Stop Trying So Hard

Week 4 has hit and my dudes... it's bad. I feel like this year college = always busy. This might be different for a lot of people, but for me it kind of feels like I'm planning out my entire day just to not finish everything that I wanted to. This is so frustrating because I know that I'm trying to give everything my full effort and attention but really what I'm doing is my best and it still isn't good enough for me. I feel like I'm always studying and trying to get used to the fact that this is my life now and it is really hard. So hard that I literally sat in my car the other day and cried while eating a strawberry cheesecake milkshake from cookout:)... so sad. That being said, I talked to one of my friends from back home and was like "I have absolutely no idea what to do, I feel like I'm not doing everything 100%". I think that this was probably some of the best advice I have ever been given, they said "you're doing the best that you can and your best is all you have to give... all you have to do is accept that". You can give your best to everything you do on this earth but it is all absolutely temporary. We serve a big God who does big things and regardless of what you make on that test tomorrow the Lord is still going to be Lord, you are still going to be a child of God, and there will always be a special place in heaven that He has prepared for you.

I think a lot of us forget that this world is temporary and we are breaking our backs to achieve things that are so unattainable and literally just wearing us out. I am so guilty of this because I will almost break myself into pieces over school. It is such an unhealthy habit but this is where I find my joy and my accomplishment in life. That being said, where you find your joy and accomplishment in life should never outweigh the joy and accomplishment you feel from being a child of God. I think of my absolute favorite bible verse 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 when Paul is talking about how all we need in life is the grace of Jesus. No matter how bad our days are He is literally all that we need. 

For me people who feel that their best is never enough, I have been there and I see you. For the people who are going through a rough patch and can't seem to find an escape, I have been there and I see you. For those who can't seem to imagine where their life is headed or why God is giving you this season, I have been there and I see you. One of my friends told me tonight don't go through life alone, talk about it with someone or find your person. So tonight my friends, I encourage you to do just that. Find that person or group of people that makes you feel empowered and simply walks with you in your faith. This life is not meant to be done alone so go eat you a really good cookout milkshake, cry some, and pray for yourself that God would give you the people in your life to tell you that things are going to work out for the benefit of His good and His glory. 

May the peace and love of God be with you always,

Leah Carpenter