Pep Talk for Free

I would now like to give you an encouraging speech, just because.

Let me explain.

It’s about halfway through the year and I’m sure that you, like me, have grown weary of the struggle. Your lofty plans for the year have been put in check and you’re wondering if this year will be any different.

It will be.

I feel that a healthy dose of encouragement is in order! So here we go:

You fantastic son of a gun! How do you do it?! You are just so different from everyone else in a way that is nothing short of awesome! Don’t doubt yourself. Don’t doubt that you are of value. Don’t feel like you should be someone different than who you are. Stop trying to shoehorn yourself into someone else’s life. Their life isn’t better than yours, they are just very selective about what they post on instagram.

Now…let’s talk about the thing. You know what I’m talking about. That thing you hate most about who you are. Maybe it’s something about how you look or how you act. A mental health issue or illness. A personality flaw you can’t seem to shake. Maybe it’s something that happened to you or something that is still happening. Whatever it is–you just know that your life would be better without it.

I know how much of your time and energy the thing is taking because I have a one of my own. I know that you can’t stop thinking about it; how most of the time it’s your first thought when you wake up and your last before you fall asleep. I know you think it’s all people see when they see you. It feels endless–looking at the future you see it going on and on hopelessly. But even though that thing feels like the very largest part of your life it isn’t. It’s only one part of you, a whole person with gifts, talents, passions, and blessings.

I know this is hard. And long. And draining. But you’re ok. It’s ok to go through hard things. The wrestling teaches us about ourselves, about the world, and about God. You won’t break. You’re stronger than you think you are and you can bare more pain than you thought you could. Think about how strong you are getting! Think about how much this struggle can prepare you to help and encourage others. These trials are a necessary part of becoming who God intends us to be (James 1:2-4).

I don’t want this to seem like I’m just ok. I too feel impatient for relief from struggles, for the answers I want, and for happiness. I literally had to pull over to cry in a parking lot the other day. I’m sure the children and families who just wanted to enjoy their day at the park were severely weirded out. Everything said above I’m trying to say to myself in a mirror.

I’ve been meditating on Romans 8:28 lately: “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

We need to reclaim this verse from the embroidered-pillow-platitude that it has been relegated to. This is not some prosperity gospel nonsense! Look just a few verses earlier: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18). It is not a promise for an easy, happy, life. It’s a promise for a life full of purpose that ends in eternal glory that cannot be taken. Which is far better than the instagram-worthy life we’ve planned for ourselves.