Written By Dana Ford, Relate Contributing Writer
Every day we face a world of sin, a world crashing and burning and suffering. We face a media portraying beauty in ways to make our hearts sick. We face judgment and controversy and religious uproar and heartache and we don’t know what to do so we freak out. We say, WE WANNA BE SKINNY! WE WANNA BE PRETTY! WE WANNA PARTY LIKE THE BIG-TIME CELEBS DO! WE WANNA FIT IN!
We get wrapped up. So consumed that the person staring back at us through the mirror is no longer the person we once knew and loved.
We’ve vanished from our souls. We no longer see how we could possibly love someone like us. We’ve become part of the media and we’ve become just another part of the crowd. Another known stereotype and although we hate it, we thrive on it.
Why? What’s happening here? All we’ve ever wanted was to fit in. Now, yes, we’re part of the world, part of the sin, part of the chaos, but we still don’t fit in. And we love ourselves less.
What’s missing? Faith.
It’s a simple word. It’s a word we use a lot even if we aren’t Christ-followers. But it’s one word, one idea which even when the world is crashing on top of us, will never fail us. With faith, our love will never fail. Or in another sense, with God we will never fall.
The idea is that when God is present in our lives, it is evident we show more compassion toward others, we receive God’s spirit in our hearts to do good things, to push sin as far away as possible. We use our faith, our trust in God, our belief in God as armor against a world of fire and destruction.
Sometimes, when we lack faith, or if we don’t wear our armor, we’re exposed to things we normally wouldn’t do, things we normally wouldn’t say or have negative feelings about ourselves we wouldn’t normally have.
Without faith, we ARE the media, we ARE the fire, we ARE pure sin, we ARE judgment and sadness, we are OF this world.
Note to self: This world does not last. This party we’re living in will not last. But faith lasts forever. Faith which brings love and happiness. Faith which blesses each of us with eternity.
Feel like you need some faith? Here are some ways to help you replenish that need.
- Connect to a local church. Ask questions, attend services and get involved. God will begin to work in your life and show you new ways to happiness and an eternity beyond this sinful world. He will show you part of that armor. Faith might become your favorite outfit!
- Connect with people your age who attend Bible studies or are a part of groups who have fun together in positive ways.
- Stop doing what you’re doing. If it feels wrong, if you don’t feel like yourself, don’t do it! Stay true to yourself.
- Listen to encouraging music. Uplifting words are always an encouragement to allow you branch out and help you find ways to reconnect with your faith.
Recognize that if you’re unhappy, something is missing in your life. It may be that you’ve lost faith. However…maybe there is something dangling in your life which should not be present. Get rid of it. Start fresh. You have been blessed with beautiful ways of life and love. Use those blessings!
God gave you life. What are you doing with yours?
Funny how God talks to you in many ways. Thank you. I needed this :)