we're not getting any younger

Confession . . .

I generally roll out of bed with one of three thoughts in my head:

1) EWW it's 5:15.
2) *Ugh* I am so fat (if I ate "bad" the night before)
3) :) I feel well-rested. Now what? (and then I feel bored)

Are any of these really glorifying to God? Not that I think I should roll out of bed with sunshine coming out of my . . . well. But the attitude that I wake up with can really impact the way the whole day is going to roll out.

If I wake up on a day like today, where I don't really have to be anywhere until tonight and feel bored, I start to question my life.

I'm not getting any younger! I feel bored. Where is my life going? Am I actually doing anything with my life? What should I be doing today? Oh my gosh, 26 years old. Is my life where it should be? I have no clue what the future holds, and most of the time I don't want to think about it . . . but I'm not getting any younger. I feel like every day should be filled with purpose. Or at least I should be trying to figure out what the rest of my life is going to look like. What if I never get married and have a family? Will my life still have purpose? Is it OK for me to be this excited over new Nike pants? These are real questions, people.

But then I remember what Paul writes in Philippians:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
-Philippians 4:4-9

What's that? Rejoice when my life feels like it's going somewhere? Rejoice when I am happy with my life - when I feel useful, productive and happy with myself? Rejoice when I'm having a good day?

No . . . Rejoice in the Lord, Paul says. Rejoice in Him, no matter what your circumstances are! On the days that I'm bored, the days that I'm struggling, the days that I'm depressed, the days where my life seems so empty of purpose or direction, and yes, even the days that I feel fat. (that was me trying to be funny).

Because in Christ, we have something that circumstances cannot touch. We have the love of God, we have salvation, we have the promise of a compassionate God who is going to walk with us and hold us throughout life - no matter what lies ahead. To trust in Him, that He knows what He's doing, and since He's the God of my salvation, I can trust Him with my life . . . even if that means I stay single, or if I cannot make sense of the future . . . or if all I do today is dance around in my Nike pants and make 10 pans of rice krispy treats.