Still a child
The ground we are standing on is shaking. Everything about South Africa at this point in time leaves you worried and wondering about where your passport is, that's if you have one. The rest of us are just praying for Jesus to come back.
Watching or listening to the news can lead to depression lately, it's like listening to your death sentence being read out. The interest rates have gone up, more parts of the nation are being marked as drought areas, the rand is so weak there are talks of 'junk status' (they say our economy is flirting with recession), more people stand a chance of loosing their jobs as about 32 000 mine workers are said to loose their jobs, and the one that had both me and Olaf a little sad this morning: petrol prices went up at midnight (and we are warned that this is only the beginning).
Then there's the bad decision making of our leadership and overall effects of corruption. I read in our local newspaper that our district has failed to pay up it's debt of about R190 million to Eskom and therefore our electricity supply would be cut off as from April. Dark times huh, literally.
I thought of something while considering all of these things. There was a recession in 2008. I was sixteen going on seventeen and still in school. I wasn't really informed about what it was and how it would affect me, I just knew enough to answer if it ever came up in class. What I did know was that, whatever happened, everything was going to be alright, my parents would see too it. That's the bliss of not being an adult. When you're a child, you never take the burden of worrying upon your shoulders, you mount it on your parents instead; you just keep reporting what you've run out of and what the school teacher said you should bring. Never do you go out there and fend for yourself, working to buy a jersey because winter is neigh, you simply tell mom or dad.
My hardest adjustment being an adult now is just that: you can't report back to mom and dad! If I knew, I would have avoided being an adult by all means possible! I can no longer run to them with my school fees (well, tertiary fees, adults also study). Can't go to them about tax, medical aid or the car installment, all these things are expected from the salary of the adult that is me, how scary.
A day ago, however, a song was spontaneously playing in the studio of my heart, so I started singing along. As I sang out the words, I realized something. I still am a child, a child of God! My face beamed at the realization! This meant I didn't have to carry the burden of worry that came about as a result of financial frustration, I had a Father that I could tell! I started singing even louder, reminding my mind, my heart, my everything that I had a Father who drowns my fears in perfect love.
Take heart today, be encouraged, you are not your own, you belong to the Maker of the universe who created all currencies, who controls the clouds, who directs the heart of kings and this Great God, sees you and knows you by name. Put your trust in Him today, you will not be disappointed.
"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:25-30
Watching or listening to the news can lead to depression lately, it's like listening to your death sentence being read out. The interest rates have gone up, more parts of the nation are being marked as drought areas, the rand is so weak there are talks of 'junk status' (they say our economy is flirting with recession), more people stand a chance of loosing their jobs as about 32 000 mine workers are said to loose their jobs, and the one that had both me and Olaf a little sad this morning: petrol prices went up at midnight (and we are warned that this is only the beginning).
Then there's the bad decision making of our leadership and overall effects of corruption. I read in our local newspaper that our district has failed to pay up it's debt of about R190 million to Eskom and therefore our electricity supply would be cut off as from April. Dark times huh, literally.
I thought of something while considering all of these things. There was a recession in 2008. I was sixteen going on seventeen and still in school. I wasn't really informed about what it was and how it would affect me, I just knew enough to answer if it ever came up in class. What I did know was that, whatever happened, everything was going to be alright, my parents would see too it. That's the bliss of not being an adult. When you're a child, you never take the burden of worrying upon your shoulders, you mount it on your parents instead; you just keep reporting what you've run out of and what the school teacher said you should bring. Never do you go out there and fend for yourself, working to buy a jersey because winter is neigh, you simply tell mom or dad.
My hardest adjustment being an adult now is just that: you can't report back to mom and dad! If I knew, I would have avoided being an adult by all means possible! I can no longer run to them with my school fees (well, tertiary fees, adults also study). Can't go to them about tax, medical aid or the car installment, all these things are expected from the salary of the adult that is me, how scary.
A day ago, however, a song was spontaneously playing in the studio of my heart, so I started singing along. As I sang out the words, I realized something. I still am a child, a child of God! My face beamed at the realization! This meant I didn't have to carry the burden of worry that came about as a result of financial frustration, I had a Father that I could tell! I started singing even louder, reminding my mind, my heart, my everything that I had a Father who drowns my fears in perfect love.
Take heart today, be encouraged, you are not your own, you belong to the Maker of the universe who created all currencies, who controls the clouds, who directs the heart of kings and this Great God, sees you and knows you by name. Put your trust in Him today, you will not be disappointed.
"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:25-30
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