To the Girl Growing in the Lord,

I don’t know you personally, but I know where you’re at. I’ve been there. It’s uncomfortable and uncertain, but not uncommon. Let me share something – you are not alone. 

I have been the girl that was trying to figure it all out. When the Holy Spirit first began tugging on my heart, I was in the middle of an engagement, living with and in sexual sin with a man I thought I would marry. Things seemed solid at first. He was interested in God – for a time, but it faded. I found myself craving more and more of the Lord, yet unequally yoked and in a season of doubt and uncertainty. My flesh was tied to the world, but spiritually I longed for my Redeemer. 

The moments of decision, brokenness, slow pruning and healing, and restoration over time created in me an unshakeable and unrelenting rest in Christ, who is my Rock, Shelter, Way, Truth, Life, Shepherd, Savior, and so much more. Jesus is everything. At the end of the day, everything in this world will pass away, but He never will. He will always be there for you. He will never leave you or forsake you. He will always guide you, teach you, comfort you, shelter and discipline you, and love you. He will always, always love you. 

You are worthy of His love, because He has made you so. He has willingly taken on the punishment we all deserve, defeated death, and risen, so that we may freely draw near to Him and receive His unfailing love. The questioning and back-and-forth that you are living in is not His plan for you. God has more for you. God has more for your life. 

To truly walk in peace requires a deep level of surrender. For me, I spent way too long living in a lukewarm relationship with Christ. I was one foot in, one foot out. I wanted to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, but there were pieces of the world that I struggled to let go of. It may be normal to navigate through, but it is not a state to become complacent in. There are certain things that we must surrender in order to walk in all that God is calling us to. 

To the girl growing in the Lord, you know what it is you need to let go of. I can’t tell you. I can’t determine it for you. But I can trust that the Holy Spirit is speaking something to you. It’s not just you or your own thoughts. God is trying to communicate with you. He’s trying to draw you closer to Him. Will you answer? Will you listen? 

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2 ESV). 

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 12:11 ESV). 

For me, on the other side of the pruning was fruit I never imagined would grow. I’m married now. My husband loves God with such passion and strength. He works and serves the church we both love and attend. And I’m learning ministry at our church, seeking the Lord with greater fervor every single day. There is still refinement from Him, but now I accept and walk through it with praise, remembering all He has already brought me through. 

To the girl who is growing in the Lord, you are loved. People are praying for you. Take your time navigating this season, but listen to the voices of those around you who love God and are seeking Him daily. Pray. Read the Word. Worship. Fellowship. Seek the Lord every moment that you can. He will guide you.

Know that you are never alone, and there is so much more. 

Sincerely,

A Friend