Do you ever wonder why life gets so hard? Do you wonder why certain events aspire the way they do ? Can't it go differently? Why can't you be the girl crowned at your senior prom, or the guy who gets the football scholarship? Why do others have it easier? The answer is simple, they do NOT have it easier than you. Everyone has certain things they are able to handle, you may have a high tolerance for pain and someone passing you on the street may not. The beauty of this world is that we are all so different but have at least one thing in common; we are sons/daughters of God. When you decide to judge someones situation, think twice because it's not your place.
I believe Satin to be real; so real he feels tangible. He will do ANYTHING to get to you. He will degrade you and make you feel like the divine worth you were born to obtain isn't applicable to you because you don't deserve it. He will try his hardest to make you believe that you are simply not good enough. The question is, why do we torment ourselves with thinking what He tells us and makes us feel?
Through my high school years I made myself miserable. I would look at myself with critical eyes and focus on things I needed to change. Did I have good qualities? Yes. Did I notice them? No. Because of my critical eyes I became a person who was absorbed in envy. There were things I felt I should have, that I didn't and it wasn't fair. I should have the perfect body and the perfect hair. I got so obsessed with how I should look that I lost what was within me. I was focusing so much on what the media was portraying what perfect was that I was hurting myself. I was hurting my closest friends and my family by doing this as well.
Without explaining too much I hit rock bottom. I was done. It came down to a choice, loose everything I've ever lived for or find myself and break through my critical eyes. My choice was obviously to find myself and to work on being happy with who I was. I have found that throughout those high school years I was living but I wasn't really LIVING. I missed out on so much of my youth by being absorbed in the perfection I thought was perfect. What's the definition of perfect? Who made that definition? I say forget the word/definition and find the beauty of the world and then take a step back. You'll realize that you have a noble birthright to be happy and to feel loved. You have a divine purpose and a role in this life that can't be replaced. No one can replace you. If you think you are replaceable, then stop. You are not and you will never be. You are wonderful! You are here for a specific reason, you need to find this reason and run with it. Go be who you were meant to be. Make your Father in heaven proud. Show Him you love Him by loving yourself.
Jenna Jones, Age 20
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Last night as I kneeled in prayer, the beautiful melody of the Hymn; "Where Can I Turn For Peace," came to my mind. I have written about trials before but I never really felt I could do the subject justice, for at those times my trials were almost nonexistent. However, lately my heart has been humbled by recent events that have transpired. Although my understanding of affliction is still very shallow compared to those with much greater woes than mine, I felt inspired to write of my feelings. Over the past two weeks I have come to comprehend more fully the fact that Satan knows each of us and knows each and everyone of our weaknesses and because he knows are weaknesses he knows the perfect poison to kill the happiness in all of us. I have witnessed many a miracle in my life and in the lives of others and recently I have had answers to my prayers came to me about a certain subject and those answers were extremely clear and vivid. They were truly miracles. It seemed as if the Lord was smiling upon me and a shower of great blessings came from the heavens, flooding me with great confidence and brilliant shining happiness. Then I started to analyze those answers and fear that I was wrong. Something happened that saddened my soul and Satan knew that if he could get me to just doubt my spiritual experiences, if he could just get me to think that there was a minute chance I was making it all up in my head that he could start a chain reaction inside of me that would send me spiraling down the great staircase of despair. Needless to say I began to feel like the apostle Peter in, (Matthew 14:28-31) “28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was aafraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little afaith, wherefore didst thou bdoubt?” I too was scared just as Peter, even though I knew in my heart of hearts that Jesus was standing right in front of me, guiding the way. Satan knowing my weaknesses though, planted a small seed of fear in me and that was all it took to make me sink and just when I thought the storming sea of despair would take me Jesus my loving Savior and friend saved me from that tumultuous sea. As I go through life I will apply the lesson I learned from Peter. Instead of focusing on the boisterous winds of life I will always keep my eyes on the Savior and never ever look away.
Taylor McCartney, age 18
Below is a video of me singing and my cousins photography. Enjoy!
