What Every Young Person Needs to Know About Changing the World

I see you there, twenty-something.

Caught in the grip of a world gone toxic. You flounder in doubt, struggle for truth, are caught in the web, that you are too young, too weak, too inexperienced…to change.

But God says you are His. A Timothy. Someone He longs to use.  You have a dream meant for pursuing. You have a hope, which doesn’t die quickly, like the video games characters you’ve created.  You are more than animation, more than isolated clones of the millions of other youth He has created.

You are a child of God…Won’t you let Him use you?

You can change the world.

Young girl. 

I see you there, posting pictures on the internet, using your body like a pin-up fly-catching game of cat and mouse, hoping the attention of strangers will fill the void of that emptiness you loathe.  Feeling hollow in that image. Knowing more awaits, yet so much has been lost in a world where looks, and weight, and appearance seems to rule everything…

But you are more, so much more. Your future awaits you.  Won’t you lay down the facade, the fading beauty and grab a hold of a God who makes us beautiful for a lifetime?  Won’t you trust, there is more than flat stomachs, boy’s attention, more than playing dumb for a love that’s temporary, shallow…fleeting?

There is a real love waiting. Here.  Now. For you.

And with it, you can change the world.

Labeled one.

Cut down. Tired of climbing. That lost one hoping against hope, yet finding nothing. I see you. Your world seems lost, the adults in your life have failed you.

Won’t you keep holding on?

I know the trusted ones in your life have betrayed you, lived selfishly, when you needed something solid to stand on and lean against.  They have thrown arrows and labeled you: Weak. Useless. Lazy. Disposable.  They have given you names that are reflections of their own insecurities:  Fat. Stupid. Worthless. Dead to them.

These labels hurt. Make you want to curl up in your pain, go to sleep and never wake up.

But you are more.  More than what grown-ups say about you.  You are loved.  Believed in. Created for a purpose that is yet to be revealed to you.  And there is hope, always hope on the other side of this tunnel of darkness.

Hold on.  Don’t let go.  I believe in you.

For I just know, you were created to change your world.

Dearest child, loud, obnoxious.

Trying to bully her way with criticisms, redundant accusations, trying to “pull the line”, be so brave.  The one climbing at all costs because you know the pain of being crushed, abused, torn in two by those who exploit, other peoples pain.

I adhere to you today child, just give up.  Let go. Give in.  Striving, fighting, bullying the ones in your life will only get you more pain.  Free yourself from the hold of control will only give you the joy you are trying so hard to earn.

For true good never comes from destroying those who hurt us, squishing those who are helpless, or hammering the ones trying to help you.

Let go.  You will find freedom there.

Because you were made to change the world. And the first thing about world changers is that they don’t lead, but are led first….by The One who who controls the things we can’t.

Oh, offended one. 

Once a church goers, now sick of your parents religion.  You are apt, I will give you that…seeing through fake, and the emptiness of hypocritical living. You have experienced pain, but now revolt from religion altogether because if God is good, He doesn’t capture people with “have to’s”, fancy buildings or political systems.

You come in the name of freedom.  You want a free, God loving spirituality that is outside the box, void of all structure, and rules, and a man in a tie telling you, you are going to hell if you don’t, “look like us”.

And you are different, not a mold like the rest…and I love that about you.

But,  stop running.  Running from corporate playbooks.  Because you know, God is love, not hate.  He is our Creator, the maker of all good things.  And you don’t believe the lies, and so you seek to find him but unknowingly get intertwined in a world of darkness disguised as light.

Discernment is what I pray for you.  You are wise, but your wisdom must grow upon The Truth.  Do not be deceived or taken captive by the spirituality that may entangle you.  Because you are half way there, and you know your God…but there is still so much truth you need to learn, if we both are honest.

 So child, go out and change the world. But don’t lose the hope of The One who created you and loves you. And know, sin is a rope that will strangle you if you play around with pride and sin.

You are a world changer and you know it, somewhere, there, deep inside…

But without His Word to guide and direct you, it can be easy to get off course.  You need the church. You need the body of Christ supporting and speaking into you.  You are not a lone soldier.  You are His body and we can’t work unless intertwined with people can breath life into us, who free us to walk in His gifts of the Spirit.

Oh thinning one, I see you.

Whether addictions, or a skinny image, you starve your self while looking at something or someone else to satisfy you.

But bones don’t make beauty, the substance you snort, or drink, or shoot up, won’t heal you.  Your wounds are much deeper than a band-aid that can cover you.  You need a Savior.  A healer who will come and sweep you off your feet and rearrange your thinking child.

For to be truly satisfied we need to let go of the world and cling only unto Christ.

We need more than our faces plastered on magazines, or in bars or clubs where there will always be someone taller, prettier, or more capable at doing what we can’t.  And if perfection is our standard…none of have any hope.

For friend, when we look in the mirror, God must be the sole reflection we hope to look like one day…not those who live around us.

And don’t you know, our brokenness is not just a deficit we must hide in masks of seemingly perfection.  Our brokenness is the very sounding cry for the God of the Universe, that draws Him near to help us.

So, stop your addiction, and by the power of the resurrected God, go out and change yourself.

Because after you find Christ, you were made to change the world.

And you could be the pursuer, the one seeking and hungry for a God who is your everything.  Then, props to you, you are on your way to changing the world.

But, all you world changers? 

There is something I need to tell you. Being influential and a world changer is not about a status symbol, an Instagram sensation, or the amount of people you have following you on Twitter.

World changing is about surrendering.  Giving up your right to be heard, make waves, wield your power, or even dictate your own destiny…

Because changing the world through Christ will always reap greater fruit than trying to “try hard” in your own strength.

World changing is all about letting go, and doing the little things with the love of the Father.  Here.  Now.  In the place God has planted us in. It may start with putting down what is hurting your body, or simply be turning your eyes away from the thing that is wrapping it’s tentacles of lies around you’re destiny. It may just start with going to church, asking someone for help, or texting a good friend that you haven’t talked to in some time.

Because world changing is about neediness.  Not needing social media, an image, or a substance…but about embracing your weakness, and needing a God who never lets go.  It’s about running like Joseph away from trouble, embracing that well, or cell, or field of sheep God has kept you in.

It’s about praising Him to the other side.

It’s about following your dreams, listening to His guiding, taking that first step and being brave, even when everyone else around you says your crazy, insane, or your idea is stupid.

It’s about educating yourself.  First in the Word of God, then in the ways He has for you. Hanging on, climbing, breathing, hoping against hope that He in near and will not only save you…

But will be the air beneath of the wings of the purposes He has placed within you.

So, broken one, addicted one, lost little girl, beaten down son….it’s your time, it’s your life, it’s your choice.  Will you rise? 

Will you stand, if only by faith, and be more than what those in your life ever said you could be?  Will you fight against the odds, changing generations, legacies, destinies with this gift you have been given….today?

Will you cry out to the one who is your strength, dig deep into the character of a God?  Stand up, turn off that t.v. or computer, or phone screen in front of you…

And go out and change the world?

For your generation depends on it.  Our world is depending on you.  Future generations will look back and ask you, “What did you do with your life?  How did you spend this time God has give you?”

And today, the saints who have gone before you, rise up in an orchestra of prayer, dance around the throne room with praise, and hope, for the very purpose of cheering you on.

So I ask you.  Now.  Today.  In this hour.  In whatever state you are here and reading this…

Are you ready to rise up, go out, and change the world?

 

Linking with Lyli

Picture credit: upfcoloroda.org, newyorkdailingsun.com