When you look in the mirror, what do you see? I remember when I was in high school, my self esteem was so low, anyone could step over it. One thing I will never forget during that time, was that almost every morning when I was getting ready for school, I would look in the mirror and start crying. I felt like garbage, and in my reflection I felt that there was no one more ugly and more worthless than me. There were times when I would cry out to God, telling him to take me because I hated myself and I hated my life. I was not happy with anything. I felt incomplete. Can you relate to what I'm talking about? But if we take a look in Ephesians 2:10, it goes against how we should be feeling. "For we are God's masterpiece He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago". If we are God's masterpiece, then why should we feel this way? If you take this verse and plant it in your heart and ask God to make you this masterpiece, then next time you look in the mirror you will see the person God created you to be. : ) Remember, God doesn't make garbage.
I was planning to write about something else today, but God put in my heart to talk about this area. I have seen and heard many youth go through bullying, suicide, and cutting.
For those who do not know Jesus yet, I understand and we must keep them in prayer. However, what gives me a big indignation are those who go through what this young lady went through, when they know about Jesus.
Many people cut themselves because they have depression, they feel empty, they are going through so many things, so many emotions and they use their body to take out those emotions. No matter how many times you hurt yourself, the problem, the things you are feeling or going through wont go away. The only thing you gain from hurting yourself is leaving scars on your body, which will remind you even more about your problems because you will see them every time you look in the mirror.
Most importantly, you are putting your life and your salvation at risk. Yes, I said it. A lot of youth and even adults get scared about the topic of salvation. However, no matter how uncomfortable it makes you feel, it is something we have to think about everyday. It is like the people who don't like the word "devil". Even if they don't like it or pretend he does not exist. He does. People decide whether or not accept the truth or remain ignorant.
Earlier, I was writing that I had an indignation for those who cut themselves, when they know about Jesus. You want to know why? The reason is because if you know about Jesus, then you know that He is the only one who can free you from this addiction or bad habit. Every time you hurt yourself the devil is right there cheering you on to continue doing it. Telling you that it will take the pain away.
Jesus is also there too. He is right there telling you "Come to me". "You don't need to suffer, I already paid the price for you". Jesus is always there with open arms ready to receive and accept you just the way you are. He died for you knowing you were going to sin today. He loves you so much, yet many youth decide to give ears to devil instead.
Only Jesus can free you and fill you. No boyfriend/girlfriend, fancy electronic, friends, nothing will be able to help you. Trust me, I know. No matter how much people try to talk to you, and say they understand, they don't.
Run to Jesus and He will be the mom, the dad, the friend, everything that you need.
A few days ago, I was meditating about what the Pastor said during the last weeks of 2012. He was talking about Perseverance. This week I was thinking about his words and also about drug addicts. These people, many times, persevere more than we do. Let me explain how. When a drug addict wants their drug, they are willing to do anything to get it. They don't let anything or anyone stop them from what they want. If they have to displease their family, sell all they have, beg for money, travel miles, they will do it without thinking twice. This perseverance applies to every area of our lives. Many times after one prayer we give up. Many times we say we want something from God, but when things get hard we put excuses and give up. Wow, imagine how our lives would be if we had this perseverance with God? Imagine if we treated the Holy Spirit like our drug? If we were willing to do go against anything and anyone to have Him inside of us? Our lives would be transformed. Many people say they want their family transformed, they want a job, they want to be healed, they want to find the right person to marry, they want the Holy Spirit, but in reality, they don't. Why? Because our actions don't show it. We say we want something but were not willing to persevere. Before anything else, we need God flowing inside of us. Even if you have the perfect family, the love of your life, a wonderful career, if you do not have God, you have nothing. You will never be satisfied. You will always feel that something is missing.It all breaks down to this verse:
John 6.27
"Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.”
Let's continue from part 1. So, my friend was completely stressed out because their was a possibility she was pregnant. I was very upset emotionally seeing him so worried, but I could not fix what was done. So, what happened? The next day in our math class, he was very happy. I asked him, if his girlfriend was OK and he responded "Yes!" with a big smile. He was so happy. He told me right away that she was pregnant and that he was so happy that they would have a baby together. I was completely surprised that he was so excited. In my mind I was thinking to myself, "He doesn't have a clue what he has gotten himself into".
