Recently I heard a question that caused me to reflect on life, my life in particular. The question was, “If you could go back 20-30 years, what advice would you give your younger self.”
I believe this is something we should ask ourselves today – because those answers, the ones we have gained by wisdom and experience could very well be just as valuable to us today.
So, after much thought, here is what I decided I would tell my younger self.
- Take good care of your body and your mind. When we are young, we feel invincible as if nothing can touch us and we will live forever. Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, if we don’t take care of it, He will have nowhere to dwell.
When I was young, I didn’t realize my body was getting wear and tear daily – I should have taken better care of it – thankfully, I can begin today doing the things I should have done all along.
2. Don’t stress over every little thing – it will all work out. The things that appeared life altering years ago have come and gone. We need to have faith.
The Bible says all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose. We must believe that, especially during the hard times. We also must keep our eyes on God and in doing so, HE will keep us in perfect peace.
Psalm 37:8 says, Don’t worry, it only causes harm.
3. The final thing I would tell myself is, Go easy on yourself. Know your boundaries and forgive your shortcomings.
More often than not, we hold ourselves at a higher standard than we do others. We are harder on ourselves than anyone else. Give yourself the same mercy you would anyone else.
By know your boundaries I mean, know what you can and can’t handle at the time and don’t allow people to push you past those boundaries.
Forgive yourself your shortcomings – we are all going to make mistakes – that is why Jesus came. You are just as forgivable as any other person. Remember that.
While I wish I knew these things decades ago, I am not without hope – neither are you. His mercy is new every single morning.
I read a quote years ago that I love. It says…
While you cannot go back and have a new beginning, you can start today and have a brand-new ending.
Again, that is why Jesus came. Whatever mistakes we have made in our past, we simply repent and put those things under the blood of Jesus Christ, and we trust Him for our ending.
The Bible says, For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)
In God we have a future and a hope – regardless of our past.
Today, I encourage you to forgive yourself if need be. Go easy on yourself. Take it all to God and put it under the blood of Jesus. Some things you can’t go back to and fix. Okay – move forward. God loves you. So much that He sent Jesus to die for you. Begin your brand-new future today – and trust Him with all the stuff that happens along the way. He is faithful and He will get you right where He wants you to be. I am confident of that. Trust Him.
