your life seems so perfect. how do you stay so happy and optimistic?
Hi beautifuls! I received this question in my Formspring a couple of weeks ago, and I thought I'd answer it in a separate post by itself. Thanks so much to whoever who asked it, it's a lovely question that really made me sit back and reflect once again on how beautiful life in general is. I truly thank God for the blessings He has showered upon my life (family, being able to travel, pursuing what I love) that is mostly full of joy and I'm so happy that some of you think my blog reflects that. That said, I think my life is far from perfect. I don't think anyone's life can be perfect in this world, but I really believe what we can have is perfect Love and perfect Joy in our crazy, hectic, fast-paced reality. And that's found in Jesus. Or at least, that's my own personal belief and testimony.
I've been through my share of heartaches, and constantly have to fight to jump over the difficult hurdles that come my way until today. More often than not, I get upset, I sometimes cry, and I blame God for a lot of things even though it's obvious I am the problem. Of course, I recognize that my troubles are completely frivolous compared to the suffering the rest of the world faces (famine, abuse, and diseases are but a few), but we who have it slightly better off than the people in oppressed, under-developed countries do have our own fair share of issues. Relationships, friendships, school/university/working life, family conflict, and so on. At the risk of sounding cliche, it's a dog-eat-dog world out there.
Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to get at is that while I do have my bad days, sad days, angry days, confused days, I thankfully never have to stay down for long because of my amazing support system that is God, my family, and friends. Honestly! Sometimes I feel I have it too good, like I don't deserve their love and their friendship. Because I really don't. But they love me anyway because they like doing their bit for charity. Or maybe 'cos I'm secretly awesome. Ha! Nahh, they're my bestest friends and family in the world. And the best part is, no one loves me like my own Creator does. God has pulled me through so much crap in life and helped me emerge victorious - or at the very least, truly content and happy.
"The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms..."
-Deuteronomy 33:27
That's one of the verses from the Bible that I keep close to my heart. Sometimes, being happy and optimistic is not the actual thing I'm feeling - what I really am holding on to is hope. Hope in God that He will help me conquer the mountain that is my studies, hope in Jesus that He will heal my heart... and it is that Hope that keeps me and comforts me. It is that hope in God that keeps me optimistic. He is my true Joy.
I know, I know. This sounds so unreal, so... irritating in a sense that it may sound too happy or faux self-deprecating. Plus it is so much easier to praise God when life's going swell, but I don't know how else to put it, because this is my life, and I'm geuinely living it with all its highs and lows just like everyone else. It's not perfect, but it is most certainly darn lovely - I can't deny that. I won't deny that. Still, I know that at some point in life certain parts of it will crumble and continue to face tough challenges, because life can suck and will suck, but at least I will have an amazing God and wonderful friends to do life with. That I'll always be thankful for.
xxp/s: Jesus loves you, and He only wants the best for you, too!
<3<3<3
well said, ju. well said :) hope life is doing good for you :)