Opinion/Resources/Teen Perspective
By Teen Opinion Contributor Maggie Verdught
Photo: Deposit
For many, springtime is a reset – nature’s beauty emerges as flowers bloom, birds chirp, and the warmer temperatures make outdoor activities a welcome way to spend time. God’s creation is on full display, both colorful and exciting. Everything has its purpose.
In life, there can be a lot of stressors that cause one to forget their purpose. For myself, included! I tend to overthink, over-analyze, and overly obsess about perfection in many ways. We know that these things are not inherently wrong in themselves. In fact, God created us to think, analyze, and put his creation into order. But we humans have skewed the narrative, making life far more complex than I believe it needs to be.
In this article, I want to remind ourselves of what life is all about. Let’s turn away from our idols, together, and remember why we’re here. We’re here for a greater purpose than living day-to-day, struggling to survive in the midst of busyness. We, too, can “bloom” in our hearts and minds, by reminding ourselves of life’s simplicity– simply the way God created life. Let’s dig in!
Sin in a broken world
You may wonder: how does sin give me purpose and meaning in my life? Our purpose in life, no matter what, is to honor and glorify God in all that we think, say, and do. Therefore, one of the ways in which we do that is by fighting against sin in our lives. It is good to remind ourselves and know about the simple, yet awful, reality of sin. Each of us battles and wages war against sin daily; this is the struggle we are up against. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 ESV). Anxiety, hate, jealousy – all are sins, and a part of life. I often try to make my struggles more complicated than this, seeking to fix the issue on my own. In reality, the answer is simple. Our Savior has conquered sin. And I need to trust Him in everything. Therefore, when something is out of my control, I can trust Jesus and look for the good in my situation. That is a simple truth, and one that I constantly need to be reminded of.
God first
As you can tell, the theme of “simplicity” is saturated throughout this article. Putting God first in our lives is another example of this. It sounds simple, but in reality, this is not easy to do. Putting God first is a simple yet profound element of the Gospel message that sets one free. Adam and Eve fell because they put their desires and trust into the lies that Satan offered, thinking that it would end up being better than what God had to offer. It didn’t work out for them, because God’s provision is unfailing and true– better than anything that Satan or this world could offer. Essentially, Adam and Eve chose to put themselves above God. How dangerous this is!
We, too, must be careful to obey the Lord and put Him first above all things in our lives. Our purpose is found when we put our identity and trust completely in the Lord, knowing that we are nothing on our own. God must come first in our lives.
Loving others (and relationships)
“Love God and love others.” We’ve heard that before, right? This is the mission statement that lined up exactly with Jesus’ life and ministry here on earth. Jesus loved God and glorified Him in all that he did. One of the most amazing ways in which he did that was by loving others through his words and actions. Everything he did showed that he cared about people and wanted to serve them. This truth exemplifies the simple, beautiful reality of the Gospel: the God of the universe sent His only Son to come to earth, love others in ministry, die to take away our sins, and rise again in fulfillment of the promise.
In all our relationships, loving others is what God has called us to do. Jesus said this! “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34 ESV). It is an outpouring of our love for Him. It is simply a response to His goodness and mercy towards us. Loving people shows compassion for those who are unsaved, as we once were. This is what we were made for, because it is worship, and we were made for giving worship to God. Loving others is a divine purpose, and a lifelong calling that brings much joy; earthly dreams and pursuits pale in comparison!
Taking care of what He has given us
Now, as we have been reminded of this simple, amazing Gospel, we must respond. Knowing this truth, we cannot help but desire to share it with others and live our lives in accordance with the Word of God. This includes taking care of what God has given us – which is quite a broad command, as God has given us many things! A while ago, I made a list of what fulfills us in life. I can’t remember everything I wrote down, but the following things were on this list:
- Read, study, listen to, and meditate on the Word of God
- Serve others with a joyful and compassionate heart
- Spend time and enjoy fellowship with believers and non-believers
- Take care of your physical body by exercising, hydrating, and fueling correctly
- Work hard at all you do; set and achieve goals for God’s glory
God has given us so much to be grateful for in our lives. Nothing can be more satisfying in the long run than doing His will. Luke 16:10 (ESV) comes to mind: “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.” By persevering faithfully in the small things that God has given us, we grow. The process of sanctification is painful, but we enter the Kingdom only by the narrow path. By God’s grace, we are given strength and endurance to do so. Taking care of what God has given us is a Gospel-response that enables us to continue working for the Kingdom (the purpose which we as Christians are called to)!
Summary
In conclusion, my hope is that this article was a Gospel reminder to you. This good news informs who we are and what we do, and its simplicity gives us real purpose. God has a plan for your life. Believe and trust in His goodness as we spring into springtime, and celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this Easter! Have a blessed week!
Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
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The opinions in this article are specific to its author, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the entire Counter Culture Mom team.
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Maggie VerDught is a high school student who enjoys learning about culture, news, and politics.
She is passionate about sharing the truth, especially with her generation. Maggie loves to run, read, and write poetry in her spare time.
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