For Weary Women in a World of Opporutnity
--Desiring God, March 2020
Being
a college/grad student with a double major in Communications and Sports,
Outdoor Recreation, and Tourism, pursuing an MBA, and NCAA athletic experience
may seem like the most wonderful way to have endless doors open--which it is--I
feel this message on a very personal and timely level. Don't get me wrong, I love the
areas I am qualified in and feel so called to continue using them to share
God's power with others in daily life, but when people ask me what I want to do
when I graduate, I never have a good answer. I am always working on stuff, always seeing
things I would love to do, but there is no clear path right now. Opportunity is
wonderful, but it can also be very nerve-wracking.
Think of how much greater our opportunities as women today are (and ever-expanding) compared to our grandparents and even parents. What a time to be a woman! Yet, we are still so often depressed, stressed, and not living the lives we dreamed of as little girls. We display a good life on the outside--matching outfits, decorations, being in nature, pets, family and friends, fancy coffee, you know...but really, we're exhausted. (That's me, too!! Not going to hide it!)
Culture's messages to empower women are great in theory--You go girl! You can do it all! Boss Babe mentality. Get that perfect man! You don't need no man! (wait what?) Often, we take it too far. We do try to do it, go us, but we try more than we trust. More personal strength than powerful spirit. Then we crash. Girl power can only get you so far. Girls also tend to have mental breakdowns, as I can attest.
By
all means feel empowered! Believe in yourself! But we should be believing in
ourselves because God is within us. "God is within her; she will not fall.
God will help her at the break of day." Psalm 46:5. Culture also says that
"You are enough," but as a Christian, on our own, we aren't
enough.
When
we put our identity in that life we display, we crash when it fails. And it
will at times. But God never will. However, when we are downcast, it draws us
to look up. "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Put your hope in God. For I
will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:5. The only way to
find true, lasting joy and satisfaction in life is to turn your heart away from
your selfish pursuits and to God. If I let my ambitions to have a great race,
buy the perfect gift, get all my homework done a day early, and post my
favorite things on instagram dictate whether or not I am productive or
successful, you bet I'm going to have an abundance of rough days. Shoot, I
struggle to get to bed before midnight as it is. But when I make myself stop,
breathe, and rest in the fact that God just wants me to trust Him and work for
Him, I don't have to put on a display of my skills, just a display of my
spirit. You can't go wrong that way. No one can take it from you, and it is
forever protected by the Lord. While a race, hobby, boyfriend, or grade may bring you a
reward on earth, a faithful spirit will bring you both joy and purpose on earth
as well as eternity.
So
take these wonderful opportunities to be a woman in this world and
use them for God's glory. Even in uncertainty, we know we have new mercies and
new opportunities every day. Take it one day at a time and look for how God is
opening doors right in front of you.
"The
thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but I have come that you may have
life and have it to the full." John 10:10
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