“I’m just finding myself”

We read, hear and will testify that we’re different from the world. We know Jesus, we’ve experienced His peace, His gifts, maybe we’ve had experiences of healing. Examining the extent to which our actions glorify or witness to God is not a new idea, or something you won’t have heard me express. Howeverrrrr. How can we say these things and make these claims and as young christians come out with something so worldly as “I’m just finding myself”?

People’s walks aren’t always as progressive as they’d like. They fall out of the habit of reading the bible or praying. The path is narrow yo, it was never promised to be a nice country walk. Our souls live in this fleshy encasing that seems to want to do stuff that as Christians we may know or guess to be wrong. When we listen and re-shackle ourselves to the temptations of the flesh, even having the victory in Jesus, sometimes we slack and go for the easier options. Now if you have a christian community, be it family, friends from church, you’re going to get pulled up on this. Eventually. God willing. And as young people we will reply in a form that at the very least sounds like “well you know, I’m just finding myself”. This in itself is not wrong, because if it was that simple you’d be in church, reading scripture or watching a talk. But you’re not. Countless sermons have clearly gone in one ear and out the other when you’re searching for yourself OUTSIDE OF GOD.

YOUR IDENTITY IS IN CHRIST. You’ve sang it in church and you’ve sang it after God’s got you through some sticky situation. Now I’m going to be condescending and ask you to repeat wherein your identity lies, in the bid that it will go into your head the way that teachers would make me do lines when they caught me talking/sleeping. When you’re sleeping around and going out on the lash, and trying to find the stuff you’re into or well suited to, in what way is this going to be of assistance to you? When your purpose is known and GIVEN by the Father. Your reason for being was destined and intended by the Omnipotent, but because the world says that “it’s finding itself” you follow suit? I’m struggling to hold back the angry patois, but I think you get the point. The reasons that you like particular things, the talents that you have, were given for reasons, often unknown to us, to do things we couldn’t even imagine. But you’re going around, potentially hurting people in the process, under the guise of finding yourself. What exactly are you searching for? Beyond a flimsy excuse to just not pull your own weight?

This is not aimless, self-righteous writing. This isn’t to make me feel better, but because I know these words are coming out of the mouths of young christians and they have a deep, dark undertone. You’re denying God. Calling it how I see it. If my actions do not glorify God, they are distant from Him, and searching out meaning apart from Him – then it’s denial. I assume that such christians wouldn’t explicitly say that they’re denying God, if questioned whether they believe or care they’d strongly affirm that they did, but the reason that they feel a niggle of guilt or conviction is because when they look at it objectively that is just what they’re doing.

Make the conscious decision to not do that. Please. I gain nothing from my brother or sister in Christ going astray, and not even realising the mess they’re getting themselves into. Because for all that finding, you’re going to have to find your way back to Christ.

Repentance, Restoration and Purpose, Jeremiah 1:1-19

(Jeremiah 1:1-19)

If you were somehow unaware of my attachment to the Book of Jeremiah, by the end of this you ought not be. Seeing as I harp on about it, I thought I ought to minister through it today. Jeremiah had a harsh time, he had God-given messages that the Israelites were not going to be happy about (invasion, destruction and captivity are quite hard to dress up by any standard) and a God who threatened him to not be afraid of them “or I will make you look foolish in front of them” (1:17). Peak.

But through Jeremiah we can learn the importance of three key things to the Christian: repentance, restoration and purpose. The book of Jeremiah details the prophet’s attempts to forewarn the idolatrous Israelites before God would have to bring in the big guns. They didn’t listen. Instead they treated him with disdain and persecuted him. Through the book we see the importance of repenting and turning to God, we can seize this gift at any time, no matter how often we mess up; it isn’t something to be sneered at but seized immediately !

Even in the face of destruction and exile God is still preparing to restore the Israelites. He will never abandon His people. His anger is righteous and always out of love and reformation rather than sadism, after all He intended you, you’re here for a reason, and He wants you to respond to His love with the same love He has for you.

In the first chapter of Jeremiah, God tells him “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my spokesman to the world” (1:4-5). This amazing facet applies to all of us! Even before we were conceived God knew us, He planned us, formed us right down to our specific characters and genetics so that we may live out the purpose He has in mind for us. We aren’t reliant on prophets anymore, God communicates through all of us. As Christians our verbal and non verbal actions are being assessed by the rest of the world, whether you’re comfy with it or not you are a spokesperson of the Holy Spirit who lives in you (swag).

Like many of us when placed in positions of responsibility, we second guess ourself. God told Jeremiah he was to be His “spokesman to the world”, that’s a lot of pressure! Jeremiah stressed his age and inexperience but God told him to be unafraid “for I will be with you and take care of you” (1:8). Sometimes it can feel like God is asking us to take a risk. Maybe just bringing up your faith amongst friends or asking a friend to evaluate how Christ-like their behaviour is, feels like something that could be tense and awkward, or like you’d be out of your depth. But God says “nope. I’m right here, I’ll hold your hand whilst you demonstrate the strength and courage I’ve given you and see the fruits of your act”.

God didn’t stop there, He touched Jeremiah’s mouth “and said, “See, I have put my words in your mouth !” (1:10). God didn’t just stand there willing Jeremiah on nor did He simply prepare Jeremiah and go off for a cuppa and a magazine; He gave Jeremiah the very words he was to speak. Sometimes you’ll be tired or worried in a situation that asks for more from you, lean on Him, pray for His Holy Spirit to be displayed through you and it does not matter how knackered or shy you are the recipient of that talk will note that they experienced more than just someone talking at them. Believe me.

Don’t be scared to put yourself out there, to take risks for and in the name of God the Father. He’ll be with you every step of the way. We belong to the living God, He hears our cries and worries and He replies ! Thanks be to the God of Jeremiah, the God who knew us before we were born, intended us even when our parents may not have and is going to use us to make a serious impact in this world.

God bless and keep you always x