I’m the kind of girl who keeps people guessing, a puzzle
made of contradictions that often confounds those around me. On the surface, I
appear to be tough—ready to confront any challenge that comes my way. However, beneath that tough exterior is a heart filled with empathy, always willing to
connect with others' emotions.
I value honesty, and when I share my thoughts, they burst
forth like bright colors on a blank canvas—bold and real. However, during tough
times, my communication can become a fragile performance. I might say “I'm okay”
while feeling anything but, and if I say “I’m fine,” it usually signals that
I'm on the brink of something deeper.
My personality is a mix of extremes. One minute, I’m quietly
observing the world around me, and the next, I’m bursting with energy,
laughter, and enthusiasm that lights up a room. I possess a strong sense of
confidence, but it's often accompanied by a shyness that makes stepping into
the spotlight feel daunting.
My identity is complex, woven from different threads that
reflect various aspects of who I am. I struggle to fit into neat categories
because I embody both calm and chaos, making me feel out of place.
For a while, I found myself trapped in a box filled with
many windows—each a one-way mirror showing different lives. I could see people
living carefree or striving for perfection, but I never felt like I could
choose just one path. Eager to connect, I approached one of the windows and
spoke to those on the other side, but it felt closed off. They liked what they
saw in the mirror, but when I revealed my true self, they noticed our
differences and decided I didn’t belong with them anymore.
This pattern repeated itself, leaving me feeling rejected
and isolated. Eventually, I returned to the starting point, this time
determined to show others that while I was different, I shared many
similarities with them, too. I opened my window wider, inviting others into my
space, unaware of their true intentions. Some sought to boost their own
self-esteem by being close to me, while others entered my world only to leave
when things got tough. In the end, I learned that while connections can be
meaningful, they can also be fleeting, and navigating this complex landscape of
relationships is an ongoing journey.
After going around in circles, I felt a deep yearning for
change. I longed for acceptance, for others to simply be there with me, sharing
moments. The craving for connection grew intense, and I found myself wanting
any kind of relationship. One day, in a moment of desperation, I decided to
flip my mirrors around. Instead of being able to see out, others could now see
in. This change forced me to hide my flaws and mistakes in my closet and under
my bed. Everything I left visible had to be perfect—no, not just perfect, but
pristine! Whenever someone noticed something less than flawless in my room, I
hastily tossed it aside, burying it with my other shortcomings.
Though my room was in a constant state of flux, I felt a
strange sense of acceptance. I was stressed, often overwhelmed, but at least
people were drawn to me. Eventually, I crammed too many things into my closet.
When I tried to shut the door securely, it burst open, spilling all my hidden
clutter onto the floor.
“Don’t look!” I yelled at the figures peering through the
now-invisible windows. “Just give me a moment to fix this!” as I scrambled to
shove items under the bed, only to have more things tumble out on the other
side. The laughter that followed pierced through my chest like a knife.
“Hahaha!” I let out a wild, manic laugh. “This is hilarious,
right? So, just let me deal with this, and then we can all laugh about it
together!” I rushed to empty my dresser drawers, but the weight of things
caused them to topple, scattering my belongings everywhere.
Soon, curiosity got the better of my friends, and they
stormed in, eagerly picking through my chaos. “How could I have believed what
you showed me was real?! You were foolish to think this wouldn’t come out!”
they exclaimed while I sat on the ground, hugging my knees, feeling utterly
exposed and defeated. The bright points in my life faded into the background,
overshadowed by the mess they now observed.
When I finally mustered the courage to look up and wipe away
my tears, I was struck by the sight of white padding covering the walls around
me. “Oh, so you think I’m crazy?!” I shouted, feeling a mixture of anger and
despair. In response, I was handed a bottle of pills, promising relief but with
more side effects than actual solutions.
