So today is my 29th birthday!!! I can’t believe I have reached the final year of my 20’s…eeeeekkkkk!!!!
I am so thankful for this day and my heart is filled with so much gratitude as I look back at God’s goodness towards me! However, I wanted to write this blog post as it hasn’t always been a “happy birthday".
Last year on my birthday I was miserable! So miserable that I almost refused to go out with my friends and family that day. I had a bad case of the birthday blues and it all stemmed from feelings of discontent and inadequacy. I kept on thinking to myself “I am 28 years old and I haven’t done this and that”, “Most people my age are in such and such a position”, “It’s too late for me to do this now”, “I feel like a failure”.
Honestly! All these thoughts were running through my mind and I genuinely believed them to be true.
Have you ever felt this way? Not just on your birthday but any day?
I just want to encourage you....
When we feel like this God calls to our hearts to come to him for perspective.
Why?
Because most of the time some of these thoughts are based upon unrealistic expectations we put on ourselves, and unfortunately these expectations often don’t line up with our current reality.
Let me give an example...
One of the things I was really down about last year was not having massive savings. I believed a lot of people my age had enough savings to buy a house or to help them out in a huge emergency…..but that wasn’t me.
When speaking with a friend about it she reminded me that I can’t compare my situation to others. She said “Daisy, I can afford to put loads of money away in my savings account as I still live with my parents, I don’t pay any rent or bills and I walk to work etc. You on the other hand, don’t live with your parents, you have your own place and you pay for everything yourself so it’s natural that you won’t always have huge amounts of money to put towards savings after you’ve met essentials."
Can you see what I mean about perspective?
Don’t be so hard on yourself! Don’t compare your life or current situation to others, or the standards of society or whatever else…take your problem to the Lord and ask for some perspective and a reality check.
I have truly gained perspective in this area and now my whole approach and altitude has changed. Now instead of feeling sad about my lack of savings I just save as much as I can and trust in the Lord. God is always providing so I need to remember that my hope is in him and not in my savings account.
So if you ever have a case of the birthday blues or just life blues in general, take some time out with the lord to work through these concerns and ask him to show you the reality alongside his will for you.
You may feel like you’re well into your 30’s and not married yet….
Ask the Lord to show you your heart, are you feeling this way because your friends are all getting married? Are you even ready for marriage? Are your ideals of marriage in line with what the bible teaches? Where does the idea come from that being single in your 30’s is a bad thing? Is this what the bible teaches?
You may feel like you hate your job and just want better opportunities….
Are you being faithful even now in your current job, or are you doing just enough to get by? Are you actively doing things that put yourself in a position to be available for better opportunities? Are you proactive in seeking for opportunities? Don’t expect anyone to approach you, sometimes you have to put yourself forward and make it known you are available for opportunities and further development.
You may feel like you're far from God and your Christian walk is not what it used to be…
How is your devotional life? Where is your heart? What is filling up your time and especially your mind? Are you engaging in things or hanging around with people who are drawing you away from God? Do you renew your mind daily with the word of God? Remember you can’t live off of last week’s bible study.
At the end of my birthday last year (after spending the evening with my friends and family *smiles*) I remember going to bed with the lesson that life doesn’t always work out the way we want it to, and things don’t always work out according to the way we have mapped it out or the timings we have set forth, however we can rest assured and have full confidence in God as he has promised to direct our path.
Here are some scriptures of encouragement
Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 37: 4-5
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Psalm 3: 5-6
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps
Proverbs 16: 9
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11
Yes, so no birthday blues today, just pure and utter gratitude and overflowing love.
Love, your girl forever,
♥ Miss Daisy ♥
