Waves

Life is like a beach. Sometimes we’re on the beach enjoying the calm waters and the beautiful sun, and sometimes it feels like we’re caught out in the middle of the tide. Getting tumbled over and over and we can’t catch our breath. Or maybe its dreary and things feel too still and maybe even a little lonely. Maybe the waves have washed up things you threw out long ago, but are now begging for your attention. Life is always changing and so are the tides. Sometimes it feels like seasons are just too long and days are getting harder to get through. Some seasons are joyous and beautiful. Both are necessary and unavoidable parts of life that contribute to our growth. Some seasons of life are much easier than others but both carry blessings.

"We can't expect to find true peace without going through the storm..."

We can’t expect to change if we don’t go through adversity. We can’t expect to grow without going through growing pain. We can’t expect to get stronger without the hurt that life eventually brings to us. We can’t expect to find true peace without going through the storm, otherwise our peace is circumstantial. Because finding joy and peace despite our circumstances means that we have found lasting assurance. "But what if it all feels too much? What if this all just feels meaningless? What if you can’t see the end in sight or the plan ahead of you?" Friend, I have been there. I have been exhausted, thinking, “will this ever end? I can’t take much more.” Difficulties and challenges are unavoidable in our human existence, but the beautiful thing is that there is a peace that surpasses all of our understanding (Philippians 4:7).

"to feel everything is to be human..."

The truth is, some days are just hard. Some weeks are hard and some seasons are hard. We were never promised an easy life. We weren’t promised that we would never know loss, or pain or trials. We will all eventually come across these things and they will be uncomfortable and even painful. There will be mornings that feel impossible to make yourself get up, days that you wish would just end, and seasons you can’t see your way out of. Friends, don’t distract yourselves. Don’t try to run from these things, because if you run it will eventually catch up with you. Don’t shove everything down so deep, because one day the place your stuffing will be too full to put a lid on. This is sure to leak out and one day explode causing a mess. Pain is apart of life and it can be excruciating. But it’s okay to be hurt, to be frustrated, to be sad, to be disappointed, to be lonely. To feel everything is to be human. Let yourself feel these things, validate them, scream, cry, get them out. Just don’t sit in them forever. If you don’t heal from things, they will follow you around the rest of your life causing seemingly undetectable destruction and chaos until it rises to the surface.

There will be moments when the voices in your head are louder than what's going on around you and you just want to shut them off. The worries, anxieties, fear and dark thoughts seem to loom over you like a thunder cloud. You may not have control over the feelings you are experiencing or the thoughts that enter your head, but you do have control over the thoughts that you choose to dwell on. If you dwell on your anxious thoughts, you will stay in a constant feeling of anxiousness. If you dwell on your worry, you will be consumed with the "what if's." If you dwell on the dark thoughts, then it becomes harder to let in the light. If you dwell on the lies, you start to believe the lies. Let me tell you something exciting. You are not stuck. You will not be in this place forever. You are not alone. You may not have the power to change your circumstances, but you do have the power to change your perspective. Better days are ahead of you. You may not be able to change what's behind you, but you can give yourself the grace to heal and move on.

You may never understand exactly why you face the trials you face, but know that you have a God who loves you and He has a plan. Sometimes the water’s not clear until the rain stops. Sometimes we have to stop flailing around, afraid that we’re going to drown and instead trust and just float awhile. To close our eyes and have child like faith. To accept the peace and hold onto it through life’s difficulties. True peace lies in knowing that God is in control. So friends, release the reigns, let go of the control and know that you will see better days. Im here to tell you that it won’t last forever. When you feel like you can’t go any longer, that’s exactly when you should keep going. Because you know what? You will find yourself a little different on the other side. A little more appreciative, and a whole lot stronger.

I wish you all love and peace.

Yours truly,

Bee xx