students church leicester

student church leicester
 by admin

MAKING YOUR UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE GREAT 
by Zara Dainty

University is an experience that is one of the best times of your life. I used to think that this was just because of the no-rules, no-parents, lets-get-drunk-every-night aspect. Personally, that’s never been my scene. So when I arrived at uni as a fresher, I thought they might be ‘alright years’. Truth is, my expectations were pretty low. Boy God was about to teach me a huge lesson! 

It’s an season unlike any other where we are surrounded by thousands of total strangers, where we learn to feed ourselves on very little money, and where we actually have to wash our own clothes too!! In the process, we turn into caffeine addicts, and sometimes, it can even feel like someone’s idea of a mad reality TV show! But amongst all the craziness, university is a time where God can seriously challenge us, build us, and influence us to become the people we’re designed to be. 

There are a few things I think are really important to remember when you enter university and throughout the following years where so many life changing things will happen: 

DON’T LIMIT GOD WITH LOW EXPECTATIONS. 

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20) This verse says it all. Our human brains can’t even begin to comprehend the plans God has for us. I could never have imagined the life God had waiting for me when I came to university. I have done so many things I never would have thought possible and, if I had stayed in my comfort zone, I may never have realised the awesome-ness that was God’s plan. Don’t miss out on the opportunities you are given during this time, because He can do immeasurably more through you than you could ever dream of. 

YOUR IDENTITY IS IN GOD. 

Identity is something widely discussed at university. It’s something everyone wants to find, and some people will spend their whole lives searching for. One of my favourite verses in the Bible is Isaiah 43:1 which says “Don’t be afraid, because I have saved you. I have called you by name and you are mine.” We are His. No matter what life throws at us, the one thing that we can be sure about is our identity in God. This verse also shows the incredible character of God as He doesn’t say “don’t be afraid because I will punish anyone who hurts you”, or “don’t be afraid because I’ll give you super powers to save yourself” even though, as creator of the universe He can pretty much do whatever He wants! He emphasises the one thing that we need to know to get us through anything we face. The only thing that actually matters. That we are His. 

REMEMBER, IT’S OK NOT TO BE OK. 

Sometimes, Christians can get the idea it is somehow wrong to feel a bit scared in life. It’s easy to interpret verses like “be strong and brave” (Deuteronomy 31:6) and to “not worry about anything” (Matthew 6:25) as meaning ‘don’t ever feel frightened‘. But that’s not what they’re saying. And sometimes, we put pressure on ourselves that can lead to feeling guilty when we are going through tough times, because we’re afraid of being afraid! But this is not the case. Having God in our lives doesn’t mean we won’t feel worried. It means that through those challenging times, we can lean on God’s strength to do what we feel that we can’t do. “His power is made perfect in our weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) The impact of this verse is amazing, as it implies that the less we feel we can offer, the more we can know God will provide. So in those times in your life when you feel completely at a loss – watch out – because God is probably up to something big! 

GET PLANTED IN A GREAT CHURCH!

The Sunday of my second week at university I found The Junction Church and with it, I discovered an incredible community. Having a place where I knew I could get to and be encouraged at the start of each week made all the difference in the world, especially in my first year. Getting around people who will champion you and support you is so important in life in general, but even more so at university with the fast paced changes that you will face, I can’t recommend enough that you get planted into a good church. God has awesome plans for each and every one of our lives, we just need to be willing to take away the limits we put on God and ourselves, keep our eyes focussed on the identity we have in the One who made us and learn how to look for God’s strength in our weakness.

 

CHECK OUT OUR STUDENTS PAGE HERE.

in church / church in leicester / church in loughborough / Culture / faith / leicester / Leicester City / students 0 comments
church leicester
 by admin

BETTER TO BE IMPERFECTLY EXCELLENT

It is said that Thomas Edison tried over a thousand times to invent the lightbulb. After 900 failed attempts, a ‘friend’ suggested to Edison that he should accept failure. ‘No‘ said Edison. ‘I’ve just been successful in finding 900 different ways how not to make a lightbulb.‘ Shortly after that, he invented the lightbulb.

While a mediocre mindset sees failure as the end, excellence views it as the beginning – an opportunity to learn some more. The latter understands that perfection is a mere delusion, at least as far as fallen humanity is concerned. Moreover, God is NOT searching for perfection. If this were the case, we’d all be in very serious trouble. Actually, He’s looking for people who will embark on an imperfect pilgrimage, trusting His ultimate goodness in a world that can feel harsh and uncaring. That’s why it takes real faith to believe in God’s hope, especially when things can seem pretty hopeless at times.

The paradox of mediocrity is that it sees itself as the perfect standard by which everything else should be judged. It imposes strict limitations and then contemptuously sneers at anyone who dares to rise above it’s self made ceiling. At the core of its thinking is a kind of prideful pessimism which believes people should accept the perfection of average, dismissing anything higher as pompous and arrogant.

The reality of excellence is very different. By contrast, it recognises that it is not the same as perfection and never pretends to be so. Furthermore, to pursue excellence in life takes great humility, profound selflessness and outstanding courage. You see, this journey is about far more than ourselves. It’s about the future. It’s about living for something that is bigger than us. It’s about helping a new generation rise higher and go further than we ever did. What a travesty not to give them a better chance. Sadly, that’s exactly what the perfectly average thinking of mediocrity does. It holds people down.

In your life, never insult God with small thinking. ‘He is able to do more than we could ever ask, think or imagine‘ (Eph 3:20). No, we’ll never be perfect, at least while we live on this earth. So it’s better to live an imperfectly excellent life than one which is perfectly average. 

