“If I could speak honestly, it don’t feel good. But growing never does. It don’t seem fair for You to call this love. But if necessary pain is the ingredient for change, even when life may be bittersweet, it’s working just for me.” – Kirk Franklin

As a twenty something, I know you’ve felt overwhelmed at least a few times in your life. You may have felt overwhelmed by work deadlines, bill payments, school assignments, business plans, or even just what to eat for dinner. Likewise, I’m sure you’ve been overwhelmed by your dreams more than you can count. Think about it. How many times have you seen yourself in the position you desire, living a life that currently seems unattainable? How often do you space out from the real world and instead fill your mind with creative ideas and plans to propel your career? Despite your dreams and aspirations, admittedly, it can be a real disappointment to look around and see that life appears to be stagnant. While you’re sincerely grateful for what you have and who you currently are in this season, discontentment can still easily creep in when everything you dreamed about seems light years away. What do you do to cope? How do you endure when you don’t really see the light at the end of the tunnel?

This is me. Every morning, I wake up thinking about the hopes and dreams I have for my life. Despite my faith, the gaping holes between my now and my hope to be still feel overwhelming. Though I make attempts toward my goals, I find myself unsure and slow moving, not nearly as graceful as others around me seem to portray.  I hear tons of advice from family, friends, and spiritual leaders but still feel a void, wondering how, if, and when it’ll all apply to me. I feel tired by my exertion while simultaneously annoyed by my rest. I’m in the middle of this thing, trying to fight for the dream, while resistance around me taunts me to settle. The hike is all uphill and if I don’t make it to the top, I’ll succumb to the land of complacency. Overwhelmed.

I’ve recently been obsessed with Kirk Franklin’s new song “Just for Me”. He asserts and assures the necessity of the fight, of disappointments, and of dreams deferred. What I love most about the song is the declaration that everything is working out even though the process is tumultuous and unnerving. As a Christian, I’m often tempted to operate out of a false righteous strength during more overwhelming seasons. This “strength” disregards real hurt, pain, and disappointment and replaces it with a smile unaffected by affliction or heavy pruning. The strength asserts that everything going on is fine and dandy because in time, God will make it all better. Though it is true that God will make everything right in its time (Ecclesiastes 3), that doesn’t mean I enjoy the waiting and wondering. I’ve learned, especially during difficult times, the importance of being honest about your stress, worry, and weariness. God cares when you hurt. He doesn’t want you to try to figure it all out on your own. He isn’t interested in you being tough and unbothered. What He really wants is dependence. He wants you to lean on Him not just for direction but also for perspective and revelation. It is only when you rest in Him, away from your plans and schemes, that your mindset starts changing and you experience real strength.

God’s revelation and perspective will change your outlook on slow-moving and difficult times in your life. You will be able to admit how painful the feelings of insufficiency and inability are while simultaneously using those feelings as the motivation necessary to keep fighting for the dreams you know God placed down in you. You’ll acknowledge how tiring it is to constantly hike uphill yet still see the hike as an endurance builder, preparing you for the more you’ll have to conquer at your next level. Simply, you will no longer see yourself as a failure. You’ll see every struggle, every overwhelming moment, and every mistake as preparatory steps. You’ll realize that you had to go through those situations in order to become better equipped for when your time actually comes. Though overwhelming moments will continue to threaten your peace, the change in your perspective will be the way you push pass them and continue believing. Remember, God called you for His purpose. He will make sure it gets done. The key, then, is really to hold on and trust God’s timing with your life. You need to relax. You already know God works everything out for your good (Romans 8:28). You already know that God will give you everything you need to fulfill His purpose for your life (Philippians 1:6). Don’t give up. Your dreams are not in vain.

Its working out for you, twenty somethings 💕🙏🏾