The Next Chapter

My birthday is coming up this weekend. The thought of my birthday often brings up mixed emotions for me. On the one hand, I'm excited and happy about spending time with my friends and family. But on the other, it often also brings up feelings of sadness, anxiety, and frustration.

Birthdays represent a lot of things for different people. For me, it's a symbol of getting older and the loss of my youth. This makes me sad sometimes. Birthdays are also a time of reflection for me. It's when I stop to think about my life and what has happened throughout the past year. It's good that I do this because I'm reminded of how I've grown and changed things in my life. It also reminds me of all the blessings that God has given me and all the ways I have seen Him working in my life. But looking back can also make me frustrated. I see that some things still haven't changed, that I'm still waiting for prayers to be answered, and that I'm still struggling with the same things. That's so frustrating sometimes. It makes me feel like things are never going to change and that I should just stop trying altogether.

I also get anxious thinking about the upcoming year and future.  What trials will I have to endure next? Should I be doing something else? Should I change things regarding my career? Will I still be single at this time next year? Am I going to end up a crazy old spinster with a bunch of dogs? And the list of questions goes on. Sometimes I almost can't breathe thinking about these things. But that's when I sense God telling me to stop and be still. He knows what's going to happen and His plan is perfect. I just have to trust and follow Him.

At the beginning of this year, I really felt a renewed sense of hope and excitement about this upcoming year and my future. I feel like God has a lot in store for me and I am really looking forward to seeing how He works in my life and those around me. I've been clinging onto this hope lately with my birthday looming around the corner. I know God is right here walking next to me through my present stage in life. But I also know He's working on the next chapter of my life and whatever happens, He's already there. It's so comforting to know that.

Luke 12:25 NIV "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"