Adulting: One Star. Do not recommend.
When I was a kid, everyone told me not to wish my life away. Not to grow up too fast. I thought being an adult would be amazing! As a kid, there was so much I couldn’t do. So much I didn’t understand. As an adult, there would be so much freedom. No one telling me what to do or say. To that, adults would tell me, that I was dreaming – the reality was that I would still have people telling me what to do and say, and worst of all, I would have to pay rent/mortgage payments, and taxes.
As I grew older, adulthood loomed closer. I wasn’t sure where the line was where you actually crossed into it, but I know as I started to be aware of taxes being taken out of my check at 15 years old, it must be getting close. And when homework started mattering about where and how I would go to college and what job I could get, it started getting scary. When I had to buy my own gasoline and make my own doctors appointments, I was getting closer. Then, when I went to college and had to look after myself with respect to eating, studying, sleeping, transportation, and so much else, I thought that was a lot! When I interviewed for jobs and considered how I would pay for a place to live, a car to drive, the insurance to cover me while I drove, and so much else, it got real. THEN, I actually HAD TO manage everything I just listed, all by myself and it was terribly frightening, and I fell short on things often. But I actually wasn’t all by myself. I was blessed to have my incredible parents, and my Jesus carrying me through. They didn’t change the fact that I was walking through these things, but I knew I wasn’t alone. That gave me strength, and courage, and peace. There were always times that I got anxious about what was coming next, but then I would fall back on the presence and wisdom of my folks and my Savior and I would come back to a settled place.
Jesus said, “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed,
for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated
by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another
and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.”
Matthew 24: 6-12
When we read this scripture, it is frightening. There is looming doom. But the wars are only rumors, not here. Nations fighting elsewhere are not affecting me, so while I feel sorry for those impacted, it isn’t my impact. I hear of Christians being persecuted to the point of death, but I am not. It scares me, but I cannot fully grasp the reality of it.
But then several years ago, a dear friend had to flee for her life because there was a coup in her country and she worked for the leader. When I spoke to her on the phone, I heard explosions and screams in the background. The “rumors” got closer to me. I have another friend who, 3 years ago, was arrested in another country, tortured, and hidden in a jail for his faith and defiance of governance that was in opposition to his belief. Now, I have a friend with family members in Israel who have died in the current war. I have friends there. I walked in that very country a mere 100 days ago. It is real. It is impacting those I love. It is frightening and I am tempted to be anxiously torn up about it all the time.
But then I remember that my Savior is on the throne. He warned of these things. Him being on the throne doesn’t remove me from these things, but it makes me stronger, more courageous, and more at peace to deal with them. I go back to an anxious space a lot. But I have the arms of my Jesus to crawl back into to free myself from that anxiety.
Jesus says “In me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation.
But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Paul reminds us, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us.” Romans 8:35,37
And our Glorious Father promises, “Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
If you don’t believe in Jesus, or the Bible, God’s Holy Word, you are missing out on some marvelous benefits that come from accepting a Lord who loves us and because of that love, He wants a relationship with us. What else can we worship that offers these things? We will all walk difficult paths no matter what or who we put our trust in. Won’t you let Jesus give you the equipment you need to handle it, and the promise that when it is over, there is a beautiful ending awaiting you?
Jesus: ( )∞ – Couldn’t recommend any more highly!
