You belong here

Personal Photo: I took this at a cafe on campus; I rarely felt like I belonged at U of M my freshman year, but my little habit of venturing out and going to all the little coffee shops alone helped me see the growth I was experiencing inside and gave me ample time to recognize the Lord with me every step of the way

Well, my friends, we made it halfway through December! I suppose now is the time when we begin to all think about the new year, the things we want to change, the goals we want to accomplish, and so on. Most of the time it is exciting to think about the new things we will experience, the people we can become, and the chance to start fresh, but amidst all the holiday stress, deadlines to meet, and challenges we coordinate, it can get a little overwhelming.

This is why I find it particularly pertinent to share a quick story with you all: When I chose to go to college at U of M, I had to go to a three-day orientation the summer before classes started. You spent the nights in the dorms with people you did not know, learned about the campus, and registered for classes. When I arrived on campus, I got an identification card, a key to a room, and a few other things. One of the items was a small card that read "You belong here." I kept the card and hung it up in my dorm during my freshman year and I still have it today. The phrase is not unique to U of M, but many colleges actually use the saying to encourage and remind students who are in an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people, and in challenging environments mentally, educationally, and socially, that they are meant to be there, they have a support system, and that they have made the right choice by attending school there.

I love the phrase. I love the phrase not because it was particularly special when applied to my college life, but because it applies to every phase of life that we find ourselves in. Whether we are in a season of grief, a season of joy, a season of anger, a season of confusion, and so on, the phrase 'you belong here' still fits like a glove. Why? The reason that is still works is because God has a plan for each of us, and even though we might feel lost, sad, or desperate, we can find peace knowing that He is with us and He is taking us exactly where we need to be. And in order to get there, we need to be here, feeling this way, for a reason beyond our own understanding.

My sister-in-law, Katrina, has a shirt that reads "How cool is it that the same God who created mountains and oceans and galaxies looked at you and thought the world needed one of you too?" I noticed her shirt the last time she was home with us and it brought a smile to my face. We live in a world that we know we do not permanently belong in, a world that houses thieves, demons, temptations, and more. We are consumed by emotions that challenge us, media that fill our mind with contradictory things, and peers who demonstrate worldly and shallow values. It can be hard for us to keep afloat amidst the chaos, to remain joyful among the sour, and to focus on the peace throughout the turbulence. Knowing we technically do not belong here on earth, but instead belong with Christ can be a challenge for us to find a niche. In fact, I just spoke about feeling like a misfit in last week's article. It feels contradictory to my 'You belong here' card. However, I want to clarify that we belong here on earth not to be part of the earth, but instead to make an impact on the earth for God. We belong here because God placed us here.

I always had a hard time with people who commented on how much our society was trending downward. They say that technology ruined our culture, the young generation is rude and careless, and our ability to see God has become an impossibility. It made me feel like I was born in the wrong time, that I am part of the problem, that there is no hope left. This is why Katrina's shirt makes me smile and why I kept the card from college. God did not place you and me a thousand years ago. He did not put us in a different generation, in a different culture, in a different country. No, God said that we belong here, today, with these people. He knows that the world we live in is a world we need to live in. Ephesians 6:16 tells us that "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Because of our faith, we can make a difference here and we can help people in today's culture. Not only is it untrue that our world is more sinful than it was in times of past, but we all need Jesus in the same capacity, regardless of the era, the technology, the behaviors of the younger generation. Thinking about the world and its desperation being a constant helps me consider that I might be able to make a bigger impact today than I could have if I was living in another time or place. By taking up my shield of faith I can not only destroy the devil's attempts, but I can also hopefully touch a soul or warm a heart.

Amidst all of the chaos and turbulence that I referred to above, God did not make a mistake in placing your soul, your heart, your mind in the culture of today. We are given the chance of joy and peace through Jesus Christ and because of this, we can stay afloat. We can remain positive, we can spread the light of the Lord, and we can find peace knowing that we belong here. In 2 Thessalonians 3:3, we are told that "But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." We belong exactly where we are because in order to grow, we have to go through trials, and we have to have faith in the Lord's plan for us. We can overcome the things that shake us up, that seem the loudest in our lives, and even the things that sneak up on us and steal our joy. We can do this through our faith that He has brought us exactly where we need to be, is taking us exactly where we need to go, and is with us every step of the way.

So how do we apply this knowledge to our daily lives? This is the challenging part, the part when we have to step out of our comfort zones in order to use the confidence of the Lord to make an impact on this world, in order to conquer the feelings of sadness, anger, grief, and fear that we experience, in order to create an intimate relationship with God and to hear Him when He speaks to us. Psalm 145:8 tells us that "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." In this verse we can see that God functions as the 'You belong here' card in our lives. He is near to us, reminding us that He loves us, that He sees us and hears us, and that He is good all the time. In this way, we can find peace knowing that He is our support system, the One we can come to in any season in life, the safe place when we feel lost or unsure.

Understanding that God did not make a mistake with us, that He brought us to where we are today, where we were yesterday, and where we are going tomorrow helps us handle the unsteadiness of earthly life. Think about the impact of the pandemic. COVID-19 wrecked mental health, physical health, and more for so many people. It changed the world we live in and it was a frightful and challenging time. However, when we have planted our roots in Christ, we can recognize how the sudden chaos and uncertainty can only impact earthly things, but it has no power over our faith. We have abundant blessings amidst turbulence like the pandemic. And as it is written in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." Our faith is what holds us down, keeps us afloat, and reminds us that we belong here so that we can help others and give glory to His name.

Another interesting point that I want to highlight when we consider the different seasons of life that we go through is that the stories we collect, the life we live, and the way we can touch the world is unique to us. It is like a snowflake. There are no two alike. The ways in which we respond to our challenges help us become a brighter light for God. Because of our experiences, the things we have overcome, the story that is unique to each and every one of us, we can then use it to connect with others, bring others to His light, and help save souls. We belong here and God knows that the world needs a person exactly like you and a person exactly like me, because we have a unique and precious way to touch the world. It is inspiring, right? The reminder that I belong exactly where I am because God is working through me and crafting me for His plan makes the hustle and bustle of life seem a bit quieter.

When we begin to feel overwhelmed with everything coming at us at once, when we feel exhausted and alone, we can remind ourselves that we belong here. We belong here because God is working on us, working through us, and working with us. Through Him and our faith in Him, we have been given the chance to use our unique perspective on the world to make an impact on it. And we can not only overcome any turbulence that comes our way, but we can harness the growth that comes from it, recognize the blessings that follow it, and use it to help build a bridge to someone else who may be struggling. Regardless of any of the devil's attempts to make us doubt our faith and doubt the chances we have to affect the world, God continues to remind us that we belong here not to be part of the world, but to change it.