappy in. No matter how happy you actually think you are, be honest with yourself. Really dig deep and think, "Am I happy?" Do I wake up every morning thinking, "Wow, my life is blessed beyond belief, and I'm living it exactly the way I want to." It's so easy to get comfortable in a situation, go through the motions, and think that you want to live your life that way the rest of your life. BECAUSE it's so comfortable. Will it suck for a little bit while you suffer through the moments of realizing your life is completely different and your future is completely up in the air now and not at all what you expected? Yes. But it is so worth it. So if you are unhappy, change it. Do something about it. God is so amazing, and is in so much more control than you think He is. He will take care of you. Through ANYTHING. I mean how comforting is that? That there is Someone who will be there for you, and comfort you in times of need, and has this wonderful future planned for you if you just listen to Him and trust in Him and His plan? I don't think I can think of anything better.
I've also learned how important it is to really think about yourself. I'm the type of person that tends to think about others a lot more than I do myself. I care about others so much that sometimes I forget about listening to my needs and my wants. I put others before myself, and don't get me wrong, that is a wonderful trait that I am so thankful for, but it can definitely be a downfall at times. I try so hard to please other people and give them the attention they need, that my life gets put on the back-burner. And I do this with all kinds of relationships, my friends, my boyfriends, my family, and even Noah (which I know doesn't come as much of a surprise to most people). So, if you are like me, and you aren't paying attention to what you need in your life, I'm telling you right now to stop, and do something for yourself. Do something that will make your life better. Then you can go back to caring about everyone else. :)
Something else I have realized is how confident of a person I actually am. I had my doubts in the past. Partly because of myself and my own thoughts, and partly because of other people making me believe I wasn't as confident and secure as I am. Am I perfect? Absolutely not. However, I've come to realize I really can hold my own. I'm so much more independent than I was 2 or 3 years ago. And I do give some credit of that to the people who did bring me down, because they made me look inside myself and say, "No, I am not dependent. I am not insecure. I will overcome that perception." Am I sometimes dependent and insecure? Hell. Yes. But isn't everyone? I don't think ANYONE can honestly say they aren't those things at some point in their lives, and if they are, they are deceiving themselves. So I again ask you, if someone or many people are bringing you down and making you doubt yourself, realize you are so much stronger than you think, and you will only be a better person because of them and their criticism. Look at it as a blessing in disguise.
I love the song Blessings by Laura Story. If you haven't heard it, and you are going through a hard time, listen to it now. RIGHT now. Actually, even if you aren't going through a hard time, listen to it. One of the lyrics says, "What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?" If you are going through a hard time or the next time you are just hating life because you feel like the world is caving in on you, try to realize that God HAS YOU. He is in control. These trials that you are going through are only blessings that God will bring you through, and He will bring you through them even stronger than you can imagine. I also love, "Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? And what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near? What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy?" I mean, how beautiful is that? What you are going through is only the pain that God needs you to go through to know He is there for you, and to make you a stronger person. Another song that brought me comfort was Josh Wilson's song Before The Morning. I've got a couple favorite lines in this song. The first is, "Cause the pain that you've been feeling, it's just the dark before the morning," and similar to that is, "Cause the pain that you've been feeling, it can't compare to the joy that's coming." What an amazing statement, because you go through these hard times, but there really is joy at the end of them. There really is this light at the end of the tunnel. You WILL get through it. And even if you get to the light, yes, there will be times you slip back into the dark, but the light outweighs the dark so much more. I know it's hard to understand for some people why God puts us through hard times. Why God allows us to feel the way we do sometimes, but what you have to trust in 100% is that He has a plan, and He is doing something in your life that is wonderful and that is for a purpose. It is for the betterment of your future. He cares about you so much, and it pains Him to see you in pain, but He knows it's for your own good. Sometimes He puts us through pain just so you remember He's there, because it is so easy to forget, especially when your life is fantastic. But when your life is so wonderful and there aren't many complaints, that's when you need to be thanking Him immensely, and thank Him for those awful moments in your life where you are thinking, "Why am I going through this? Why are You allowing me to go through this pain?" because they are molding you into the person He wants you to be. Talk to Him constantly, and I promise you, you will see His work in your life eventually, especially if you can't see it at this moment.
Trust. In. Him.
I think it's only appropriate to skip the Friend's quote and end on an even better quote.
You are my strength and my song, my God
I trust in You and I shall not fear.
My heart is dancing, if not my feet
before I even think of You, You are my Creator;
It's You who sustain me on my journey
wherever I go, you are there before me -
You are my strength and my song
I trust in You and I shall not fear.
It's Your sun that warms my limbs
Your wind that chills, and sharpens my feelings.
You care for the simple blackbird
Your love for me is sweet and powerful.
God says: “I love you, you are precious to Me
just as you are, you are My friend and partner.”
For You are my strength and my song
I trust in You and I shall not fear.
No comments:
Post a Comment