honesty

it's important to realize that life is not perfect.

you're probably thinking, "duh, Katherine. everyone knows that." and yes, I know we all know it, but it's not until something happens that you truly realize it.  it's not until you get disappointed or hurt that you realize things really don't always go your way.

it's so easy for us to just sit back and make everything look perfect. I mean, that's what social media is for, right? no one puts the ugliest picture of themselves on Facebook  or chooses the bad filter on instragram. it's all about appearances. 

however, that's not life. life is messy and disappointing. people let you down. things don't turn out the way you want. 

and yet, God never lets us down. 

this was made so evident to me last week. in the midst of a disappointment, God brought me encouragement and peace.  did it make the hurt go away? no, but it did soften it because I know that my Father is in control.

I get so frustrated with myself sometimes because I forget this truth constantly.  it takes something to happen for me to remember it, which of course is no fun, but that's what makes us grow.

a seed has to die before it can grow into a beautiful flower. 

a piece of marble has be chiseled away before it can be a beautiful statue.

just as God has to break bits of us away before we can become the masterpiece He created us to be.

life will give us disappointments, but it's what we do with those and where we run to for comfort that build us into who we are meant to be.

Romans 5:3-5 

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance,  character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."