Hey there, little sister!
You are in a wonderful season of life. God is revealing Himself to you and unveiling you to you during these years. What I mean by that is that you are coming to know Him in a more personal way and beginning to recognize and understand some of the sacred purposes for which you were created.
Looking back, there are a few things I would tell my much younger self that I want to tell you now. If you will grab hold of these lessons early, they will help you to enjoy and maximize the journey.
First, there is a unique package of combinations—your gender as a woman, your race and culture, the way your body is made and the way your hair curls, the way your favorite ideas and interests intersect, the good and bad experiences you’ve had, and even the weaknesses you carry around inside you—God has planned for a specific reason. A holy reason. In His infinite grace and wisdom, He sovereignly knit you together because you provide Him a one-of-a-kind outlet for showing His grace and greatness to everyone who sees you.
I wish I would have rested in this truth earlier in my life.
Instead, I often felt compelled to copy others or downplay my own distinctiveness. In doing so, I was missing out on the freedom of being who God created me to be, and others were missing out on the uniqueness that I was meant to bring to the spaces I entered. It wasn’t until I was a bit older that I realized that I was never meant to sound like anyone else or have the exact same ideas. I wasn’t supposed to wear my hair the same or fit into the same size. I wasn’t supposed to pretend that I shared the exact same experiences or enjoyed the same activities. No. God intended to allow those around me to experience His creative genius as it was expressed through me. The real me.
And the same is true for you.
Second, and this is important: do hard things! Some of the best things that have ever happened to me have been on the other side of the hard, difficult, demanding, tough and often intimidating tasks that I didn’t feel like doing at the time. But looking back, those moments when I felt most intimidated or unqualified, or that required more discipline and consistency than I wanted to give, were the instances when I experienced a surge in growth, opportunities or vision that launched me into my future. When I required myself (or my parents required me) to show up on time, stay up late, get up early, study, learn, exercise, or implement restraint, I was rewarded in some critical way that shaped my life. If I’d chosen to run from the hard thing instead of facing it, I would have missed something important for my future. But each time I pushed past comfort, my character was shaped, my mental acumen developed, an important relationship formed or a door opened that catapulted me forward. Caving to fear or limiting myself to illegitimate restraints set by others would have kept me from being surprised by what God could do through me. I also wouldn’t have developed the wonderful confidence that is created when you find out that you are actually capable. It wasn’t until much later in my life that I realized this important life principle: comfort can be your worst enemy if you let it govern your decisions. Which leads to the last little lesson I want to share with you:
Stretch! Literally and figuratively.
I’ve always been a physically active person. I’ve was a gymnast in my elementary years, an athlete in my teenager years, and habitually practiced other forms of exercise, like jogging and weight lifting, in my twenties and thirties. It wasn’t until I reached my forties that I realized I had neglected one of the most important activities for overall health. Stretching. Doing high-octane workouts that focused on burning calories and keeping my weight low felt more important than keeping my flexibility high. I wanted to accelerate my metabolism, produce sweat, burn fuel, and keep my favorite jeans fitting just right! I rarely took the time to stretch.
Didn’t see the need.
Seemed boring and unproductive.
Not a priority.
Didn’t have the time.
I didn’t realize the unseen toll that those years of neglect were having on me. Without an intentional focus on stretching, certain muscles were becoming stiff and rigid and as I got older, the lack of agility was rippling into my joints, making them tight, limiting my movement, and producing unnecessary pain.
So, little sister, keep stretching your physical body. It will thank you later.
And so will your soul.
When you stretch yourself in every area of your life—mentally, spiritually, and emotionally—you resist the rigidity and stiffness that can make life much less enjoyable. Routinely require yourself to do the very thing that is just a few degrees beyond what is easy and comfortable. Extend yourself into new arenas, dimensions and spheres that seem beyond you right now. Learn something new. Engage in an uncomfortable conversation. Hone a new skill. Develop a neglected passion. Meet a different person. Don’t let complacency or comfort take over and make you inflexible and static. Keep growing and reaching.
You have this one life to live and honor God with.
Do it with all of your might and have fun while you’re at it!
Sending you so much love for the journey ahead!
Your cheerleader,
Auntie Priscilla
Learn more from Priscilla Shirer and experience the truth of Scripture and power of prayer at a Going Beyond event. Join us! Plus, discover why we love Going Beyond events.
