A month ago I turned 33.

While on a flight from Nashville to Oklahoma I jotted down about 60 things I have come to believe over the last 33 years. I cut the list down to 33 … and I’d like to share with you them.

Here is a list of 33 things I have come to believe or am doing my best to believe. 

1.

You are not a burden.

 

2.

You can call them.

No matter how long it’s been or the distance you’ve created. 

 

3.

Life is not a race and you are not behind.

I think this is going to be the title of my next book.
Although I know this is ture, this is one I am still trying to believe. 

4.

You don’t need the answers to take another step forward.
You just need faith.
Open your hands, surrender what you’re holding tight, and continue. 

 

5.

You can believe them when they say they love you.

You can believe them when they say you are forgiven.

You can believe them when they say they are glad you’re here.

 

6.

Following Jesus isn’t easy, but it is beautiful. 

 

7.

Sometimes a step back is actually a step forward.

And sometimes a step forward feels like a step back.

 

8.

You’ve heard me say it before and you’ll hear me say it again.

Hope doesn’t let the story end.

It just doesn’t.

Where fear tries to write in a period, hope adds a comma.

Where hurt puts up a wall, hope installs a door.

Where depression and anxiety cut off the light, hope flickers bright. 

 

9.

Rest is required.

Doing nothing can change everything.

There is a reason Jesus invited us to rest and practiced is for us to see.

10.

Celebrate what you’ve worked for and give what you have.
Slow down and let yourself believe what’s true: that everything is a gift. 

11.

Miracles still happen.
I’ll tell you about one day.
Not today, but one day. 

12.

As you go, walk a little slower.

See what I did there?

13.

Not every thought in your head is true.

There is a page in as you go that goes like this:

not every thought

in my head

i believe

sometimes 

i ask them

how did you

who let you

when did you

get inside

and then

i ask them to

go.

go. 

14.

It is a brave and hard thing to sit with what is when what is is not what you want it to be. 

15.

If you’re willing to be bad at something you might just become good at it.

16.

Don’t compare your story to their story, your pain to their pain, your dreams to their dreams, your numbers to their numbers.

17.

Joy and pain can coexist.

For more on this, check out my friend Heidi Goehmann’s work. 

18. 

It’s okay to say and pray I don’t know. 

19.

Grace is (still and always) for you.
This is i know for sure. 

20.

If someone has something in their teeth, tell them.
If someone’s zipper is down, tell them.
If they have bats in cave, tell them.

People need other people - especially when it comes to what they cannot see.

After all, God did not create us to see our own face, He created us so that we could not see our own face. 

21.

Become good at saying sorry, help, I love you, thank you, and amen.

I’m sure we could add more to this list.

But this is a good place to start. 

sorry, help, I love you, thank you, and amen. 

22.

The sunrise and sunset is free.

Don’t miss them.

Chase them.

Watch them.

Admore them.

Pray in the darkness and wait for the light.
Pray in the light and wait for the darkness. 

23.

Slow to speak.

Quick to listen.

 

Slow to hate.

Quick to love.

 

Slow to judge.

Quick to care.

 

This is the way to live.

24.

You are loved because you are loved.

Stop fighting the truth and rest in it.

25.

The truth is too beautiful to carry alone.

26.

God is listening and responding, but it probably won’t go the way you think it will.

27.

Love is worth the risk.

28.

It is always the right time to show compassion.

29.

Rest is holy.
I know, two points about rest in this list of 33 things.
I could have combined them, but I think it’s worth mentioning twice. 

30.

Just because life doesn’t look the way you thought it would doesn’t mean you’re being punished or that you’ve been forgotten. 

 

31. You can believe Jesus when he says he is with you.

 

32.

Silence is a beautiful prayer.

 

33. Last but not least … 

The best part of the cinnamon roll is the center.

Alright!
That’s the list.
What would you add?
What would your list be?