Months passed by and I graduated from high school and I did not hear from him anymore. A few years passed by, and I ran into him unexpectedly on a random day at the store. I was very pleased to see him again and I asked him; how he was doing, how is girlfriend was doing, etc. He told me with an upset voice, "Claudia, you were right." I asked him what he meant by that. He explained that since I graduated high school, life has been very hard on him. He told me that he had to drop out of high school and find a good job to support the baby. He also ended up breaking up with his girlfriend because she showed a new side of her. She was very moody, easily upset, in simple words she was not his other half. They split up and right now he is paying child support, which has been really hard on him and his ex-mother-in-law has been making his life impossible. Imagine?
Why am I sharing this experience with you today? Is it so you can know the life of my friends? No. I wanted to share this experience to show you that one decision can truly change your life. Imagine if he would have waited on God. His life would have been very different from today. He would have graduated from high school, went to college, started his career, got married to the right person and have all the kids he wanted. But, he decided to listen to his heart and act without thinking.
If God has been speaking to you about a decision you have to make, don't think twice. God's will may be difficult at first (trust me I know), you may even shed tears, but when we wait on God, we will cry now and be happy later. I dont mean happy for a a few years, but for the rest of your life. It breaks down to these two verses:
Galatians 6:7-8
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
I wanted to share an experience that happened to one of my best friends in high school. He was 16 years old and in high school when this happened. My friend fell in love with a girl. She was pretty and and he always told me she was his other half. Every day in school he would talk to me about her. He would tell me how much he loved her, that he wanted to marry her already, and have a family with her. I will never forget how his eyes lit up every time he talked about her. So, what happened? One day in our algebra class, he told me this, "Claudia, look here is a picture of her. Isn't she beautiful?" "I decided this is the person I am going to marry". "She and I were talking and we really want to have a baby together". When he mentioned the baby part, I stopped him. I told him, "having a baby is beautiful thing. A baby is a gift from God, but right now you are in high school and so is she. Right now, focus on yourselves, finish school, get a job, plan your careers for the future, and at the right moment get married and have all the kids you want. He nodded to what I had told him, but I could see in his eyes that what I said went in one ear and came out the other. Weeks passed by and one day in our class, he looked so worried and kept checking on his phone. I asked him, "What's going on? Your not the same lately". He told me, "Claudia, I am very worried. My girlfriend has been throwing up a lot lately and she looks very sick. Right now she is at the doctor's to find out what is going on". After he told me that, I hit the palm of my hand on my forehead and said, "please don't tell me...". He stopped me and said, "Claudia, I think she is pregnant".
Although, many of us have seen this or another version of this video several times, it amazes me every time. Many are the youth who start to have an interest in Jesus or in having a relationship with Him, however, the devil does not accept. The devil studies each of us since we our young, and at the right moment he places our weakness in our path so we can be mislead. For many young women, the devil uses a man to pull us away from God. We end up giving our heart and attention to the wrong person. For other youths, the devil puts music, women, bad friendships, greed, etc. to separate us from God. However, just like in the video clip, Jesus will always be there when we are ready to run back to Him. Sometimes we have to be at the bottom of the pit, suffer with an emptiness that no one or nothing can fill, or even be at the point of taking away our own life, to realize who we really need. Don't wait until then, because we never know the day of tomorrow.
This story is very strong and one of my favourites from the Bible. The reason I love this story so much, because it shows us how much God truly loves us. Many times we leave the presence of God because we prefer something or someone else over him, only to find out in the end that He was the only one we really needed. I have never drank alcohol, smoked, gone to a party or club, but my problem was something very serious. I had an emptiness. This emptiness was not satisfied with anything nor anyone. I had lots of "friends" around me all the time, but I always felt so alone. I always felt like something was missing. I would always have a big smile on my face and everyone said I was very cheerful, but inside I was depressed. Many nights I would be in my room crying myself to sleep, not knowing why. I would cry in the shower, so no one could hear me. I was always sad inside, no matter if I was at home, at school, or out somewhere. I never understood why. However, God used a Pastor to show me that God is the only one who can fill my emptiness. There is only one way for you to find out if this is true. Go out, just as the prodigal son did, search for your answer by knocking on many doors and you will see for yourself. You can be with the man or woman of your dreams, you can have riches, friends, everything you ever dreamed of, but you will always feel like something is missing. And even though many of us leave Jesus for the last option, He will be there with open arms, when you are ready to come home.
