rebelling against low expectations
I got Do Hard Things for my sixteenth birthday, and let it collect dust for a while. I knew it was going to be a tough read, and I used that as an excuse to put it off. When I finally did read it, I had two thoughts: “Well, duh, that makes sense,” and “Why haven’t I heard this before?” This began my life as a rebelutionary. I didn’t do anything supremely amazing or famous, but the concepts...
A year ago, I entered the ranks of the working world, and got a job. And not just any job—a “best in town” kind of job that most people only dream of, with a kind boss and flexible hours. But unfortunately, it wasn’t the job I wanted. While I methodically filed papers and made phone calls, I dreamed of the day when I’d be able to leave the drudgery of a “normal job” and do what I really wanted to...
Your life has a story. Every choice, every step, every decision…is part of your story. It’s the story you’ll one day tell your kids, and the one you’ll eventually tell your grandchildren. It’s your life. It’s your story. Back in the days of Israel’s second king, David, a very perceptive young woman understood this truth. And her choice to act on it, is something we can all learn from, even today...
How often do we, especially as Christian young adults, have to make big decisions? All the time. We’re beginning the transition from dependent minors to self-sustaining adults, and that requires many decisions to be made—what car to get, what job to take, what school to go to, etc. In the midst of these consequential decisions, I’m sure most of us only want to do what God wills for us...
“Who are we?” I wonder if there’s ever been a question asked more often. Philosophers, theologians, scientists, and common men and women have all asked this question. And I’d guess most everyone who has ever set foot on earth has asked this question as well. It’s an interesting question, as it portrays a human need to belong. Everyone feels a need for purpose, meaning, and identity. Whether we...
A destructive, sneaky lie has been echoing in my head for days. Maybe you’ve heard it too. “Everything I do is worthless.” I’ve believed all my efforts–writing, piano, you name it–are garbage. Junk that deserves to be tossed out on the curb and thrown in a landfill. But, the truth is: my efforts aren’t worthless trash, and neither are yours. If you gave 100...
Folding laundry one day, a wave of panic over my future hit me. With high school graduation fast approaching, major transitions and decisions loomed. I desperately wished I could see my future path neatly laid out in front of me. In the middle of my panic, I felt God impress upon me, “Just worry about the next step. Then once you reach that, think about the step after.” This thought stopped me...
Americans spend $2 billion supporting 1.5 million participants in short-term missions trips each year. However, statistics show that up to three-fourths of these trips are poorly conducted, and teams rarely interact with unreached or unengaged people groups (you don’t have to travel far, for L.A. County alone has 400+ unreached people groups!). Although the church has recently exploded with...
Dear fellow missionary kids, We’re on a mission. We have a goal. A task to complete. Or do we? Many times, it seems as if we aren’t working to achieve this goal. We get bogged down. Forgetful. The enemy uses the troubles of this life to make us lose sight of the prize for which we’re fighting for so hard. We take our eyes off the goal–off the prize. I must be honest, I have done this...
If you’re a teenager, you have some big decisions coming up. Where will you go to college? What will you study in college? How will you make money? Who will you marry? What do you want to do with the rest of your life? It’s kind of overwhelming and if you’re like me, you even start to panic a bit. “Oh no! I’m already seventeen and I have no idea what I want to study in...
rebelling against low expectations
