by Martha June

Dear Younger Me,

From a young age you are going to have an idea and a plan for your life. Do not give up on your dreams, but know plans change. Be okay with that. Embrace the change.

The change you will experience? You will be better for it.

People will expect you to make decisions about your future, make decisions, based on prayer, for you, not them. Do not let their expectations steal your current moments away from you. Focusing on the future too much will only cause you to miss what is right in front of you.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” Matthew 6:34 (The Message)

There will be times when you are lonely.

You will be physically alone sometimes…

But please cling to this;

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angles nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior; I give Egypt for your ransom , Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you…” Isaiah 43:1-4

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:16-19

We live in an imperfect world, so do not set a standard of perfection for yourself.

It will steal your joy.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24

Friends will come and go, this is a part of growth, theirs and yours.

Please do not expect perfection from them either.

Grace is a beautiful gift from God.

Extend it freely with others, like God extended it to you.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:8-10

When friends come and go, whether it is in the coming or going, make sure you love them well. If not for their sake, do it for the Lord. Loving them will change you. There can be no bitterness in love.

“And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

And when you get to your teenage years?

When you have the opportunity to reflect on your “awkward stage”, do not be ashamed of who you were.

Do not be embarrassed by her.

Because while she wore tie-dye shirts, cargo pants, nerdy glasses, and had physical attributes you may be tempted to cringe at, she was growing.

That girl was seeking the Lord, that girl was embracing a part of herself in a beautiful way.

That awkward “late bloomer” had eyes for the beauty in God’s creation, and that girl? Would be so proud to see where you are now. If you are not careful, you will lose her in favor of pleasing those around you. Do not let the world change you. Let the Lord do that.

There was also a positive that came out of that stage you can celebrate…

You learned that cargo pants served you for a season, and you do not have to stay stuck in 2009.

“For you created my inmost being: you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14

Another thing,

Your sisters (and brother) will one day be your best friends.

It would work in your favor to get over your oldest pride and superiority and treat them like the treasures they are.

Friends outside of your house are great, but you will have your siblings forever.

p.s. you will gain three more in nine months.

gear up.

Lastly,

seek the Lord first.

let him take the parts of your heart that you have held onto.

Every bitter hurt, every rejection, every prideful moment, give them to Jesus. And please, please, please, seek his heart.

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

Don’t take yourself so seriously.

Laugh a lot along the way.

You will thank yourself later.

Sincerely,

20 year old you.

p.p.s you will live out of the country someday.

I thought you would like a heads up.