God, girlhood, and growing up
There’s something strange about growing up and going from girlhood to womanhood.
One minute you’re a girl making Pinterest boards about the life you hope to have someday, and the next you’re sitting alone with your coffee in the morning realizing you’re actually the one responsible for building it.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how much growing up has changed the way I see life.
When I was younger, I thought the goal was to become impressive to the world somehow. Prettier. More successful. More desired. More certain of myself. I thought if I could just finally become “enough,” then maybe I’d finally feel at peace.
But the older I get, the more exhausting that way of living feels.
There’s so much pressure now to always look beautiful, always be interesting, and always have something happening. Sometimes it feels like womanhood has turned into a performance of who is doing the best and who has it all figured out on paper.
And I think a lot of us are tired.
Not just physically tired, but tired deep down in our souls. I don’t know about you, but I get tired of comparing, chasing and feeling like our worth is constantly moving depending on how we look, what we accomplish, or how our lives appear that day.
Lately, I’ve noticed myself wanting different things.
I love slower mornings.
Having inner with people I love.
A beautiful home that feels peaceful to be inside of.
More honesty, depth, and time with God.
I love a life that actually feels good to live, not just good to look at.
And maybe that sounds really simple, but I honestly think God has been changing my heart through those desires.
The closer I’ve gotten to Him, the more I’ve realized how empty the world’s version of womanhood can feel when it becomes the center of everything.
We’re constantly told to build our identities on things that can disappear overnight. Beauty. Attention. Success. Validation. Being desired. Being chosen.
None of those things were ever meant to carry the truth of who we are.
I still love beautiful things. Red lipstick and getting dressed up and taking photos and romanticizing ordinary life a little. I still have dreams for my life. I still want to create beautiful things and enjoy this life God has given me.
But I don’t want those things to define me anymore.
The truth is, we are all called to something so much deeper than just being admired by the world.
We are called to know God and make Him known to others.
To become women who feel whole in their identity because its rooted in Him.
To live with peace in our hearts no matter the season.
To love people well.
To create beautiful lives without losing ourselves inside them.
There is something so freeing about realizing your identity is already secure before you’ve proven anything at all.
Girlhood with God is so much better. And that has been one of my favorite lessons from growing up.
