“You can get through this. You’re such a strong person”. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard any variation of that phrase. I may be perceived as strong, but I am weak. All of my strength comes from God.

People look at me and see the straight A, 4.0 GPA college freshman with my whole life ahead of me. They don’t realize how much I have struggled. How many times I almost gave up on everything. How much I have had to deal with in my short life of 19 years. They don’t realize how weak I really am.

I know others have it worse off, and I am not writing this to make others feel bad for me. I simply want people to know that it is okay to be weak. In reality, we all are. Some are better at handling situations than others, but we all need help at some point in our lives. We all break down and need something or someone to lift us back up. I have my support system, but I also rely heavily on God. If it were not for him, I don’t know how I would have had enough strength to be here right now. He has helped me through my absolute worst of times, continues to give me strength through my current storm, and I know he will be there for all of my future troubles. I would not have been able to handle all of the emotions of watching a loved one go through major surgery, watch a very close family member struggle with addiction, deal with all of the hassles of a parent stepping out of my life, and too many other situations to name. These are only a few of the conflicts I have faced and I know that there are much more to come. Luckily, I know that God will be with me no matter what the scenario. He gives me hope and strength in the toughest of times.

No matter what happens, I have confidence that God will lead me in the right direction. I truly believe that he puts me through every single situation for a reason. He wouldn’t bring me to the edge of the cliff and then leave me there. I may seem strong on the outside, but I am a very weak person who needs a little help getting through life. God is my savior, my light, and my strength. With him, I can do all things.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.