Let's face it, life isn't always that easy. I have faced more in the past six years than I ever thought I would. Facing these different challenges often make it difficult to trust in God. We have a vision of what we want our lives to be like but God usually has an entirely different plan in mind.

We go through our day to day lives facing little struggles and stresses that make life seem almost impossible sometimes, but what I have learned in these past few weeks is that these struggles and stresses we face are all a part of God's plan for our lives. Everything we go through shapes us and molds us into the people that God has intended us to be.

Lately, I have had a really hard time putting all my trust in the Lord. I tend to push God away when things go wrong in my life, and it is something that I always am working on. Me pushing God away goes back to 2011 when I lost my dad. I put all my anger towards the Lord, and I still find myself doing that sometimes even now. Just about two months ago, I lost a close friend.

She was 18 and had such a great life ahead of her, but God had other plans. He called her home, and that really hurt. I continue to question God and just ask "why". It's in times like these that I often stand so confused by His plan.

Last night, I got hit hard with a lot of emotions. It was our first night back at Ignite and after we had heard the message and were closing up in worship, I just started thinking about so much and got a little scared. The whole message we got taught last night was that nothing on this earth will ever completely satisfy us. That really left me puzzled because I have so many questions that I feel I would be satisfied after receiving answers to them.

But I am mistaken.

I was able to talk to my small group leader after ignite was over, and what she told me really stuck with me. I was just talking about the confusion and frustration that I have been facing lately, and she reminded me and said that we are all going to be reunited again with God and our loved ones one day. We just have to wait and trust in the Lord. I went to bed last night so thankful for that conversation and for that person in my life. It is so important to have Christian friends and mentors to reassure when things are upside down.

This morning I woke up with the goal of just continuing to work towards placing my trust back in God. I have learned that is won't always be easy, but even when trusting isn't easy it is still the most important thing we can do. The word I chose for 2018 is trust. I want to spend this year growing in my relationship with God, and learning how to place all my trust back in Him. I know He has a plan for my life, and I just need to trust that He will allow everything in my life to happen for my best interest.

Even when life seems to be spiraling completely out of control, He is still in complete control. Trust in Him.