Too much of a good thing

My entire preteen season of life- what is that anyway, like 2 years?- I can remember being obsessed with this book series called The Clique. I owned (and still probably own) every book in the series, not to mention the official movie. I couldn't get enough of it, and in so many ways I idolized the characters and their personalities- everyone loved them, everyone adored them. They seemed flawless, and just all-around amazing. But what strikes me as a little funny is how different cliques are in real life. Strip away the glamour in the books and movies- and you get a better image of cliques and how surprisingly horrible they can be. We were made for community and friendship, but cliques turn that into too much of a good thing.

When I was in middle school, I went to Millennium for performing arts. Conveniently, it was located 30 minutes from home- so far that absolutely nobody from my school also attended my youth group. I didn't know many people at my youth group and every time I tried attending, people from all of the local schools already had their friends and their own cliques. They never intentionally excluded me, but I definitely knew I wasn't exactly welcomed in either. For a huge chunk of my youth, I refused to attend youth group for the sole reason of people in cliques. And I would have never come back if it weren't for a few people going out of their way to make me feel welcomed again. The place I once refused to step foot in turned into the place I invest almost all of my time. But I may have never found God's calling in my life if it weren't for people willing to reach out beyond their cliques.

What people don't realize is that cliques don't only affect the people you share them with, but they affect the very people you're overlooking in the process. When we become too consumed with our tiny little communities, we forget that there are other people left out of that community. And a lot of the time, along with other people standing on the outskirts stands Jesus too. When you put all of your focus on your community, you forget other people matter and you forget God who matters most of all. It sounds a little harsh when you think about the fact that it's usually unintentional, but isn't that the exact problem? The problem is exactly that. When the clique doesn't even realize they're overlooking people. The problem is when you're too consumed with yourself that you don't even realize other people around you exist. People walk past you each and every day- and God has a special calling for each of them. Do you really want to be the one thing keeping them from finding it? Do you want to be the group that holds someone back from fully experiencing the love God has for them?

Don't let your community replace your God. Don't overlook people in pursuit of your own satisfaction. Other people matter to God and they should matter just as much to you.

Be bold in your questions

With a God so much greater than our understanding, it's only natural we'd have questions for Him. In fact, it'd probably be more unrealistic if we didn't have questions at all. But a lot of times, we easily confuse doubt with curiosity and understanding.
We're told to have faith, that we won't know things, and to be okay with that, but at the same time questioning is a natural part of being human. Luckily for us, we have a God who welcomes our questions. Many times throughout the Bible, we see the great prophets and key followers of Christ openly questioning Him. They provide us with the foundation that we have a God who is open to our curiosity. But they also show us that sometimes God leaves our questions unanswered, or saved for a better time. Just because we can question, it doesn't mean God is forced us to provide us with answers. More often than not, it's the assurance that God is with us and for us.
God welcomes our questions because its all a part of growing in relationship together. Wouldn't it be awkward if you had a best friend that you knew absolutely nothing about? Not even awkward, more like impossible I'd say. If you're interested in growing your relationship with someone, its only natural to ask questions every once in a while to learn more about them, to know them better. Why should that be any different with God? If we strive for a close relationship with God, we shouldn't be afraid to question things for the sake of growing together. A healthy relationship with God encourages conversation and provides a safe space to ask even life's toughest questions.
As I mentioned earlier, there's a difference between curiosity and doubt. Personally, I see the difference as lying directly within intentions. When you come to God eager to understand, eager to learn and experience Him fuller, those questions are welcomed. When you question God hoping to prove Him wrong, looking for faults in His answers- you've then reached the point of bad intentions. Its okay to question, but there is a thin line between testing God and pursuing Him. Walk the line carefully, but never be afraid to be bold in your questioning.

Loosen your Grip

For someone like me- a perfectionist with big dreams and a set plan- it's certainly not fun when your plans get tossed around a bit. Confusion isn't enjoyable for me, likewise most people I'd assume. Not knowing your next move when you're someone who likes things planned five steps ahead- not enjoyable either. Being in this crazy stage of life where I have basically no idea what I'm doing with myself and everyone places it upon you to have life figured out... its safe to say I'm not a happy camper about it. And quite honestly, if you asked any of my friends or family, they'd vouch for me that the slightest hint at the subject causes me to go off on a rant. Why? Not because I'm mad. Ok, maybe a little frustrated- who wouldn't be? But the reason it gets me so worked up is because its something that worries me. And to be blunt about it, in other words its because I've taken my future out of God's hands and tried to control it myself.
How insulting is it really for me to tell God he can't handle it all on His own? The same God who created the Heavens and Earth, who can part the sea, and who can raise the dead- why is it that I believe He can handle all of that, but help me figure out what school to go to or what career to try... woah woah let's not get too crazy! I mean seriously, why on earth do I think I have better hands to hold my future than the One who created and perfected it? As much as I like to have control over things, I have to admit God is in a much better position to handle this than I am. I need to step back and as C.S. Lewis would say "give in and admit that God is God."
What I've found personally is that its easy to tell other people- even yourself- to just have faith. That God will make everything work out in the end. Trust in God. BUT WHAT ABOUT ME? What about my part? Sure God doesn't need my help to complete his plan, but what if I'm supposed to have a part in making this all happen? I can't expect God to just hand me anything, right? Its extremely easy to let the words faith and trust flow right out of your mouth but its a completely different thing to follow those truths during your own struggles. I heard it said recently that trusting God with your worries doesn't call for lack of action. It doesn't call for laziness and a sense of entitlement from God, rather the ability to know when you've done your part and the rest is up to God. Basically, put the power back into God's hands. If you put faith in only yourself, you might as well just prepare yourself for a let down. Stop trying to be God. Allow Him do His job for once, and let Him show you how great He is at it. No matter how much control we think we may have over ourselves and our situations, God has far better things in store for us beyond our wildest imagination. But we'll never see them come to life if we don't give God the chance to act.
No matter how hard we try, if its not in God's plans for us, it won't prevail. And no matter what I do, God is going to lead me exactly where I'm meant to be. But its hard to see that when the future is blurry and nothing is as clear as it used to be when life was completely in your control. Trusting your life to God calls for you to loosen your grip, but how assuring is it to know that your life is in the hands of the Creator?