A good read

I can't remember who sent this article to me ages ago when I was still running around in my cheer leading skirt in good ole' IMU. A few years down the line and it speaks to me in even greater volumes than when I first read it. Hope you enjoy reading it :)


They call it the "Quarter-life Crisis." It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You look at your job... and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and that scares you.

Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't. One minute, you are insecure and then the next, secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself... and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

But the biggest difference is how one grows out of this “quarter life crisis”. Some just decide to linger in it, complain about it, and ultimately isolate themselves in it since they find no solution to all the “ugliness” happening around. They get bitter, they become unforgiving, and they become blind to all goodness that God places around them. Then ultimately, they fall short of the full glory that God intended HIS PEOPLE to have. They end their lives on Earth never knowing His full purpose for them. This must be one of the most heart-wrenching tragedies that could ever pain God’s heart.

But for some others, they refuse to let this crisis be a foothold that the Devil can latch on to destroy their life. They learn that there ARE indeed weaknesses in them that they can’t forgive themselves for. But God says that His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. They refuse to let the unclean spirit of unacceptance seep into their lives, for they have the power to love and this strength comes from the unfailing love that God has for them (1 John 4:16-21). Indeed, there is ugliness all around us, but such people see such ugliness as opportunities to be the salt and light of this world, and to spread His love and purpose to friends around.

Such people reminiscent about the good memories of the past, but they remember what Paul said in Phil 3:13-14. They thank God for their present placement and press on towards the goal that God has set for them at that season of time. And they have full faith that God intends only the best, nothing less, for them. And when one day they stand before God’s throne, they can proudly proclaim: Lord, I have run the race, and I have finished strong. And that day, they will make the Lord’s heart swell with pride.

God can only partner with us ONLY IF we are willing to let him come into our lives. All that is written above are just words. They can be made meaningless, or they can be made into sound advice. It’s our choice. James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Are you willing to come near to God?

(author unknown)

Just in case anyone who's reading this is the true author of the above piece, please don't sue me for plagiarism :) I just really don't know who you are to give credit to.