Stop Pretending

Who are you right now? Are you, you, or are you what others want you to be?

For so long in my life, I lived up to the positions that others had for me. If I was the popular girl, I was the popular girl. If I was the dramatic girl, I was the dramatic girl. If I was labeled shy by the enemy, I was shy. But I am here to tell you, that this cycle of labeling yourself through other people's words of you are over.

I came across a quote this morning from Najwa Zebian and it reads, "It is better for people to value you for who you are, not for who you pretend to be. Who you are lasts a lifetime. Who you pretend to be changes like the change of seasons. Don't be afraid to be yourself, even if it means removing yourself from lives that you want to be in. You are, no doubt, worthy of being valued for who you are. So be who you are."

This quote rings so true. When I lived a life of being who others said I was, I was discontent. I was super unaware of my surroundings, and I thought I was flourishing when really, I was far from that. I was broken, I cried wayyy to much, I was emotionally unstable, I chased people like the wind, and I fell into situations I could've avoided. All because, that's who I am right? Well, reality check no. I was becoming other people's insecurities, I let their struggles consume my life to a point I thought they were my struggles(talk about toxic.) And I lived like this for quite some time, all because I was wanted, but now that I look back at it, I was wanted in all the wrong ways. I tried being a savior, when I for sure know, with all my heart, that I am no savior.

The only Savior, the True Savior, and Redeemer, is Jesus Christ.

"Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;

it was our sorrows that weighed him down.

And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,

a punishment for his own sins!

But he was pierced for our rebellion,

crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.

We have left God’s paths to follow our own.

Yet the Lord laid on him

the sins of us all." John 53:4-6

He literally came into this world to save us from ourselves. He came even though we still fail everyday. I still struggle, I'm not saying I don't. But what I am saying is I feel a freedom that before I was so unfamiliar with. I watched a youtube video yesterday by @torimastersandchadmasters on youtube that said something along the lines that people feel like Christianity means bondage, and in a sense it does, because we are meant to submit to God. Although the catch with Christianity is even though we are required to submit, we are given freedom, true freedom, through this repentance and submission process with Christ. Submitting to God means you value His word, you stand for the timid, you proclaim his death and resurrection, and you hold close to your heart who He says you are -- It's REFRESHING. Because let's say you submit yourself to a law, the law can fail you, as said so in the Bible, but through Christ, He's taken on your failures and still holds you up and allows salvation through repentance.

So, let me end by saying, STOP PRETENDING. Who are you trying to please? God or others. This was the apostles response to the leaders at the time who said to stop preaching about Jesus. "But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:19-20

The apostles were physically persecuted for preaching the gospel, yet they still walked out in boldness and continued their mission. But us, a generation where it's easier than ever to preach the message are terrified. All because we're scared of being mocked. Don't take being mocked an excuse to submit to the crowd mentality. Leave the crowd, leave places that aren't adding to your growth and walk with God. Be BOLD, post the scripture, post the worship song, call out sin (with Grace + Truth - @alanakuwabara IG), and love the sinner.

It's time to be confident in Christ, and through Him you'll be confident in how you do life. Be loving, be encouraging, be supportive, and don't ever be the weak names others call you to be. That cycle is over, the devil is a liar.

"And you know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32

"Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness." Ephesians 6:14

Enough of listening to the father of lies, IT IS TIME TO LISTEN TO THE FATHER OF LIFE.