22: It's Miserable and Magical

Ladies and Gentlemen. 22. It's Miserable and Magical.

I turned 22 this week and let me tell you what, this week has been a very trying one to say the least.

Shortly before turning 22, Taylor Swift's song started to run through my head. Let me tell you what, that woman knows exactly how 22 feels so far. Just a few of the lyrics from the song describe this week:

         "We're happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time. It's miserable and magical."

Safe to say, the girly jam feels like it will be my theme song for this year. Struggling, but realizing that there is magic in all of this.

I truly am feeling 22. Adult status and all it entails.

The day I turned 22 I woke up late, a button fell off my dress, I made multiple stupid and large mistakes at work, and I felt like I couldn't win. Just ask my mom, almost every single hour she was receiving an email about the next "crisis". Truth be told, if it hadn't been my birthday, none of this would have seemed as bad.

But, instead of focusing on the bad, my mom kept reminding me to stay positive. I had an awesome new outfit that I got to enjoy all day. I had some very kind co-workers who got a good laugh about my day of mistakes. They had no idea it was my birthday, but they still made me feel like I could do this.

The following days were incredibly busy and filled with highs and lows.

Saturday I took an afternoon and evening to myself. I could tell that shopping, reading, cooking, and just winding down were needed. I calmed down about this scary thing of being 22 and an adult. I realized that the next year is going to be trying, but I will continue to learn who I am as a daughter of the Lord.

This morning's sermon hit home, which caused me to finally blog about being 22. 

(I'll attempt to forget the fact that I came home and my bathroom ceiling started to leak....AGAIN! Gotta love good 'ole 1D.)

Truths that I am sticking to this year (inspired partially by this morning's sermon):

The Lord has promised good to me.

My hands cannot do this. It is not what my hands have done. "Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit."

God's hand is a hand that unites.

God's hand protects. 

All power is in His grip. "God, we do not know what to do but our eyes are on you."


I have received many other truths this week in so many different ways. In Bob Goff's book Love Does, I continue to strive to live a life where my love is an action. Where I go out and "do" instead of just sitting around praying for God to change things. The Lord has promised good to me and I know that His plan is far better than any plan I could think of or see.

In one of my comments for our Bible study on Love Does, I pondered on this quote; "...maybe we're all a little like human origami and the more creases we have, the better." Often I think my creases and folds are things to hide and be ashamed of. I often forget that I cannot see the bigger picture. I cannot see the beautiful origami the Lord is shaping me into.

Watch out world! I'm 22 and I'm ready to press onward!