I thought you needed to meet more Aggies, so today, I’ve asked my friend, Kristin to share a letter. While Kerry and I met as campers, Kristin and I met through Impact when we were both on staff. Then, along with our friend, Cara, we moved into a cute little house on Magnolia. It was a fun year. How could it not have been with a roommate as sweet as Kristin? I know you will find her words life-giving. They are precious words from a precious woman.
In her own words: Hi, I’m Kristin! I am a Texas girl currently residing in Nashville, TN with my chocolate lab Layla. I come from a large, loud and crazy family that I absolutely adore. I am learning to embrace the adventure that is life and be content with the season God has me in, whatever it may bring. I have found so much freedom through embracing the grace of God in my life and recently started a blog to reflect on that (Absent Father, Present God). It is my hope to encourage others by sharing the truths about God that I am currently learning and have learned in the past.
Dear Church,
I am here to tell you one simple thing: It’s okay not to be okay.
We so often get caught in the trap of believing we have to meet certain expectations just to be good enough for God. Many of us are under the impression that since we follow Jesus, everything in our lives should be without trouble, or we at least better make it look that way on the outside. We fear that if we show our faults, our struggles or our pain that we are somehow failing as a Christian. We make a checklist of items we believe make us worthy of His love and we present it to Him as if it is our ticket in to His divine presence.
Have we forgotten God’s grace? Have we forgotten the cross of Christ?
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-7
“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Do you struggle with anxiety? Grace abounds.
Do you feel like you have failed as a parent? Grace abounds.
Are you held captive by addiction? Grace abounds.
Are you paralyzed by fear? Grace abounds.
Do you doubt God? Grace abounds.
Do you have lustful thoughts? Grace abounds.
Do you have a need for control over your life? Grace abounds.
Whatever trial, struggle, pain you feel bound by right now: Grace abounds.
Let’s face it: life is messy. And we are flawed people living in an imperfect world. It’s inevitable that we will fall short. And that is okay. Following Christ does not mean we will have it easy. We will still face difficulty and pain and we will still struggle with sin. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
We do not have to be perfect. If we did, we wouldn’t need a savior. Our salvation does not give us a worry-free, sin-free life, but it does give us hope for peace in the midst of trials, grace that covers our sin and power for our weaknesses. Christ came that we may have abundant life, dare I say in spite of our mess. Cease striving and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10). Stop striving for perfection. Stop striving to cover up your mess. Let God do what only God can do. Allow Him to cover you in His grace.
It’s okay not to be okay.
Love,
K
Bedrocks & Borderlands 