In my mind, I wondered, “How will these pills possibly mend
this chaos?” Yet, craving even a sliver of approval, I reluctantly took them,
hoping they might bring some solace. But instead of relief, I was met with
misunderstanding. They offered me a remedy without knowing the real problem,
ultimately making everything worse. My stress skyrocketed, and my anxiety
became more oppressive. It felt as though the very purpose of the pills
rejected me, and when relief would finally arrive, it returned in a heavier,
more unbearable form. All they did was distract me from the harsh reality of my
life.
After that experience, I made a decision: I would hate
people before they could hurt me. By pushing them away first, I thought I could
avoid the pain of rejection. I pulled the blinds down, shutting myself off from
the world, both visually and emotionally.
For a long time, I lived in that self-imposed isolation. In
those quiet moments, I felt only emptiness and loneliness, my heart aching for
a love that felt real and enduring, not just a fleeting connection.
Then one day, in a moment of desperation, I dropped to my
knees and cried out, “Help! I need a way out of this cycle of pain!” It was a
plea for change.
On that day, instead of a harsh hand on the windows, I heard
a gentle knocking on a door I didn’t even realize was there. I squinted through
the peephole and saw a man standing patiently outside, waiting for me to let
him in. But fear held me back—I didn’t open the door.
Each day, he returned, knocking softly and persistently.
Eventually, my curiosity overcame my fear, and I decided to open the door. When
I did, he stepped in with an almost infectious enthusiasm. “You finally let me
in! You have no idea how long I’ve waited for you to open the door!” he
exclaimed, his face lighting up with joy.
“Who are you?” I asked, taken aback by his excitement.
“You don’t know me yet, but I know you,” he replied, a warm
smile on his face.
I studied him carefully, my mind racing with caution. Could
he be just another person looking to take advantage of me? As if sensing my
doubt, he bent to pick up one of my shattered picture frames lying on the floor
and, with a touch, somehow restored it to its original state.
“Whoa! How did you do that?” I exclaimed, astonished. “And
why?”
“I did it because I love you,” he answered simply.
I was confused, both intrigued and wary. “Are you going to
join me?” he asked, a hint of hope in his voice.
“Join you to do what?” I countered.
“To clean up this mess and give it to me,” he said. “You’ll
hand me the pieces that feel broken, and I’ll fix what’s important while
helping you let go of the things that cause you stress. I’m here to heal your
mind, body, and soul.”
His words were hard to grasp, and I wasn’t sure what he
meant. As we began to sort through the clutter around us, he continued to talk,
gently asking questions about each piece we found. When the topics became
difficult to discuss, he held me close, providing comfort when I needed it
most.
“Don’t worry, my child. I’m here now to help,” he reassured
me. “I have a plan and a purpose for you.”
As he helped me clean, he encouraged me to let go of things
that no longer served me—both physically and mentally. At first, I resisted,
adamant about controlling every aspect of my life. But with time, I realized
that my choices hadn’t exactly led me to happiness. So, I decided to trust him
and follow his guidance. As I began to toss aside the negativity, I uncovered
the treasures I had forgotten about. Meanwhile, he carefully packed away all
the good things that truly defined me into a series of boxes. I didn’t
understand his purpose at first, but I knew there was something significant
unfolding.
After what felt like years of cleaning, we stood surrounded
by boxes, and the space felt lighter somehow.
“Are you ready?” he asked, a glimmer of excitement in his
eyes.
“Ready for what?” I responded, a bit confused.
“To move into my house,” he replied, a smile breaking across
his face.
Without hesitation, I picked up a box and asked him where we
were going. He guided me through a door I hadn’t noticed before, and there,
right outside, stood a magnificent castle.
“How did I miss this all along?” I gasped.
“You were too focused on looking through your windows to see
that there was a door waiting for you to open it,” he explained, ushering me
forward.
As the grand doors swung wide open, I stepped into the
castle. “This is where you live?” I exclaimed in disbelief. “I’m going to live
here?!”
“Yes, along with the rest of my children—your brothers and
sisters,” he told me, his voice filled with warmth.
