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19 Of The Most Valuable Lessons I've Learned In 19 Years

I've learned to ask God for big things; to ask for the things that scare me because they seem impossible. I've learned that to experience God's provision I need to test Him.

Grace Jicha

Oct 29, 2018

Millennials of New Jersey

232

gracejicha.com

1. Ask God for the things that seem impossible. He will do immeasurably more.

I remember in a tough season of life asking a friend, "Can I even ask God to do that for me? Can He change this?" as if there were some things in life God doesn't have control over. I've learned to ask God for big things; to ask for the things that scare me because they seem impossible. I've learned that to experience God's provision I need to test Him. I need to hand him more than I can handle on my own. I've learned that God always does immeasurably more than I could ever even imagine.

2. I only get sick if I neglect my own health so basically I need to take care of myself.

Love me some vitamin C!

3. Feeling very lonely is usually a sign that you need to be alone.

I used to immediately distract myself from any sense of loneliness I felt instead of just being still and listening for God's voice to tell me "Hey Grace, you know you're never alone right? I'm right here, always." I've learned how to be so content in the moments where I'm alone instead of feeling lonely.

4. You think you’ll never stop loving that boy who broke your heart but one day you do.

The love that you thought would be always and forever dies out, and that's okay. Your heart heals.

5. The meaningful things in life are beautiful.

Lately I've challenged myself to discern what the meaningful things in my life should be and recognize them as things of immense beauty.

6. Don’t let anyone put you on hold until it’s convenient for them.

You deserve honesty and to be pursued.

7. You shop at Publix for the experience, not the prices.

Financially unstable Florida college students get it.

8. Just because you never want to feel heartbreak again doesn’t mean you shouldn’t allow yourself to feel anything at all.

I think this is one of the biggest mistakes I've made and it's something I'm still working on. There's a difference between guarding your heart and not allowing yourself to feel anything out of fear.

9. God is so patient.

He is so loving, so patient and pursues me even when I push back. It sounds crazy to push away a perfect, never ending love that we don't even deserve in the first place but it happens all the time. God is so good, He's there when we come running back and He's there if we don't look back at all.

10. How to lead in love and with grace but with assertiveness.

I was never a very confrontational person but I'm learning how to deal with conflict in a loving way. I think knowing how to handle correction with a spirit of love and understanding is definitely one of the most important skills as a leader.

11. Florida pizza isn’t pizza

Seriously.

12. What loving well truly looks like.

1 Corinthians 13 aka "the love chapter" is a well known scripture and you hear all the time that love is selfless, but as I've gotten older I've realized that love is sincerely not self seeking. I've watched my parents and the people I love most make huge sacrifices for me; hard sacrifices. These are the people who have taught me how to truly love well.

13. You don’t always need to be out on a Friday night.

I'm learning not to let the fear of missing out dictate my life.

14. Contentment isn’t complacency, it’s fulfillment

During a devotional one morning the speaker talked about how being content in a season of life is being fulfilled in that season, it's not just being complacent. It challenged me to continue to push myself further even in the seasons where I feel comfortable.

15. Love is always a choice

Love is waking up every day and making the decision to love. We have to consistently and intentionally remind ourselves to love God in every moment and with every decision.

16. For harvest there must be waiting. To break ground you have to spend time under the soil.

Being patient and waiting on God is so hard for me, yet God doesn't think twice about waiting on us no matter how long it takes for us to return to Him. God is constantly teaching me to step back, let go and just wait on Him.

17. I play into the game of comparison so easily.

I've realized that I'm someone who compares herself to others almost on a daily basis which is so unhealthy. Theodore Roosevelt said, "comparison is the thief of joy" which put things into perspective for me. Why should I be letting this steal my joy? God is reminding me daily of who I am in Him and bringing me to a place of peace when those thoughts come.

18. Empathy isn’t weakness.

When I went on my first missions trip I prayed that God would break my heart for what breaks His and He did. Empathizing with others, feeling broken for broken people is a life that God calls us to; a life of compassion and grace. In Matthew 25:40 Jesus explains, "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Serving others and empathizing with those in need is a tangible way to express our love towards God.

19. How to be still and find rest during the busy seasons of life.

One of the hardest things for me to do is rest. I love being busy. I love the hustle of life, but rest is so important to maintaining a healthy balance in life. It's essential to take time to take care of yourself. Time to be still, relax and recuperate.

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19 Of The Most Valuable Lessons I've Learned In 19 Years

I've learned to ask God for big things; to ask for the things that scare me because they seem impossible. I've learned that to experience God's provision I need to test Him.

1. Ask God for the things that seem impossible. He will do immeasurably more.

2. I only get sick if I neglect my own health so basically I need to take care of myself.

3. Feeling very lonely is usually a sign that you need to be alone.

4. You think you’ll never stop loving that boy who broke your heart but one day you do.

5. The meaningful things in life are beautiful.

6. Don’t let anyone put you on hold until it’s convenient for them.

7. You shop at Publix for the experience, not the prices.

8. Just because you never want to feel heartbreak again doesn’t mean you shouldn’t allow yourself to feel anything at all.

9. God is so patient.

10. How to lead in love and with grace but with assertiveness.

11. Florida pizza isn’t pizza

12. What loving well truly looks like.

13. You don’t always need to be out on a Friday night.

14. Contentment isn’t complacency, it’s fulfillment

15. Love is always a choice

16. For harvest there must be waiting. To break ground you have to spend time under the soil.

17. I play into the game of comparison so easily.

18. Empathy isn’t weakness.

19. How to be still and find rest during the busy seasons of life.

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There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

1. What do you do for a living?

2. What's your favorite color?

3. Do you have any siblings?

4. What's your favorite television show?

5. When is your birthday?

6. What's your biggest goal in life?

7. If you had three wishes granted to you by a genie, what would they be?

8. What's your favorite childhood memory?

9. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

10. Are you a cat or a dog person?

11. Do you believe in a religion or any sort of spiritual power?

12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

13. What is your ideal date night?

14. Who was/is your celebrity crush?

15. What's a good way to cheer you up if you're having a bad day?

16. Do you have any tattoos?

17. Can you describe yourself in three words?

18. What makes you the most nervous in life?

19. What's the best gift you have ever received?

20. What do you do to relax/have fun?

21. What are your priorities at this phase of your life?

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

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