Our culture tells us as long as we look a certain way, talk just right, and act like everyone else, then we have 'made it'. What a lie! You were created for so much more than the day to day hustle and bustle. You were created for more than the fleeting things of this world. I love what Jeremiah 1 tells us,
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." - Jeremiah 1:5
Before you were formed in your mothers womb God already knew you and had a plan and purpose marked out for your life. How amazing is that?! The creator of the universe knows your name and everything about you and he loves you with an everlasting love. Scripture tells us, there is nowhere we can run to to escape His love. I don't know about you, but that excites me!
The idea that it doesn't matter what we have done or what our pasts look like, God still loves us and sent His one and only Son to die in our place. Wow! I mean come on that's amazing! He took all of our sin and shame upon Himself, so that we could have life and life abundantly. Scripture is full of reminders of just how loved we are by God and the truth of the who He created us to be.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." -Ephesians 2:10
Jumping back into the old testament, Proverbs tells us;
"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." - Proverbs 19:21
Then going back to Jeremiah, we are once again reminded that we were created by God, for God with a unique plan for each of our lives.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." - Jeremiah 29:11
His plans for you are good! Something I have been having to learn and remind myself lately is that it is okay to not always know what you're going to do next. It's okay to not have everything together all the time, this is something I have really struggled with. I'm one of those people who likes to have a set schedule or idea planned out. Know when I need to be here, when I need to get this done or that done. When that schedule is thrown off, so am I.
Over the last well, four years my life has continued to be thrown off with seemingly one thing after another. First cancer, then beating it and having to learn how to walk properly again, to finding myself in the middle of a pandemic and all the unknowns that came with it. Add in being a full time college student and life has been pretty crazy, but in the midst of it all there has also been so many beautiful moments and memories made I will cherish forever.
In all the craziness of the last few years, I have been constantly reminded of the faithfulness and mercy of our God. There is a song with a powerful reminder in the second verse that tells us, 'you hold my every moment, you calm my raging seas, you walk with me through fire and heal all my disease. I trust in you'. I often used this song as a reminder that I was never alone even on those darkest days, when nothing made sense and I was at my lowest.
Even in the dark there is nothing that can keep the light from shinning.
No matter the season you are walking through, God has a plan and purpose marked out for your life. He calls you chosen, not forsaken, a child of God! I love the reminder John gives us in Revelation 4,
"Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." -Revelation 4:11
Friends, you were created for so much more than you can even begin to imagine. God has a plan and purpose marked out for your life and I am so thankful I get to be even just a small part of it. I mentioned earlier that even in the midst of all the struggles of the last few years there has been so many beautiful things as well. One of those was getting to open up and share more with you.
All the craziness that kept us locked in, provided an opportunity to lift up the name of Jesus in a way I had been afraid to for some time. Man, has it been worth it though. Getting to see more and more of you respond to the gospel message and tune in, If you would have told me over six years ago when I started this ministry that I would be making videos and still writing weekly I honestly probably would not have believed you. Our God is so good friends!
I'll leave you with one final scripture today,
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matthew 28:19-20
You were created for so much more than you can imagine!
Much love friends,
Alianna