Do not beat yourself up because you have feelings of stress, anxiety or just “off days.” You are not weak in your faith because of these worldly feelings. Your faith in Jesus doesn’t cancel your stress levels, but it does mean you aren’t alone in it. And perhaps, the most faithful thing we can do is admit that.
Browsing: struggles
Suffering is something that people aim to avoid at all costs, seeking the easy, comfortable life instead. However, suffering can be a beautiful, purifying thing, unveiling our desire for something deeper and drawing us into a beautiful intimacy with Christ.
“I just want students to realize we’re all going through the same things, and you may not have figured out a way to navigate it just yet, but somebody next to you knows how to conquer it,” Sherwood, Ark., senior Mia Ellington-Williams said.
On social media platforms, Baylor showcases images of its beautiful campus, smiling students and graduate success stories, all reinforcing a promise of personal, academic and professional achievement. While these photos of perfection and happiness are a nice visual, they do not accurately reflect the stress and competitive nature many students, myself included, experience behind the scenes.
What is struggle if not the deciding point between failure and success? It is at this inflection point where I believe indispensable value is found. A value that doesn’t only pertain to a moment, but transcends that moment and becomes a life lesson.
In a society that encourages and praises strength, resilience and that “boss babe” mentality, vulnerability is often overlooked or viewed as a sign of weakness. However, beneath the surface, there is a profound power in being vulnerable.
Our desire for independence has become self-destructive. Life has become a game where whoever holds out the longest before asking for help is the winner. But what do they win? It’s time to change the rules of the game. We win by admitting our weaknesses and allowing those who love us to fill in the gaps.
