Ever had that said to you? I have, and it shook me. It's strange with the internet, how we can 'keep people up to date with how we are and what we're doing' but actually we only share the parts of life we want to. I try very much to keep negative stuff off my Facebook profile. I don't like to post upset status' or complain on there, or share on such a public scale when bad stuff goes down. If you're friends with me on Facebook, you may notice I like to post encouraging stuff or exciting things that are happening for me. But I stopped and wondered... By doing this, have I made it look like my life is easy and simple and all round good all the time? Because let's be honest here- it's not. I'm a Christian. I'm a follower of Jesus. I'm a God girl! But even so, I encounter hard situations. I mess up sometimes. I don't always react in the best way. And I've faced things that really don't seem fair for anyone to go through. But haven't we all?
Not too long ago I went to a leadership training weekend at El Rancho called Uplift. One evening, there was an opportunity for people to stand up and share their testimony (some of their life story and how God fits into that) with everyone.One after another, teenagers like me stood with courage and shared their pain, trails, challenges, and failings with the group of people before them. Everyone had a different story with different experiences. And yet there was one common thread in each of these. We'd all found God, and He'd completely changed our lives. The beauty in that was something beyond explanation. I realised that there's so much more to a person than you can see at first. I'm not saying you should necessarily go and get every one of your friends to tell you their entire life story or anything! But it just reminded me that everyone has a story, and no one leads a perfect life.
I was going to finish this there, but I really just have to add that no matter how blessed or difficult your journey in life has been, there is a God who loves you and wants to be a part of your life. Or more than a part actually. Your everything! He offers you grace and forgiveness for any sin or wrong-doing that you've done and asks you to turn to a life of living to Glorify Him in word and action. He offers healing for hurts and comfort and strength through life's difficult times. He gives joy and peace, and HOPE. All you have to do- is BELIEVE.
