A
Year of Gold: 2016: The good, the bad, the blessed, and the unfortunate
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| (Photo Credits Belong to Photographer: Amber Nicole Ginter feat Buddy) |
The year of 2016 has been quite an adventurous
and strange resolution for this old-fashioned soul of mine. I have experienced
some of the worst things that I could never imagine possible, but considering
those turmoil’s, I have also treasured some of the most loving and
life-changing events God could ever bless me with. It has been a year of self-discovery,
love, loss, and bravery, but also denial, questioning, confusion, and fear. Yet
as the old saying goes, "Good times become good memories, and bad times become
good lessons" meaning that everything we go through in this sometimes
hectic and chaotic world, is for a reason much greater than we may comprehend at
the time.
Beginning with the start of the year, for
instance, 2016 didn't have the most eloquent and desired kickoff. In fact, I
was probably the most bitter and angry that I had ever been in my life, and in
all honesty, the charisma of my Christianity at this time was less than
inspiring. But, slowly, painfully, and unwillingly, God began to transform me
and the acidic cynic I had unknowingly become, into a young woman that
understood the peace of the unknown, and the calling God was placing upon her
life.
Breaking my foot, being in a car accident,
experiencing friendship loss, and getting diagnosed with vasovagal syndrome
that led to an ever so pleasant trip to the ER were among just some of the
unfavorable events to forecast into my weathering of views. Yet amidst each of
these unpleasant and terrible events, came lessons and joys that could not be
experienced without the latter. Making the competition dance team at my dance
studio, reaching out of my comfort zone, finally finding new and true friends
in college I could trust, and finding the me of happiness and laughter that had
gotten hidden underneath the pressure of heat during the transformation to
gold, are among just a few of the victories. But I say these things not to
brag, or cause you to think "wow, good for you Amber, but my life still
sucks" because I KNOW what
those periods of drought and famine feel like. I UNDERSTAND how it can seem like 2016, the month of December, or
even the week of finals are the end of the world, and the worst things that
could ever possibly happen to you. But I also know that when we experience
these times of confusion, heartache, and loss, it is in the inner depths of our
hearts that God is using these things to mold us into the gold under the fire
that we were always meant to become.
For breaking my foot and not being able to
dance or workout from December 2015-April 2016 revealed to me the importance of
a healthy lifestyle, and the honor and ability it is just to walk, and run, and
play. It showed me that just because I could not participate in a huge part of
my life for five months, that I could learn to invest my time in other
treasures and talents that God had given me.
Being in a car accident and becoming terrified
to drive in the May of 2016 for a period after, revealed to me that life is a
precious thing, and can be taken away at any moment. It showed me that this
life we live is truly temporary, and that even in something as simple as
driving safely, our days can become numbered and our hours to live made short.
Likewise, dealing with the heartbreak of yet
another facade of people pleasers instead of honest and sincere individuals,
instilled in me the ability to see my own worth rather than the value of what
others thought of me. It demonstrated just how easily we can slip into the
deception of "feel good memes" and "going nowhere talks"
that only leave us feeling more empty inside. That until we realize that the
desires we crave in our hearts can only be satisfied by the Creator who formed
them, we will always be looking to mere men to fulfill these things. For once
we realize that He (God) is the only one who can truly encompass these needs,
our lives will start to become less about who we long to love, and more about
who we love to live for.
Similarly, almost passing out in my home and
turning the shade of blue that the oompa-loopa embodies, only to end up in the
ER with a simple "vasovagal" diagnosis because I'm just "too
healthy" (which the Doctor's said is a good problem to have lol) revealed
to me again the measures by which we should be thankful for our temporary
lives. Indeed, although these negative things that happened to me seemed life
altering and detrimental at the time, I slowly began to understand that with an
undesirable situation, comes the birth of a beautiful breakthrough. Like a
worthless metal rock being transformed under the pressure of heat into a very
high priced and valued gold, God often uses the uncomfortable, unfavorable, and
most unpleasant situations, to turn our bad into good, and our unfortunate into
blessed.
Making the competition dance team at my studio
for instance, would not have happened without the strength and joy of
overcoming a serious injury. Learning to step out of my comfort zone and
finally making new friends that I could trust in college would not have
happened without the hurts and heartbreaks of others along the way. Finding the
me of happiness and laughter that had gotten hidden underneath of the pressures
of stress, confusion, and doubt showed this daughter of God who she really is,
that was far different than how she had been acting for a while.
Because in all sincerity, I must be honest with
you. These times of losing and finding myself were just part of the journey.
These times of hurting my foot, and facing a terrifying car accident, were even
a part of God's plan. And though they were absolutely, 100%, without a shadow a
doubt, terrifying, painful, and scary, they revealed to me the results of a
metal pressured under heat, that when endured, could become a beautiful, gold,
and valued prize.
For the year of 2016 may have been bad, good,
blessed, and even unfortunate at times, but in reflection of its series of
events I would choose to learn the lessons all over again. Not necessarily
eager to experience the bad times of trouble that I did, but to learn with God
that everything happens for a reason. Let the bad be transformed into good, and
the unfortunate into the blessed.
Endure the pressure and be molded into
something more beautiful than you could ever imagine, for you never know what
kind of gold God is shaping you into this year. Let 2017 be your year of
persevering through the pressures. You might just turn out to be gold on the
other side.
