“A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” John 10:10
Sometimes my Dad decides to send a family group text and include his morning devotion. August 25th, my birthday, he sent this message to us. I saved it on my phone because it was strangely relatable to a lot of conversations I’ve been having with friends lately. I used to try doing the morning devotional routine, but then I figured out that I’m 100% not a morning person and I would just fall back asleep after 30 seconds of reading… maybe someday I’ll get there. Lately, I’ve been finding that a lot of my spirituality comes out in my writing, so here’s an unexpected message I thought I would share with you all.
“If you are not experiencing love, joy, and peace, you have settled for less than what God intends for you. If you have been making excuses for why you are not experiencing an abundant and joyful life, determine today to settle for nothing less than God’s best for your life. Stop following the world’s way of finding satisfaction. Instead, listen to the Savior’s voice, and you will find true fulfillment.”
Your 20’s can be weird, right? Once you’re out of college, it’s like………… huh? What is life? Or maybe you’re still finishing college, or maybe you decided not to go to college… either way, it can feel weird. Overwhelming interviews, figuring out where to live, the pressure to do this and that, finding what you’re meant to do, comparing yourself to friends, deciding whether to get married or not to get married, discovering everything you dislike about your job or where you live, feeling alone, feeling confused, and feeling unfulfilled. This doesn’t just go for those of you in your 20’s of course, but I’m 25, so I’m speaking from my point of view and based on some of my experiences.
I get all of these feelings and obstacles, and I think we ALL do to a certain extent. Most of us have been there, done that… if not, it’s going to happen sooner or later. These struggles last longer for some more than others, because we are all different no matter how close in age we might be. I’ve been hearing the same thing from friends over and over. To sum it up, they’re feeling unfulfilled and they know there is more for them somewhere out there- but they don’t know what, when, where, or how to get there!
It’s easy to feel discouraged when you’re confused about what you’re doing, where you’re living, or maybe even who you’re with. Maybe this means it’s time to find your courage and make a change. Or maybe this means it’s time to simply look at your life differently. Whatever it is that needs to happen and whatever you are confused about, does not have to lead you to feelings of unfulfillment, sadness, or anger. It doesn’t mean you can’t be joyful and thankful throughout the process. It does not mean you should settle for less than what God has intended for you. Let’s try to not make excuses and, instead, open our hearts to an abundant life. Instead of listening to the world and what society says, take a moment to listen to the silence. Be with yourself in peace and listen. You will find your answers and you will open the path to living an abundant life.
Eli and I love Trevor Hall- there is a peaceful and calming feeling that comes over us when we listen to his songs. His “Chapter of the Forest” album is especially our favorite. One of my favorite songs on the album is “Green Mountain State” and it says “there’s a way, there’s a way. there’s a way…and there is always.”
There is always a way. Always a way in and a way out. Choose joy. Choose fulfillment. It can take time and effort, but just remember that you are intended to live an abundant life.
If you enjoyed this post, you might be interested in some of my other blogs!