In a wave of joy, I dropped my box and embraced him tightly.
“I love you!”
“I love you too, my child. But remember, being royalty in my
house comes with challenges; the enemy will try to attack you more because of
it. Yet, I promise I'll always be here to love you and hear your prayers. My
love for you is so great that I sent my Son to die for your sins so that you
could have eternal life. All you need to do is believe in Him.”
He began to share the powerful story of how His Son was
crucified, only to rise again three days later. He was perfect and without sin,
yet He gave His life for mine. “You and your Son love me that much?” I asked,
overwhelmed.
“Yes,” he replied simply.
As tears streamed down my face, I opened my eyes to find
myself in a beautiful royal room within the castle. Luxurious velvet curtains
framed tall windows, a large, inviting bed awaited me, and on a nightstand
crafted from the finest wood sat a Bible, its cover made of exquisite leather.
“You are living with the King of Kings!” he said, and in
that moment, I felt a profound sense of belonging and love.
One day, while deep in conversation with God and His Son, I
noticed something intriguing from one of the grand castle windows. In the
distance, I spotted numerous small square buildings scattered across the
landscape. Beyond those buildings, I saw a stark contrast to creation—an area
that seemed to embody destruction.
“Yahweh, what am I looking at?” I asked, curiosity evident
in my voice.
“You see those cube structures?” He replied, guiding my
gaze.
“Yes, I see them clearly,” I responded.
“Those buildings resemble the room you once lived in before
coming to this place,” He explained.
“Do they have windows, like the one I had?” I wondered.
“Yes, they do,” God continued. “Each person looking out of
those windows has their own unique perspective. Every life story represented in
those cubes is different.”
I reflected on this and said, “I’ve noticed the same among
Your children, my brothers and sisters. They each have their distinct paths to
You. Some were born into the light, growing closer to You from their very first
breath. Others, like me, wandered in the ways of the world before finding
healing and a new life in You. While there are similarities in their stories,
each one is unique.”
“That’s exactly right,” God affirmed. “I create each of My
children to be different, allowing them to encounter varied experiences on
their journey here. Everyone faces the pressures of the world, but each encounters
them in their own way. Society often pressures people to be perfect or fit into
a specific mold, even though those very individuals are not perfect themselves.
They confine themselves in boxes with windows but see no way out. The only
escape is through Me.”
“What do you mean, there’s no way out? If I recall, you can
always slip through the windows.”
“Yes, but think back to that moment when you dove into a
window. Remember that feeling?”
“I do. It was as if the only option was to leap back
through, returning to my room.”
“And the reason you felt trapped is that the window opened
into yet another box. Though it may look different, it was still just another
cage. This world ensnares us in a loop, exploiting our yearning for identity
and love. It offers us identities tied to shallow things, mere illusions,
rather than something profound and genuine.”
“What about what lies beyond, that distant horizon? It
doesn’t seem inviting.”
“That is the realm of the god of this world.”
I blinked, puzzled. “With a lowercase g.” Understanding
dawned on my face.
“He fills your life with temptations instead of true
desires, distractions instead of reality. The world is his playground; a place
separated from my true kingdom.”
“Don’t you want to rescue them?”
“I do, but I can only save those who wish to be saved. If
you remember, it took time for you to open your heart to Me. Even when you
finally invited Me in, you struggled to listen, to embrace the idea of being
truly saved.”
“I recall all those moments when I acted like a rebellious
teenager, trying to keep all the things I really didn’t need.” I chuckled at
the memory.
“I was just a wandering sheep, in need of a shepherd.” He
nodded in agreement. “Is there a way for me to help others discover who you
are? To show them there’s another path to love and identity?”
