rebelling against low expectations
Dear Rebelutionaries, We’re taught to do hard things, step out of our comfort zones, and rebel against low expectations. We do hard things to bring glory to God. To share Jesus’ love. To honor Him by faithfully honing the talents He gave us. But I have a confession. Sometimes, I work hard to bring glory to myself. Sometimes, I think that God won’t pay attention unless I do hard things. Sometimes...
Sometimes, we lose sight of what’s truly good in our lives. It seems that the biggest achievement for some is binging a whole TV show in a week. A person may feel validated by partying every weekend. Others pride themselves on their endless Youtube sessions. Regular shopping sprees could be a goal for some. Meanwhile, others are amused by scrolling on Instagram for hours. On the outside, this is...
Editor’s Note: Throughout the years, TheReb has published thousands of articles, each challenging and encouraging Rebelutionaries to do hard things and seek God. But among these posts, some have especially resonated with you, our readers. So over the next few weeks and months, we’re bringing back these classics, reposting our most popular and well-read articles every Thursday. May they encourage...
Have you ever experienced that empty feeling? That hollow ache in your heart? That longing for something more? I have too. That emptiness is called unfulfillment. Seeking fulfillment by way of the world is one of the most draining pursuits. I used to constantly seek fulfillment the world’s way. Eventually, I discovered a world-shattering truth: Only a close-relationship with Jesus can grant...
I recently experienced a truly restful Sunday. I attended Sunday school and church, ate at a favorite restaurant with my family, literally rested (aka napped), read old issues of a Christian magazine, and played tennis outside. My day felt balanced, relaxing, and restful. Sure, I watched TV, checked my email, and did other typical daily activities. But, for the most part, I felt like I was able...
You don’t have to do the same thing for the rest of your life. If you’re an emerging graduate of high school or college, you may have been confronted with the pretty harrowing idea that you have to pick a single career for the rest of your working life before you even hit 22. I wish someone came along when I was 17 and told me it wasn’t true. Because the reality is, it’s not true. God has given...
We sit around in her room as she tells us how God brought her here. Of the open doors, the blessings, the hard stuff. We sat on the back porch, wrapped in blankets, the sound of the rain a perfect soundtrack. The Tennessee lightning bugs popped in on us every now and then. We discussed match-making, and car accidents, and neighbors. It was such a far-cry from what I would picture as “culture...
Dear fellow world-changer, Sometimes, doing hard things seems boring and insignificant. Like everything we do isn’t really helping anyone. How is hitting tennis balls making a difference? How is studying about chemical bonds and electron configurations helping the poor? How is sitting in my bedroom typing on my keyboard changing the world right now? The world is full of poverty and famine...
If I could go back in time, there are plenty of things I would want my teenage-self to know. But if I could, I’d especially want to go back in time and shine some truth into a few of the lies that I believed as a young person. Maybe you’re struggling with some of these lies too. If so, this is my invitation to you to experience some truth. Lie 1: I’m too young to do big things. The world we live...
Every weekday morning has a similar sound. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. “Oh no, morning. Please, just five more minutes,” I groan as I reach over to press the snooze button. With the exception of those who enjoy rising early, no one likes to hear their alarm clock in the quietness of the morning. We groan and sloppily reach out to press the snooze button on our incessantly ringing alarm clock...
rebelling against low expectations
