Take a moment

Everything's flying past and the stress levels are mounting. You probably even don't have time to read this (I definitely don't have time to write it!). You just want to go crawl in a hole and cry yourself to sleep; maybe things will work out and be better when you wake up.
Do yourself a favor: take three deep breaths. Drop everything, shut your eyes, and take three deep breaths. Lean into the fact that you are loved, and that God will not send you into a situation that you can't take on and survive (with His help, of course). Trust that peace. Maybe things won't end as you hoped or planned, but everything will be alright in the end. If it's not ok, it's not over yet.
Breathe. Let go. Inhale, exhale.  Your life is a crazy and beautiful thing. Just don't get so deep into the crazy that you lose sight of the beautiful.
While your eyes are shut, take a moment to thank God (even if you've never talked to Him before and feel crazy doing so) for just three things today. Maybe they were challenges or times people forgave you or just seeing a flower next to the sidewalk. It's just between you two.
Breathe and trust His Peace. You're gonna be ok.

1 Corinthians 10:13  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Prayers and love,

Lauren

Who I am is not my relationship status

One of the things about my generation that blows my mind is how we determine a relationship's seriousness and sincerity by how it comes across on Facebook, especially via the infamous relationship status. If something isn't "FB official" we doubt the commitment level and whether the two people can handle having the world know.


In truth, some of us just don't think it's needed to post about our little lives constantly. If you want to know where I stand, ask me. I'm not condemning Facebook or using it to keep up with others. But I also don't think we should assume where anyone stands based off of posting online in any medium.


See, it goes like this. I'm not worth anything because of who I know, what I say, or what I do. That feels like pretty basic head-nodding material, but think about it. What you do and say means nothing if you do it for and by yourself. Essentially, I am worthless without Christ.


And in Him, I am worth everything.


Whether Facebook or anything else says I'm in a relationship or single, it doesn't matter. That doesn't make me worth anything more or less. Even if I AM dating someone, that still doesn't change my identity at it's purest and most raw level. I am loved and beautiful and freed and a dancing daughter of the King because He made me so, not because he made me so. If you catch my drift.


If not, let me break it down for you. God is the only one who gets say in my worth. If any boy (or girl) calls me beautiful or valued or sweet, they're certainly right, but not because they said it. Little he (boy and/or man) can certainly speak worth to me, but his approval or lack thereof doesn't change me one iota. Sorry, boys. Big He (Daddy/God) says I'm all that and more. He gets to say that, see, He kinda made me like that. Can't argue with how I'm made.


You tracking? If not, email me. I'm pretty sure my email is somewhere on this page...


My point is this: because I am everything in Christ, I am free to relate to people. If I run into people (boys particularly) and date or not, that's cool. I just am looking to share life. Whether or not we're dating or "FB official" or at whatever marker that says how committed we are doesn't really matter to me. As long as we're happy, we're just gonna go for it. The last thing I want to do is ever shape a relationship because of how I'll have to explain it or how people will think of it.


"In Christ alone, my hope is found."
May that be true in all our lives.


All my love,
Lauren