Taking life seriously

[yomotalking]

It would be good to have peoples opinions on something that is bothering me.

I am a teenager, and in lots of ways feel I am different to others of my age.

My appearance is different. I don't talk 'cool talk' and would feel uncomfortable trying to.I don't dress ( or perhaps I should say' undress' lol ) in the way lots of teens do. Mostly this does not bother me although I don't like feeling I'm an outsider.

There is something else however that I am thinking about a lot. The future is constantly on my mind. My education. The occupation I will have. Where I will go when I am a missionary ( which I want to be ) and what I will do when I get there.

Recently I have become aware that I think far more about my life and future than other people of my age, so I asked some of my friends this question, "What do you see yourself doing when you are older".

One friend shrugged, " An athlete perhaps, I haven't really thought about it yet".

Another friend replied ," I don't think about the future. I just go along with life. I think about the past but not the future".

I have asked many other teenagers as well, and they all seem unconcerned about the future.

I now feel that it is not normal for me to be considering the future at such a young age.

When I was 10 I believed that life began at 11.

I know , looking back I ruined the year I was 12. I can remember thinking ( as usual ) " What happened to 2003? It has been wasted pondering the future. Next year I will really try to enjoy being 13 and enjoy being a teenager".

But 2004 sped by so quickly and I did exactly the same thing.

Yesterday,I looked at all the other teens in church, and they all seemed to be enjoying life and all it brings as young enthusiastic people.

For them, the future is just stretching ahead of them, but I don't feel that way. I feel that time is short.

I would like to just sit back and enjoy what the days and months and years bring, but seem unable to. I know I should just try to forget about the future and leave it to God to sort out but HOW?

I'm 13 now, and I feel as though I am a very old person, looking back over a life spent worrying about what is to come..

Yomotalking ( who probably should call herself Yomothinking )

[Guest fiverottendogs]

You sound just like my daughter. She will be 20 in a few weeks. Her goal is to be in full time ministry. When she was 5 or 6 she told me she wanted to be a missionary and although that has changed she still wants to devote her career to working for God in ministry some where.

She also does not "FIT" in. Her favorite song is "I'm not cool but I don't care, my God loves me anyway". Ever heard that song? I mean she is a beautiful thin gir that many a young man would have loved to gone out with but she set herself apart for God. She has gone out with a few people but has made a covenant with God not to date for the next year. She would witness at school when it was not cool and like you said she didn't "undress" and try to show off every body part she has. She has a heart for lost souls.

I applaud you for your concern for the future. You are never to young to think ahead. Although you should also enjoy life too. There has to be a balance somewhere. Hang in there and keep being bold for Christ. Find you some more Christian friends who are not in the "cool" crowd also and form a bond with them. Actually you are probably alot more happier than them anyway but they just wouldn't tell you because everyone thinks they have it all and are so happy.

[RGR]

In a few years or so, a lot of your "cool" classmates will probably be wishing they had lived a life like yours. Frankly, I think you're "cool" in that you're willing to buck the trends of the system and stand out for Christ!

[FaithfulFollower]

Yomotalking,

The future is indeed something of which is not to go completely without thought. However, at the same time one needs not to dwell on it and place constant worry in it. For God is ever watching and should there be a calling within your life, He will make it clear to you what will need to be done in regards of that.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Worry not too much about what tomorrow might bring, instead focus on the path of which is walked today, and worry about tomorrow when tomorrow has become today. For our God does not leave us alone, nor will He lead you astray within your desired proffession. Need only have faith in Him to lead you, day by day.

With Love In Christ,

Danielle

[yomotalking]

Thankyou, FiveRDgs, and Ronald.

I'm not really so concerned anymore with trying to fit in, in terms of "Coolness," because it is simply not my scene. That's not really the problem so much as the way I feel I have spoilt the last few years, by worring about the future.

It is almost as if I've been worrying the last few years away. I don't want to grow up, and look back with remorse, and say," I spent all that time thinking about when I'm grown-up, and now I'm here, there's no childhood to look back on. Yet somehow, the future seems so important to me. I feel that, if I DON'T think about the future, then when the time comes for me to become a missionary, I won't be ready for it.

I really need some advice on this matter.

Yomo

P.S., FiveRDgs, I am so pleased your daughter has a heart for the lost. I am not sure exactly what I want to do for a job yet.

But what I really love doing is helping people.

Ronald, thankyou for the encouragement.

Yomo

[yomotalking]

Thankyou very much Faithful Follower. That is VERY helpful. I will take hold of that verse in the Bible.

Yomo

[Guest lizard1102]

I think you said it best when you stated that "time is short". It is. That is why you can't spend all your time worrying about what the future holds. I believe that you need to find an equal balance between planning for the future (because that is important) and living for the moment. I tend to worry about the future a lot also, and I believe it has made me miss out on things in my life. I am 30 and I still don't know exactly what my future holds. We had a guest speaker visit our church a few years back, and afterwards we were able to ask questions. I can't remember exactly what my question was, but it focussed on being anxious about getting married, who I will marry, etc. The guest speaker pointed out that if I continued to be anxious about these sorts of things, that would be all that my life would consist of. I would never truly be able to just sit back and enjoy a moment, because I would be constently thinking about the next step. Now that I am 30, married and have a 7 1/2 month old son, I realize just how right that guest speaker was. I could never have imagined that time would go so fast. Looking at my son, I try my hardest to take in and enjoy every minute that I spend with him. While I also plan for the future, today is the most important thing to me. You never know what tomorrow will bring or how long God will grant you on this earth. I am definately not an expert on being a teenager, but being 30 and having all the responsibilities I have now, makes me wish I would have made more of an effort to enjoy it while I was one.

Hope this helps.

[yomotalking]

Thanks for the answers...but how am I going to enjoy being a kid, while thinking about the future.

I just don't want to waste any more life....

Yomo

[Guest Zayit]

Do you really think you are wasting your future? I can tell you are very special and that HaShem has put a different spirit in you, like Caleb, one that wants to stay close to him and follow him no matter what. I think your spirit is yearning for that day that you will complete the reason you were created for and that is something very special in his plan. And I am not speaking generally here, I know each and every person the L-RD has a plan for but some are more pivitoal than others, like Esther, Haddasah, the Myrtle. Do not compare yourself to others, but take advantage of the eyes the L-RD gave you to see how you are different and that your friends are not worried about their future when they should be. Share Yeshua/Jesus with them, especially now with what's happening in your country.

I thank the L-RD for letting me meet you, for your light is easy to see, even around the pond from me, and know, that you aren't alone there are other lights like yourself around the world. You will someday, soon understand what I mean by this.

Shabbat Shalom!

Zayit

Don't worry about trying to be like everyone else, it is futile, I can tell you that, because you aren't , just start to relax with who He made you to be and enjoy that, that is your life, and just wait on him and be ready for when he calls you.