There’s a lot of life that is lived outside the corners of these squares. There’s a greater story being written behind every photo, caption and video. One of the things that I struggle with the most about social media is showing up and being authentic, sharing not just the joys + good gifts, but also wanting to share that there is grief, tears, and hard things that also exist outside the edges of this frame and app.
Over the last several months there have been really sweet and joy-filled moments. Traveling to new cities, sharing ice-cream with friends, celebrating birthdays and new friendships. These moments that vou see on Instagram are real – they are good gifts trom a good and faithful God. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t also really hard moments and tear filled nights.
Sometimes, showing up here feels forced or messy or inauthentic, but there really is JOY in every season and something of God’s character for us to learn because God is good and he is working all things for our sanctification and His glory.
But there is also heartache and pain that exists — there is so much more to life than social media. Like many of you, the last few months (and to be transparent, the last 4 years) have been full of heartache, loss and grief. I have been through heavy, unimaginable loss. My friends have, too. I’ve shown up to friends houses with flowers, mailed cards and walked with them through heavy seasons of life just as they have walked through them with me. I’ve seen friends stand steadfast, immovable through hard trials and loss — and oh, how it has encouraged my soul to lift my eyes to Jesus!
These are the moments that I’m not quite sure how to share. I feel a tension between showing up and sharing but also taking time to process, heal and grow with close friends and mentors.
I’m thankful that God is a steadfast God. That he provides daily what we need and he allows forks in the road – seasons of failure, change, unknown, heartache and trials for His glory and our good. He is purposeful in all He does and He calls us to trust Him and Hope in Him in all seasons. I’m looking forward to sharing more about the last 4 years, and inviting some of my friends to write with me along the way —
– remember my friend, you are part of a much, much bigger story and we have a God who walks with us through each (surprising) chapter and has already secured the end of our story.