The Power of Christ.

   The past week has definitely been hard and challenging. I know for people, even Christians we wonder sometimes why bad things happen. We ask ourselves questions like "why me" or "what purpose does this have". The thing is though, when we think about things we need to remember that we only use a small part of our brain. We only see the now and the past but God sees the future and the outcome. He has a purpose for every step we take in life (Jeremiah 29:11). 

   You may think your problems and what you're going through isn't important or you aren't important but you are. God loves us all the same no matter what kind of person you are. If there is one lost person and there's 99 others, God will go after the lost one and celebrate in Heaven because of that one saved soul (Luke 15:4-7).God does amazing work through our struggles. I have never publicly shared my full testimony because I didn't know how people would respond but it's apart of me and my story and testimonies are important because you never know who can relate. I want to express how God got ahold of me when he did. After so much going back and forth on if I should share it, I decided to because it has been on my heart heavily for awhile now. 

   People will usually only see what you show to them, and it is so easy to put a mask on your life and hide what you're going through. Our struggles can either make us better or just destroy us. You don't have to let yourself live in the ways of this world. You don't have to continue walking in sin just because it's the norm. You dont have to fit in with everyone else. Following Jesus seems so intimidating at first because it does interfere with your life, but you have to realize that you will never really lose him. I don't believe in Jesus everyday because I'm trying to simply get his acceptance. I can't do anything to make God love me more. I don't work for Christ for acceptance, I do it from acceptance. Jesus paid our debt and died a death we deserve everyday from falling short. I believe with everything in me that if he can change me, he can change you.  

   The power of your mistakes can either help you or harm you. You can either learn from them and grow or just continue going back to old habits. You're gonna mess up, you're not perfect. Jesus is the perfect one and he has paid for your sin. Strive to be more like him because you love him and want to honor him, and help others do the same, not from your worry to make him love you more. 

   I have always been the person who is insecure and who worries about what people think. That has been my biggest struggle that I have had to over come. I always worried about my body and how I looked. In the 9th grade I started to develop unhealthy habits to make myself lose weight. Doing that sent me on a downward spiral that only God could heal me from. The thing is, when you start to do things, you tell yourself "oh I will handle it, it's not going to control my life." The truth is, that is such a dangerous thought because when playing around in sin and going with your own will it consumes you. It takes ahold of your life and before you know it you've hit rock bottom. I hit rock bottom one time, I hid my feelings from everyone and tried to deal with them on my own. I finally opened up to someone and she showed me who Jesus is, she assured me that him and only him could save me. I didn't realize it at the time of course but God was working through her the whole time of my struggles and he was reaching out and drawing me closer to him. My church and my youth group also had a huge impact on my walk with Christ, the series each week always felt like it was made just for me. I will be forever thankful for the people God has put in my path to help me grow and know him better. I realized I didn't need to do things to change my body image, I had to give my struggle to the one who struggled for me on the cross. God took my heart and started to change me and my views day by day. I know that my identity isn't in my insecurity. MY IDENTITY IS IN CHRIST. 

   All of you people who have seen my change over the years, especially my classmates. And they can tell you how I used to act compared to now.. They remind me all the time. Lol. I just wanted you to know how God can take a girl who always longed for acceptance from the people around me, has learned to live from the acceptance God has given me. I don't know what you're going through and I don't know why bad things happen. I do know, though, that every struggle is a blessing in disguise. God can use your story in amazing ways. He can use you in people's lives and you not even realize it. If you don't know Jesus, or you are just unsure about the whole Christian thing message me, call me, or meet up with me. I promise I will do anything I can to help you and give you someone to be there. Even though you're a Christian, there will still be struggles and you will fall short, but God is there to help you through it all. The life following Christ isn't always easy, but it is SO worth it. 

   If I have ever seemed pushy or abnoxious for you to follow Jesus, it's because I've seen his mighty power work in me and I want you to have what I do. If he can get me through everything he has, he can get you through it too. 

Don't forget God loves you and I love you. You are in my prayers.