Your Future is Waiting

I shouldn’t be here. Not because I’ve disqualified myself in any way, although some might say that’s true. No, I shouldn’t be here because there are many, many times in my life where the enemy tried to take me out. 

My mother tried to abort me.

I was sex trafficked.

I tried to commit suicide.

And on and on. 

But here I am, alive and thriving.

You might have a story like mine. Or, maybe yours is different. Maybe I’ll get to hear it one day. But for now, I know this: we are here, right now. Our hearts are beating. We are breathing air into our lungs. Whatever our story may be, we are alive, right here in the present.

Which means we have a future. A hope. A plan that God has for us–to give us life, and life abundantly. For me. For you. And that future is waiting for us to show up, to manifest it. Right here, right now. 

Your future is waiting for you to…

Manifest the glory and the goodness and the presence of God

Every single one of us is created with a blueprint that shows how good and magnificent God is. When we look at the future and say things like… “sometime down the road, when I’ve got it all together,” we put off showing the world that incredible blueprint–and we hide the light of God’s presence under a bushel. 

Heal

Sometimes some of our lives resemble that show, “The Walking Dead.” We walk around, dead inside. Hiding our pain. Hiding the bruises from childhood abuse or other trauma. Wounding others out of our pain and never seeking help, because we think we’ve got it.

If we’re going to live out the future God has planned for us, we have to get healed. See that therapist. Call that pastoral counselor. Seek out that mentor or life coach. Every single one of us is created with a blueprint that shows how good and magnificent God is.

Show up for your life

I have been diagnosed with PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder. This is the first time in my entire life that I have received a mental health diagnosis, and it was after the most traumatizing event in my adult life. I wanted to cave in, because here I was, the therapist with mental health issues, like what? But I realized that I too am human, and I have to show up regardless of my diagnosis. 

There are so many days where it’s just painful to get out of bed and put my feet on the floor. I’ve had times where I didn’t get out of bed, where I stayed hidden in my pain. 

But I know that I have been given a purpose by God, and if I don’t show up to do it then I’m settling for way less than God’s best for me–and for those around me.

Show up for your life, Queen! Show up for your life, King! Be present! 

Make amends

Ouch. We don’t like this one. Often, when we talk about healing, we talk about forgiving others for what they’ve done to us. But what about when we’re the ones that need to be forgiven? Yes, you. Yes, me. We’ve hurt others, and we need to go to them and repent. Be truly sorry. You hold yourself back more by not making amends when you’ve hurt people. Period.

Push past your pain

Let’s face it! Many people have made their pain their idol. They magnify it the way they should magnify God. They soak in it, like a bubble bath. Wallow in it. You know these people: it’s all they can talk about. It drives every decision they make. 

No, I don’t mean that you should ignore your pain. I know all too well how much of a mess that is. But many times, even as we’re pursuing healing, we tend to make our pain our identity. We become known for what hurt us. Instead, I want people to know me for my purpose, not my pain! My pain is part of my story, but it is not my identity. 

Become who YOU were created to be

Look at your fingertip, right now. See that? It’s your fingerprint. A divine design. No one else has one like yours. There is only one version of you, only one version of the glorious creation God thought up. Healing and repurposing our pain and trauma are crucial steps toward becoming the people we were created to be. 

Sometimes it’s easier to try to recreate someone else’s future instead of finding and pursuing the unique plan God has for us. But don’t fake the funk, y’all. Quit pretending to be something you’re not. Let God’s presence and healing uncover the amazing and wonderful you. 

Are you still here? Are you still breathing? Then you have a future. God has given you a future and a hope, and He has a plan for you to get there. That plan is for right here, right now. Let God heal your past, and use your present to launch you into your future. 

Your future is waiting. Let’s go!