It's an understatement to say I am not who I used to be. Changes in my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health all added to my overall wellness. My total being has been renewed, awakened and given a "new life"! I want that for you too, and it's waiting for you!!
As a child, teenager and young adult, I was shy, had low confidence, and relied on help a lot because I doubted my ability to do things right. I grew to become more confident and self-sufficient, but still thought that I had to "perform perfectly" to be up to the world's standards. Oh child!!! What I would go back and tell my young self! I've spent too many years making life harder than it should be.
Fast forward to becoming a wife, teacher, mother, fitness trainer, nutritional wellness consultant, and health blogger: I struggled through issues with each phase along with proud accomplishments. Controlled by emotions and fear I continued "working", tackling bigger goals to become more successful, accepted and satisfied. I mustered up all my strength to give my best effort to everything. But, years on this cycle were draining, and I was missing peace and purpose. I became exhausted in doing , and I couldn't keep up with the high demands of what I thought I needed to do. Have you ever gotten so overwhelmed by the daily grind of life?...follow this, act like that, take this next step. Which direction should I go? I was broken down, discouraged, and in need of guidance. I couldn't do all of this on my own, and the best news is... I wasn't supposed to!
I put so much unnecessary responsibility on myself, until I realized there was someone waiting to give me rest, lighten my load, and guide me towards the lighted path to take for my life. With the light, I could see clearly how to balance my priorities in all areas of my health which led to peace and hope. God is the light, but I needed to fully turn it on!!! What I mean is, I knew of God, but I didn't know His true character. The God I had envisioned was distant, up in the heavens, wanting me to follow all these rules as a "good person". The rules of religion blocked my awareness of the loving relationship God wanted me to have with Him as my Father.
Growing my relationship with God created a new me, and this gift is priceless! God offers me grace and love, and it's not due to my "works". The only "work" I had to do was to ask Jesus to live in my heart, apologize for my past sins, acknowledge He can control my life, and accept Him as my true savior. Jesus took on my sin at the cross, so I can have an eternal relationship with Him through my faith, not by any act I do. I have a fresh start (born again) and can live with reassurance that God is always with me and for me, leading me to His plan of working all out for good.
True faith is learning how to live in the full light! Accept that God loves you and wants to be close to you, and you'll experience a love so amazing it flows from within, a peace so wonderful that it fills every part of your being, and a joy that can't be expressed and doesn't depend on circumstances. Knowing I have Christ in me gives me tremendous hope and confidence. Yes, God allows difficult trials, but His purpose is never to break or discourage us. He tests us to reveal what is inside of our hearts or what is lacking. This is how God creates a deep awareness of our need for Him. We were never meant to do it alone. Jesus is my constant source of encouragement. His word gives us the spiritual food we need.
Life is tough, but we have so much hope walking with a living God who never quits on us. Looking back, I see His faithfulness throughout good times and bad.
Let's choose to depend on God, keep going towards the light and experience more strength for whatever our next steps will be. Let's live in a living hope filled with light, not darkness!!
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