I guess I'm about the age when it's not uncommon to have a midlife crisis. According to the internet's definition (from Google's English dictionary, Oxford Languages), a midlife crisis is "an emotional crisis of identity and self-confidence that can occur in early middle age". I'm not totally sure if I'm actually having one of these, but I can definitely see how I could. Perhaps partly because of our family being on the brink of going through some major changes - including new jobs, a new school, and likely moving into a new neighborhood - I find myself wondering more than usual these days who I really am.
It's not even that I'm walking around woefully saying to myself, who am I? It's more like I'm gradually realizing that so many things I've lived in, things that have felt like home to me, are about to be gone from my day-to-day experience. And as I slowly try to wrap my head around what the next phase of life is going to look like, I'm left to face the reality of my existence and what makes me ME without all of those other things. And in some ways, I'm not quite sure if I know.
So, you tell me, especially if you've been around longer than I have - is this what having a midlife crisis feels like?
It fascinates me that you don't really ever hear about this kind of crisis happening to young children. Of course obviously part of this is because of the simple fact that children are not "middle aged". But I think it might be more than that. I'm reminded of Jesus' words that teach us to become like children in order to enter His Kingdom. Jesus could have chosen any person to tell us to be like. He could have said, become like a mother or father, or become like a soldier, or become like a strong leader... but instead He said, become like a child.
I wonder if one of the reasons Jesus chose to encourage us to become like children is because children aren't worried about who they are. They just are. If you ask any child about his/her favorite color, I bet they're not asking themselves, well what color should I like? What color are the other kids liking these days? Children haven't lived long enough to question what makes them them. You don't need to tell a child, you do you, because they don't know any other way.
There is a funny balance that we adults try to find as Christians - we want to be ourselves and we know on some level that God has designed each of us to be unique. But as believers, we are also trying to make sure that who we are matches up with who Jesus is. We know that by calling ourselves followers of Christ, we represent Him. And we don't want to do anything that would misrepresent Him. So we often try to walk this fine line between trying to be authentically ourselves and making sure we are authentically representing Jesus.
The problem is, I'm afraid we tend to easily forget that by believing in Him, we already are His children. And just like children, we can simply be who we are. Our Father is the One who changes us, transforms us and helps us to become more and more like Jesus. We can't get there by trying harder. Any meaningful change that happens in us, happens because God's love - that powerful, deep, unfailing love - is changing us.
Maybe rather than praying, help me to be like Jesus, we can pray, help me to know Your love. Because when we are in a place where we're receiving and abiding in that love, God - who is love - is going to change us however we need to be changed.
So today, let's just be His children. As we continue praying over our upcoming Serve-a-Thon, let's pray that all of us - students, teachers, and parents - will learn to live freely as God's children, in the reality of His powerful, enduring love.
Pray with me...
... Father, show all in the ACSD community how great Your love truly is
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1
... Jesus, work within each of us to make us more like You
For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants. Philippians 2:13
... Holy Spirit, move among us before, during and after Serve-a-Thon day, that many would come to know You and Your love in new ways
I pray that you will know the love of Christ. His love goes beyond anything we can understand. I pray that you will be filled with God Himself. Ephesians 3:19
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog and pray for Alliance Christian School District! Lord willing, I plan to publish a new blog post weekly throughout the school year. Feel free to subscribe (at the bottom of this page) if you'd like to be notified each time a new blog post has been published. We also have a prayer team that is always open for new pray-ers to join. If you'd like to learn more, email me at cwarner@alliancechristian.org.
~ Carrie Warner, ACSD Prayer Team Coordinator
Soli Deo Gloria
To God alone be the glory
