{Be Real} New Chapters
Over the past couple days I have said more goodbyes then I would like. With the school year coming, and with it new adventures, life is filled with a multitude of bittersweet moments. The air is static with excitement and anticipation, yet tainted by uncertainty, and loss. Old friends move away, and new friends start to appear. Moving out is absolutely terrifying to me, but I am so beyond excited to experience this new stage of life! It marks the end of a chapter, and is just the very beginning of a whole new adventure. I am so excited, and I cannot wait to see where God leads.
When I was a little girl, I couldn’t wait to grow up. I couldn’t wait to be a grown up! Someone who could make their own rules, do whatever they want, and just live life. But as the years have passed, and I became the age I wanted to be, I am finding out how much different life is then I expected.
Yes, I can make my own choices, but I see now that they do not effect just me. Yes, I can do whatever I want to, but that doesn’t mean that I should.
And just like being thankful for all the rules my parents made, I am thankful for all of the ways GOD has used my life, my adventures, my successes, and my losses to shape me; to mold me, and change me; to prepare me for every step ahead- even the ones that leave me breathless.
I know I quote this verse in Jeremiah a lot, but it is SO true.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
This passage in Jeremiah was directed at the Jewish people, after they had been exiled to Babylon. They were uprooted from their homes, from their lives, and forced to live with another group of people. One with a completely different culture, faith, and life then they had. Their lives were turned upside down.
and GOD says this to his children, the people of Israel:
“This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29: 10-14
So yes. The road ahead is rocky, scary, and uncertain. There will be more goodbyes, but plenty of hellos. And the GOD who made the universe, painted the lilies, created me and every person who has ever lived, and ever will… that same GOD has my back, and will guide me- and HE will guide you!
