What Has God Given You?

Hi! Happy New Year! I LOVE everything about the new year, especially NYE — everything from the extravagant outfits, playing New Years Day by Taylor Swift the morning after, and all the blurry pictures and champagne soaked table cloths. My love for NYE doesn’t stop there, and this may be controversial but I LOVE THE RESOLUTIONS!!!! I know we all roll our eyes at every Pinterest 2022 goals template but the idea of having a concrete start date for self improvement and clean slate is so appealing. But the thing is, nobody ever really keeps their resolutions, right? If you have, Venmo request me a dollar because that is so impressive and you deserve it. Anyways, what mostly happens is we get wrapped up. Wrapped up in the excuses, wrapped up in the discouraging spiral of comparison, wrapped up in what’s easy. It’s just like what I’ve been doing for the past week. I started this post on the 30th hoping to have it coming out on NYE just before everyone heads out for the night. But, every time a free hour presented itself, I reached for Beach Read (fabulous book by the way & I don’t even read?!!!). But you see what I’m saying? I reach for the book because it’s easy, sitting here and writing — trying to come up with the right words and correct grammar in a way that’s relatable and makes sense?! It’s not easy. I get all these ideas for posts and I feel great about it, but I never start them because what if it’s not good and I can’t string together the sentences like I’d hoped? I’ve done this with most of my resolutions. Reached for what was easy instead of getting uncomfortable. But what I’ve found in the past year, what’s easy isn’t fulfilling. Reading that book, this post was always in the back of my mind. It’s like every soccer coach I have ever had said, “if it doesn’t challenge you, then it won’t change you.” And if we aren’t even changing ourselves, how are we going to help anyone else? We’re called for more, to do what pushes us!

The same is true with what we decide to do with our lives. Being in college the nauseating question that everyone hates answering “So what are you going to do after college?”. This question used to literally send me into orbit because I had so many dreams and plans but never took any steps toward them because I thought I needed to have a lot to do a lot. I thought I needed to be known to make him known. I was overcomplicating it.

God gives you natural talents and strengths. I quickly found that writing was one of mine. It was when I felt the most like myself and a way that I could help people which is the end goal with anything right?! For those of you struggling with finding “your purpose” or what comes next, the secret is hidden in your daily routine. Ask yourself what you do everyday just because you want to? Not because it pays well or because it’s what you feel like you should be doing. Simply because you like doing it! It doesn’t have to be a stereotypical hobby. Maybe you like calling your friends and giving advice, maybe you're a conversationalist and make small talk with people at the gas pump. Use that gift!

Tim Tebow said it beautifully at the Passion Conference, that we all have a macro mission of loving God and loving people, but then we also have a micro mission where our personal strengths and interests come into play. For example, if you love exercising, mentor those who are just starting in the gym. If you love cooking, start a page where you post recipes and share positivity. It doesn’t matter what you do or how you do it, it matters who you’re doing it for. In everything, serve others for the glory of God. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, if you want to flip burgers and make others feel loved while doing so, flip the burgers.

But the whole point of this post is to share what I’m making 2022 all about. I’m not starting a new diet, reading three books a month, or doing a new Tik Tok challenge. I’m just going to use what I’ve been given to honor the Lord. If I’m doing that, there’s no need to worry about what comes next, if my salary will be “enough”, or if I’ll be “enough” because “... we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Don’t overcomplicate it!

That’s all from me! Hope you all have a blessed week and fun start to the new semester! XOXO, Maddie