I’m going to rehab guys!
Ok not the kind that you’re probably thinking of. But I am currently going through a period of restoration and rehabilitation when it comes to my relationship with the Lord. I am a firm believer in the transformation power of time in a place where your whole life is focused on learning about the Lord and how to walk with Him. My past experiences with this have been in places like summer camp, missions trips, christian retreats, etc. There’s a reason why we come out of these places on a sort of spiritual high. This being said, I don’t think any of my past experiences could even begin to compare to the past few weeks. I’ve had spiritual highs, lows, and about everything in between.
One of the biggest things I have been really convicted of in the past few weeks is my identity. Now this is a hot topic in Christianity, and I have probably heard 50 different teachings and sermons on identity, yet I am still just taking the first steps into putting my identity in Christ. Earlier this summer was when I began to realize that I was having a sort of identity crisis. As many of you know, I graduated high school this past spring. As I walked across the stage to get my diploma, without realizing it, I was also walking away from being a DC student, an athlete, a prefect, and in some ways, even a kid. To me, taking that diploma meant taking my first steps into adulthood, especially because I wasn’t going to college after. All of these were things that I knew were going to fall away when I graduated, but knowing the storm is going to come doesn’t mean that the winds get any calmer or the rain isn’t as harsh. So, as this summer came and went, I became more and more aware of the fact that on a fundamental level, I didn’t really know who I was anymore. I knew that I loved Jesus and that I was going to be spending the next 9 months serving Him, but in my head, that was just a small part of who I was. To me, it was possible for someone to know me pretty well without knowing that I was a christian.
God was well aware of this pattern of thinking, and well aware of the fact that it had to go if I wanted to be able to serve His children around the world. This then is what I mean by rehab: taking every stronghold and identity that I had put myself in and absolutely wrecking it so that there would be space for an altar to the Lord to be built. As someone who has suffered many sports injuries, I know that rehab can be painful and challenging, but the result is so so good. To stick with the sports metaphor, an injured athlete hurts their whole team when they try to play in a game before they are finished rehab. In the same way, spiritual rehab is essential to being able to bring the gospel to the nations. So right now, that’s pretty much the season of life I’m in. I’m learning what it means to surrender and let God take over. I’m learning how to walk with Him and hear His voice. I’m learning to view myself as the person God says I am and not who the world says I am. I’m learning what it means to walk in authority, and so much more.
As always, I would love to hear from some of y’all on any advice or book recommendations or just talk about life and what all of this means! Please reach out! I love you all and am missing seeing so many of you.
– KJ
Thanks for being so open about your rehab. God is doing an amazing work in you. I’m so glad you are willing to let him work.
Wow! I can tell that you have been thinking about this and really allowing God to search you.
Being able to look back and recognize how you were feeling at the time of your graduation and this season is such a blessing. It allows you to see where you have been and where God is taking you, and this is a powerful thing because that’s where God gets the glory! I pray that as you continue your journey you learn more about your identity and all the wonderful things God has in store for you!
Wow…Anna so powerful and relatable. So glad your so open to talking about this. Definitely inspiring…keep doing great things!!
KJ!!!
I LOVED reading your blog. As an old washed up athlete I can totally relate to your analogies. We all could stand to go to more spiritual rehabiltiation and it seems your PT is doing some AMAZING work in you. You are going to do many great things for HIM! 🙂
Reading about your experiences brings tears of joy to my eyes. Grandpa and I were so happy for you to have this opportunity, and to share in your “send-off” party. I pray for you each day, and know God will use you and the other young people in a mighty way. Love you SO much, Grandma R.