I live in a constant struggle between enjoying the present, but simultaneously fearing the unknown of what the future holds. I might be hanging out with some of my friends, or spending time outdoors, and suddenly I am struck with anxiety-inducing terror because I don’t know where I will be, or what I will be doing, in 5 years, 5 months, or even 5 minutes. I could formulate the perfect plan of events, my ideal situation — but the reality is, predicting the future is impossible (give the girl an award for this amazing revelation) …
Recently, my heart has felt heavy. It seems like the weight of the world is pressing down on my chest. Some days, it’s hard to find a reason to get out of bed. It’s even harder to go to school, or go to work, and pretend to be happy when all I want to do is cry. The thing is, there are so many silent pressures within society, especially for young women. I hear a lot of comments from people saying, “Margo, how are you just so nice and bubbly all the time?” or, “Do you already have your life figured out?” or, “You’re 18 now, you’ll have a lot of responsibilities!” and these are totally false expectations. It’s important to also remember that every single person goes through sad times; no one truly knows what they’re doing either.
Jeremiah 29:11 is such a simple, yet beautiful Bible verse — ‘“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”‘
Let me tell you that you don’t have to be perfect. Everything will be so good, so soon. Just hang in there and don’t worry about it too much!
After taking a little time to reflect on how much I have grown over the past few months, I was reminded that personal growth is always there and it doesn’t need to be incredibly life-changing to hold significance… Whether you finished your exams, gained new interests, got a different job, or even became more empathetic towards yourself, you are growing in every way and these events often lead to very bright things.
The burden of pressures and worries about my future is not mine to carry. This means I should take every opportunity that I have, to live a purposeful life without these heavy burdens and pointless anxieties. I am learning how to become a woman who is in love with each breath she takes, and works to empower others to feel the same.
For today, and for the rest of my days, I choose to enjoy the present and let Him handle the rest.
AUTHOR: Margaret Graham, is part of the NSW conference.
BLOG: Daily Margo – (https://dailymargo.blogspot.com/)