The salt and the light

1 Timothy 4:12

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Okay, so lately I have been really struggling at school. The naive part of me wants to think that they wouldn’t say or do the things that they do if they knew I could hear them, but I know that’s not true. These people, my “friends”, have no limit to the things they will say or do to make themselves feel better about themselves. It would bother me that they would laugh at me and I even have recently found out that there is a bet to see who could sleep with me first. It’s getting ridiculous. I had someone even cut up my sneakers in gym class. I felt lost. I didn’t know what to do. Tonight at youth group we read the verse 1 Timothy 4:12 and I realized that I need to be a light for Christ no matter the cost. I can not let anyone, even peers, look down on me because I am young. I need to set the example. It always seems easier to say, “Oh, someone else can do that. If I do it I will look like an idiot.”, but if everyone says that than no one will set the example. I’ve been worried about what people would think of me if I stood up for what I believe. I have let people walk on me. I have been silent when I should have spoken up. I wish I had done a lot of things differently, but that is in the past and I need to look forward to the future. Now, I need to focus on living for Christ. Being me and doing so freely. When a door is open for an opportunity I want to take because, “With God all things are possible.” 

I really love when you find a song that fits a situation and as I am writing this The song “Keep Quiet” from BarlowGirl popped up so I listened to the lyrics and they said this:

All the things I’ve sacrificed
So that I could bring You to this world
I want them to see You in me
But Your name just keeps them far from me
So I’ll keep quiet
Let’s hope they see I’m different

Jesus, Jesus why’s Your name’s offensive?
Why are we so scared to tell this world You’ve saved us
When all of the hope of the world’s in Your name
Why are we so scared to say
Oh Jesus

If I avoid to speak Your name
Tell me would You do the same to me
If relevance becomes my goal
Tell me will I lose You to its hold
But, if I keep quiet, they’ll never see I’m different

Jesus, Jesus why’s Your name’s offensive?
Why are we so scared to tell this world You’ve saved us
When all of the hope of this world’s in Your name
Why are we so scared to say
Oh Jesus

I’m sorry I cared about my name more than Yours
I’m so sorry how could I hide You anymore
But if I keep quiet
They’ll never see I’m different

Jesus, Jesus why’s Your name’s offensive?
Why are we so scared to tell this world You’ve saved us
When all of the hope of the world’s in Your name
Why are we so scared to say
Oh, Jesus

I really loved how this song applied to me. I have kept quiet and hoped they would just “see” I was different, maybe it worked maybe not. What I need to do is step up to the plate and say His name with no shame and no fear and just trust that whatever God has planned will work out for His glory.

Finally, Thanks to my friends who have listened to me vent given me advice and helped me through these past few tough weeks. I really appreciate having you guys to rely on. So thanks everybody