29 years.

29 years. One year away from 30.

I look back over these last 29 years and over this last year of life, and I’m not where I thought I would be at this point in my life. I’m not where I would like to be. I’m not where society says I should be at this time of my life. BUT, I’m where God wants me to be at this time in my life. I am at where He has called me and ordained my steps.

At this point in my life, I am not married. I don’t have kids. I don’t have a boyfriend. I don’t even have any potential significant others. I don’t own my own home. I don’t have a full-time job. I haven’t paid off my student loans. I’m not using my master’s degree. I don’t have a dog to care for. I’m 29 years old. I’m not where I thought I would be at almost 30 years old.

It’s easy to get caught up in what I don’t have. It’s easy to look at everyone else’s life and compare my life to theirs. It’s easy to get on Instagram and Facebook and see that everyone else’s life is “perfect” and where they should be. But who says that at 29 years old you have to have X, Y, and Z and be a certain way? NO ONE. Society doesn’t get to do that to us. I won’t let it. The only one that gets to say where we get to be at my age is God – The Author of my Life.

It is easy to see life through a negative lens. If we aren’t careful, we will let that negative lens run our life. I forbid to let that happen in my life. I won’t let it run my life anymore. I am beyond guilty of being negative towards myself and my life. I am not going to let that be the case anymore. Instead of looking at what I don’t have or who I am not, I am choosing to look at who I am and who God has made me and where He has placed me.

So in honor of my 29^th year of life, I want to remind ALL OF US of 29 things we are and have.

1. We are children of the Most High King.

2. We have a perfect Father that is writing our story.

3. Our sins have been wiped clean on the cross by Jesus 2000 years ago.

4. We are so loved that God sent His one and only Son to die for us.

5. We have been forgiven.

6. We have been chosen by the Creator of the Universe.

7. We are  accepted by Christ.

8. We have a heavenly Father that never gives up on us.

9. When we are overwhelmed by the darkness of this world, we can find the Light in Jesus.

10.  We have been redeemed by Christ.

11.  We are not forgotten by God.

12.  We are wanted and pursued by God.

13.  We have a friend in Jesus.

14.  We are God’s workmanship.

15.  We have been given grace by God.

16.  We were made in the image of the One True God.

17.  We are  beautiful in God’s eyes.

18.  We are delivered by God.

19.  We are heard by God.

20.  We are welcomed by God.

21.  We have everything we need in Him.

22.  We are guided and directed by the Holy Spirit.

23.  We have no need to be afraid or worried with Christ on our side.

24. God is our Protector.

25. We have a God that has our best interest in mind (even if we don’t understand it).

26. We are special in His eyes.

27. We are valued by God.

28. We have a purpose from God.

29. God made us the way He saw best and created us for such a time as this.

When I started this blog entry, I had a completely different perspective on life. A week ago, I was in a car accident. The paramedics said my family and I shouldn’t have walked out of the accident the way we did. This reaffirms numbers 1-29. God has a plan for my life (and for yours). He is our Protector. We have a purpose. He is the Author of our life. Nothing can thwart the plans of God. I am at where He wants me to. He allowed for my family and I to survive the car accident. He’s not done with me yet.

I might not be where I thought I would be at 29 years of life. BUT I am exactly where God wants me to be. He sees the beginning and the end of time. He sees the bigger picture. And I am just a blip on the timeline, yet God still loves me enough to set my paths straight. 

I want to encourage YOU. You might not be where you thought you would be or where you want to be. However, you have a God that loves, cares, and writes your story as He sees the beginning, present, and end. He knows what He is doing (even when we question it). He has not forgotten about you. You are so loved by the Creator of the Universe.