when the load is too heavy...

Hey. I know you're scared. I know it feels like the walls are closing in on you and there's nowhere left to run. But you don't need to run, because you're safe.

Right here. Right now. You're okay.

I promise that people aren't staring at you. Most of them don't even know anything's wrong, but even if they do, so what? They're probably too consumed in their own turmoil to pay attention. But remember that you're not alone.

It's okay to reach out and tell someone that you feel like your world is shattering. It's fine to say that you're not okay and you don't know why. There are people in this world who won't judge you. And if none of those people are in your life, I am. So reach out to me.

You can say that you hurt. Like a knife has been thrust into the deepest part of your being, twisted and jabbed further and further until it's stuck. And every time you breathe you're reminded of that searing pain inside of you.

You can say you're angry at everything and everyone for serious things and for stupid things, too. Because sometimes those stupid things matter the most.

There are moments when it feels like you're losing your grip on reality, but trust me when I say that everything you feel is much too real. But you're alive. You're here. And even if it doesn't feel like it now... you are okay.

The words don't feel right in this moment, but this too shall pass. It may be days, weeks, months or years. But there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

It's okay if you can't make it to that light on your own. You were never meant to.

Talk to someone. Release some of the weight on your shoulders. This load wasn't meant for you. Jesus died so you didn't have to carry it anymore. But some days we forget, don't we?

Some days we forget that the horrible mistakes in our past have no weight on our eternity. 

Some days we forget that those who wronged us and the hurt they inflicted are not our responsibility.

Some days we forget that we're merely human, and we can only bear so much.

Today I want you to remember.

It's not just little kids that need a hand to hold. Because life is hard and doing it on our own is painful.

Feeling hopeless and worthless and messed up and damaged is not okay. You are none of those things. You are a light, hope to many. You are worth more than all of the stars in the sky. You are a fearfully and wonderfully made, son or daughter of the living God.

You are enough.

Satan loves nothing more than to mess with your head and convince you that you're too broken to carry on. He'll isolate you and do everything he can to push you off that cliff.

But you are a warrior.

Stronger than you think and so much mightier than you'll ever know.

Your story is not over yet, so don't you dare close the book.

xoxo Jenni