.youth.

I hate it when my stupid pride gets in the way of me hearing what I need to hear.

I grew up in the church. I grew up a pastor's kid and a missionary kid. I went to christian school for seven years. And I'm a christian education and bible double major. I like to think that when it comes to the Bible, I've got it down pat pretty well.

But oh how that's not true at all. Somewhere deep down inside, my knowledge tells me I can never know everything. A few days ago, I was quite worried about a very good friend who is having health problems. Not just "haphazard, slightly preoccupied" worried. I was scared. Real scared. It was all I could think about and I had pretty much completely lost focus.

A friend of mine recognized this problem and decided to fix it. She sat me down in the hallway and read me Psalm 23, emphasizing verse 4: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil, for you are with me." And it was so simple but it was exactly what I needed to hear.

But my filthy stupid pride wouldn't let me hear it. You know why? Because my friend is a freshman. And one who had been a part of the Christian world far less than I have. And I wanted to think I knew better.

I don't know exactly when I came to my senses but the voice of youthful wisdom eventually broke through my idiocy and i realized:

A. she was right.
B. I do not have it as together as I pretend I do
C. this freshman is far stronger and wiser than I will ever be

It's so like God to remind me that He'll be with me through the valley and smash my pride to bits at the same time, isn't it?

Oh...and to you, dear young one.....thank you.

.disappointed.

How does one deal with disappointment?

Some get angry. Some get bitter. Some stuff it away to fester. And some simply give up trying. For good. Somehow none of these seem like great alternatives. But the advice often given to "just get over it" doesn't seem to adequately address the problem. Disappointment runs too deep to just "get over."with it come self-doubt, frustration, and hopelessness-- and you don't just get over those. You deal with them, most often extensively. And you know what--it's normal. Those things are going to come every now and again. But where on earth can we let these emotions take us, where we don't fall into destructive patterns of thinking?

Yesterday, a church billboard guided me to 1 Thessalonians 5:18-- "in everything, give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." So...through your disappointment-- give thanks. Through your self-doubt and frustration-- give thanks. Through your hopelessness-- give thanks. But why?

Well, not only are we commanded to do so, but also we are assured that "tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint." And there we come full circle-- the disappointment is vanquished and we are the better for it.

So the solution to the raging emotions that appear in the aftermath of disappointment...

...give thanks.

And never, ever, ever stop trying.