Go

When you find yourself in a time in your life where you find yourself alone (or anxious, frustrated, discontent, happy, so-so, fillintheblank), take it as a moment to discover you. Granted, you aren't really alone - maybe sometimes it does feel that way and that can be sad and lonely at times, but lately I've been on this path to understand what it means to be created in the image of God and to develop more of myself to be Christ-like and how that looks in relation to my day-to-day in this world we find ourselves in. Finding joy in moments that are challenging can really put quite a different perspective on things.

When we go through hard times, the easy road is to just coast through the season and never really challenge ourselves. Often we endure because we have to and maybe we try to find easy ways out or ways to lessen pain or voids we feel. I'm trying to fight that "coast and fill" mentality and instead try to learn and discover and grow into something better than what I am now...I don't know what that something necessarily looks like, but that is kind of the exciting part.

Part of this means challenging myself to try new things, expand my view and tastes, form opinions about who I am but be flexible to know that I can change and continue to grow, dig deeper into the reasons why I believe what I do and what I know to be true, interact with people who think differently than I do but grow deeper and more genuinely with those who have always been my supporters, and really take the time to enjoy my interests but the interests of others as well.

Ultimately, I am learning what it means to take my selfish pain and pride and turn it into a Christ-like love and humility. Whether the season is low, nonchalantly steady, or joyful and happily exciting, there is always ways that we can be challenging ourselves to be more like Christ.

God is always shaping you and molding you to be more like Him. You have parts of Him in you ready to come alive. I've been so challenged to believe that my purpose is in my now - not waiting for me in my future - I'm challenged to not waste my life thinking it will happen later...our purpose is always there waiting for us. God is always here...just waiting for us to say, "Your will be done." Don't wait on the sidelines....GO!