Twenty

Today is my 20th birthday. That sentence feels weird and out of place. I am no longer a teen, and I thought maybe I would look forward to the day I could finally say that, but I'll be real with you, it scares me a little!

At 20, there are still many, many, many things I don't know, but one thing I do know that helps to ease the scariness of this new chapter of my life is that God hasn't let me down yet. He is so faithful.

A sweet friend told me to write about Psalm 139 today, about being fearfully and wonderfully made. Another year older and another year that God already had written in His book before I was created. Isn't that crazy? Not only are we all so wonderfully created by the same God who spoke everything into existence, but He already knows all our days. His thoughts of us are precious (139:17).

I love birthdays. I think celebrating people is so special. I think it is great when for a whole day, we can shower people in love, tell them what it is about them that makes us smile, recollect all the memories of years past, and rejoice in the fact that they were born. Isn't it so great to make someone else feel great? All the notifications, silly calls, and CAKE, but God thinks these precious thoughts of us constantly. Not just for one day. His thoughts are so vast, we can't count them.

I'm not writing this post just to tell you it's my birthday. I wanted to share with you how today isn't how I figured it would be. I was so excited for my birthday to fall on MLK day this year because that meant a day off school, a weekend trip home to spend the day with my family, but that isn't what happened. I ended up having to quarantine and stay away from everyone I planned on spending the day with. It would be very easy to let this little bump in the road make me bitter for the whole day, but Satan hates praise, so that's what I'm going to do.

I will praise because I have learned a lot about God and His character lately. I will praise because I am healthy today. I will praise because FaceTime exists and phone calls and texts and those little balloons you can add to messages that make me feel so special. I will praise God because He has yet to let me down. He has always shown up and shown out for me. His ways are higher. His plans are greater. He has sustained me for another year of life, so He's not finished with me yet. I will praise for all that God has brought me through, is walking me through, and all the things He has yet to provide.

I will praise because I am able to meet with all you beautiful people, here, today. I am so very grateful for your weekly fellowship here. I will praise because God saw me fit enough to use me in this way. I am blessed beyond measure.

I hope today feels like your birthday, too, in a way, because Jesus is the greatest gift ever given and He's ready to be received by you. I hope you know you are fearfully and wonderfully made, that your days are already recorded in His book. I hope you know God's love is sweeter than any birthday cake you could have. I hope you feel the excitement and celebration I'm sending your way, as a fellow sister in Christ.