“Share the good news gently, like a seed planted in the
soil. Don’t push others to believe; instead, live out your truth, and let your
life be the invitation. Those around you will notice the change and naturally
wonder what makes you different. Some may turn away, some may embrace you; some
will stop to listen, and others may not. Just as a doctor offers a cure to an
ailment, you are called to reveal the path to eternal life in heaven. I desire
for them to choose me and walk that path, and though it may sadden me if they
refuse to accept the truth I’ve given, the choice is ultimately theirs. Your
role isn’t to save them; it’s to shine a light on the joy of salvation, so they
can make that choice themselves. It is my role to lift them up when they come
to me seeking help.
“But what about my life here? How will I learn to walk a
Christ-driven life?”
“Listen closely to my words, dive into my teachings, and you
will find life all around you. You’ll walk this earth, yet my presence will be
with you wherever you go. With the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit by your side,
you have the strength to brave any valley that comes your way, and you will
still have a home with me.”
“What if the world’s temptations and distractions come
knocking at my door once more? The thought of being separated from you forever
fills me with dread.”
“Counter those whispers of doubt and fear with the truth of
who I say you are. Remember, you are not perfect; there will be moments when
you stumble. But in those times, I am right there, ready to lift you up. Just
reach out for my hand. When you fall, forgive yourself as I forgive you, and
return to the solid ground I’ve provided for you.”
So, I stepped out to share the good news—that Jesus
sacrificed Himself for our sins. Do I sometimes grapple with memories of shame
and regret? Do unwelcome thoughts weigh heavily on my heart? Yes, they do. Yet,
my God lovingly lifts me up and reminds me of my true purpose, the beautiful
plans He has woven for my life, and the depth of His love for me.
And in my mind, those words of encouragement from God shine
brighter than any darkness. I choose to embrace those uplifting thoughts,
allowing them to flourish, while gently letting go of the ones that do not
belong. His love is my guiding light.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only
Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
-John 3:16
“Do not be conformed by the patterns of this world but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind.” -Romans 12:2
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he
who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you
by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through
fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” -Isaiah 43:1-2
This world we inhabit is fleeting, a transient stage filled
with shadows of greed, distractions that tug at our hearts, and chaos that
tears at our dreams. Yet beyond this realm, the kingdom of God stands eternal,
a magnificent haven of light and love, untouched by time or turmoil. In its
embrace, we seek solace, a true refuge from the storms of life, where peace
reigns, and hope shines bright.
Author’s Translation:
This fictional story paints a picture of what our lives can
become when we seek approval from others instead of embracing the unwavering
love of God. It tells the tale of a journey from a life focused on worldly
pleasures to one guided by Christ’s teachings. As a Christian, I believe that,
while we live in this world, we are not meant to be defined by it. Many people
get caught up in the shiny distractions of life, which can lead them away from
our loving Father.
The story uses vivid imagery, allowing you to truly see how
the world operates and how God offers us a way to walk through its challenges.
The world can feel like a playground for temptation, constantly bombarding us
with desires that pull us away from our true purpose. The enemy tries to
convince us that we must meet certain standards to be accepted. In reality, God
has a completely different plan for our lives.
Satan doesn’t have the power to create anything new;
instead, he twists and misuses the gifts that God has given us. His goal is to
lead us astray, encouraging us to use our talents in harmful ways, which
ultimately distances us from God’s kingdom. While the world may offer temporary
distractions from our struggles, God invites us to confront and walk through
those challenges with Him by our side.
The main message of this story is straightforward, yet not
always easy to accept: it's impossible to live with purpose if we’re trying to
fit in with the world. Both the world and the devil want us to change who we
are to match fleeting trends, trapping us in a box where we cannot thrive.
Instead, we are called to think and act differently, expanding our horizons
instead of limiting ourselves.
God has a unique purpose and identity for each of us. For
me, that purpose is to write and share God’s love through my stories, poems,
and words. Our true selves are found in our relationship with Christ. If you
feel stuck or confined, let God help you break free from the limitations the
world imposes. Ask God how He sees you. Choose to embrace the uplifting
thoughts that come from God instead of the negativity that pulls you down, and
remember to hold onto your purpose, even during tough times.
