There is something about the night sky that just leaves me in awe. I could sit outside and look at the stars for hours, finally coming to a place where I feel content and at peace with the world. That is where I found myself this past week as the meteor shower reached its peak of visibility.

As I stared up into the sky counting shooting stars that flew above my head, I was consumed by the utter beauty and greatness of the universe that surrounded me. I was reminded of my infinitely small size in a world that is so big, a galaxy that reaches far beyond what my mind can even comprehend. And also in that moment, I asked myself “Why?”

Why am I here? Why was I put on this earth? Does my life really matter to anyone if I am such a small part of this world?

I am sure many of you have asked yourselves these questions at least once in your life. Sometimes it is hard to see your worth or the impact you alone can have on those around you in a world that seems so big. I mean, I am just one of seven billion people, right? You may just be one person, infinitely small in a world so vastly huge, but you were created individually and uniquely for a reason even if that reason may still be unknown to you.

You have a purpose, and it is not your time to quit.

Go outside. Look at the stars. There are billions of stars in the sky, but still God created you. The next time you forget your worth or you are struggling to see your purpose, just remember that.

As I looked up into the sky and began to question my belonging and felt my heart start to sink, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes:

"For a star to be born, there is one thing that must happen: a gaseous nebula must collapse. So collapse. Crumble. This is not your destruction. This is your birth."

Thing will not always be perfect. Sometimes life hurts...a lot. Sometimes you find yourself shattered into a million pieces.

But it is OK to fall apart. It is OK to not be OK. Sometimes we have to crumble so we can be put back together again in a new and better way. Never believe that just because your life seems to be falling apart that something great is not in the making. This is your opportunity to rebuild yourself, to start fresh. Embrace it.

So the next time you find yourself being consumed by the night, step outside and look up. Look at the stars, the moon, the way the clouds glide across the night sky almost as if they were guiding you forward into a new beginning and away from the past that may weigh you down. In a universe so complex, you were uniquely chosen to take on this life and to make a difference. Take a deep breath and crumble, love. This is not your destruction.

This is your birth.