Just Listen

"I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father, I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you and you have overcome the evil one." -1 John 2:12-14

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9

I was deeply encouraged by a fellow YouTuber that I look up to, to go somewhere and rest while God speaks to me. She said, "The beauty about Jesus is that there actually isn't work or pressure that we need to feel or have on ourselves. All we need to do is be with Him, lean into Him, and trust Him. The more we focus on who Jesus is, the more we transform into who He created us to be." So I went over to Hay's Mill Creek with my Bible and was led to a spot where I could see the small waterfall. As I was searching for this perfect spot, my heart was racing. For some reason, I was nervous. I didn't know what to expect. I sat for a while, read the two verses above and thought to myself, okay, what's next? It was hard for me to focus. My mind kept wandering. So I wrote this down:

What am I worried about? Why can't I sit still, focus, and stop letting my mind wander on the things that already distract me? Am I expecting something to happen when it probably won't? Am I putting too much faith in all of this? But isn't that what I'm suppose to be gaining; more faith? "Just listen."

I stopped writing, put my Bible to the side, closed my eyes, and listened. At first, all I heard was the rushing water, until I began to hear Him. "I made this for you. You are loved. The birds are singing sounds of glorious music. The water is roaring. I can calm it." It was like He was reading something from Psalms. It was so poetic and so peaceful. "Open your eyes." I looked around to see that the creek looked more beautiful that it had before. The words, "You are not alone. You are mine," echoed through my head as tears started to flow. He is here and I have to trust in Him to be able to fully believe in it.

I was able to see a woman I respect and love so much, today. I haven't really talked to her in about three years. We discussed everything between my family, leaving the church, taking the time to find a new church, college, motivation, life, and faith. I have definitely needed a mentor in my life, especially now. Not just someone from the internet, but a REAL person. She encouraged me so much today by just listening and giving me back true wisdom.

I left the creek with this thought in mind: If you don't work for something, you'll never be motivated to do anything. So I have to keep pursuing Him. I have to continue to seek peace within myself so I can become closer to Him.