At the end of 2019, I asked God to help me grow and then it started to rain. I was so upset I didn't understand why I felt like my whole world was falling apart, but then it HIT me!!! In order to grow we have to have a little rain. I am so thankful for this year and the many things I have learned.
I learned that everything can change in the blink of an eye, but that doesn't mean your life is over. Every day can't just be filled with sunshine. You have to go through hard times, your plans will change, your heart may break, or you may just be having an icky or hard time. Although we may think these times are going to be the end us, they AREN'T. God puts us through things for a reason, you always come out stronger than you were before. In him you are BRAVER than you believe, STRONGER than you seem, and SMARTER than you think.
Philippians 4:13
He promises that you "Can do all things through Christ who gives you strength."
I learned it's okay to fall, you will fall over and over again. The only problem with falling is making sure we get ourselves back up. We aren't going to get our way 100% of the time but, when we fail we have to understand there is a reason behind every failure and mistake along the way. I learned we can not dwell on the past but we have to learn from our failures and move on to do greater things.
Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
I learned that it is okay to be happy for others. Even though you and a friend may have not worked out, you learned something from the experience. God put you in his or her life for a reason you were their stepping stone along the way. You were there to help them but they were also there to help you grow. We just have to put all of our faith in God and understand he is in control.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
I learn that not every one will like you, and we have to understand that is something we can NOT control. Not everyone will understand what you have been through and that's okay because everyone has their own story to tell. We can't plan the future so what is the point in worrying over something that will most likely not happen. So in 2020, let's try and not worry about the things that are out of our control. Put everything in Gods hands.
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
I learned I don't have my whole life figured out and I'm perfectly okay with that. I'm still learning and have a long way to go but I do know that God has a plan for me and although I may not know that plan he does.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you."declares the LORD. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
In 2019 I never expected to learn so much from so many different situations so my goal in 2020 is to always PRAISE JESUS. Not just through the hard times but the good times as well. One of my favorite quotes is "Until God opens the NEXT door praise him in the hallways." This is a perfect example of we never know what is coming in life but to always keep our focus on him. Life maybe tough sometimes, but you never know what God has in store behind the next door.