Don’t compromise. Be a bit cheeky and dare to aim high. Whatever happens, never stop believing God…ever. 

COME AND CHECK US OUT THIS SUNDAY! MORE ABOUT THE JUNCTION CHURCH LOUGHBOROUGH HERE. MORE ABOUT THE JUNCTION CHURCH LEICESTER HERE.

in church / church in leicester / church in loughborough / Culture / faith / Leadership / loughborough 0 comments
church leicester
 by admin

GO AGAINST THE FLOW….

If the vibe of your everyday conversation tends to be voiced with sarcastic put downs and mean spirited ease, it is your right to speak this way. However, it is wise to understand that nothing of nobility or worth will ever emerge from this kind of talk. It simply flows with thoughtless effort, monotonously submitted to a tedious tide of cultural toxicity which has been gathering momentum for years. 

When you’re swept away by the pressure of it’s current, it is normal to drag others with you, deep into an ocean of discouragement. Your vision becomes blurred by the seas of cynicism, so much that you can’t grasp just how utterly suffocating this is to vitality and confidence, not least your own. Only when you experience the freshness of a genuine alternative can you truly breathe and impart life to those around you. However, this means raising your head above the waters, going against the flow and daring to be different.

Words matter. In a hurting world, they can either add to the weight of people’s hurts and drown them in negativity – or lift their sinking hearts and breathe the oxygen of God’s healing grace to their souls.

When we first planted the Junction Church, part of our vision was to create a church culture that was so filled with encouragement that when people walked into our environment, they would experience something that is rare….love. We totally understood that this intentionality might appear strange and over the top to some, especially to those who’ve only ever known cynicism as the norm. However, what has transpired over these past few years is a quiet revolution in the hearts of numerous people. One person I spoke to recently told me of the impact this culture has had on their family. The pessimism they’d struggled with for years has been profoundly challenged and replaced with a life giving optimism they had never experienced before. 

In truth, this vibe should be the norm for any church community. The bible says ‘mercy triumphs over judgment’ (James 2:13). If we believe this is true, this means that in a world of never-ending pessimism and judgmental accusation, we are the eternal optimists. How could we possibly be anything else?

No-matter how theologically correct a local church community might seem, if the atmosphere is not overflowing with the language of encouragement and uplifting others, then the toxicity of worldliness has come flooding into it’s culture, and is suffocating the potential of it’s people. Beneath the ‘spiritual’ surface are powerful currents of carnality which are both corrupting and corroding to life.

God has called us to carry a different culture – the culture of HIS Kingdom. It is totally different to the culture of the world. This has to have an impact on the way we converse and leaders must always model this first. If a leader isn’t carrying it, then the people they lead will never grasp it.

In Ephesians 4:29, Paul says ‘Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up…that it may give grace to those who hear.’

It’s time for us to have the courage to challenge the ‘norm’ of cynicism and create an alternative vibe to the culture of doom and gloom that’s so prevalent in our world. How do you start? By making sure your words are building others up, not pulling them down. By bathing your language in honour. Think about it. If enough people do it, this could shift the tide of momentum. It means going against the flow…and daring to speak life.

CHECK OUT THE JUNCTION CHURCH IN LEICESTER HERE

in church / church in loughborough / Culture / Featured / General / Leadership / Leicester City / loughborough / words 0 comments
church leicester
 by admin

THE PATH OF LEAST REGRET
by Roy Todd

When it comes to the art of decision making, it’s good to have a thinking mind, a prayerful heart and an eye to the future. Giving careful thought to the implications of our choices is always a wise reflection. It’s true that none of us can know exactly where a path will lead. But the Holy Spirit does – and He is a brilliant travel companion whose expert guidance for the journey is second to none. Listening out for His voice can literally save your life and lead you to amazing blessing. He has this incredible way of encouraging you when you’re on the right path and alerting you when you’re on the wrong one. Ultimately, he WANTS you to succeed!

There are some paths which wise people will want to avoid as they lead to destinations which are never helpful. Here are five of them:

The Path of Emotionalism

This path begins with what ‘feels’ right in the moment. But feelings are fickle and it is never wise to base permanent decisions on temporary emotions. There are countless stories of people who have followed this path and ended up in a place of regret because of it.

The Path of Sentimentalism

This path travels backwards and tries to recapture the good old days. Problem is, those ‘good old days’ where never actually that good. Sentimental living always ends in disappointment because the reality is that life moves forward, not back. Times change and people move on. 

The Path of Impetuousness

This path is filled with impulsive people who only wish they’d taken a moment longer so they could have chosen a better one. To be impetuous is to give little or no thought to the consequences of our choices. That’s what happens on this path.

The Path of Impatience

This path is full of talented and ambitious people who gave into panic and despair. But far from being a pathway of faith & life, it’s a selfish & graceless struggle up hilly climbs and rough terrain, requiring massive effort and offering little or no satisfaction.

The Path of Bitterness

This is a path which hurt people walk. Disappointed and angry at other people in their lives, they proceed to follow this long, dark, painful journey that is filled with unedifying echoes, unhelpful ruminations and which eventually leads to loneliness, regret and despair. No-matter how tough life gets, it is NEVER wise to walk this path.

Here’s a better path…

There is a path which is always good to choose though. It’s called ‘the path of least regret’. When I’m faced with major decisions in my own life, I always ask God to show me where this path is. As I’ve followed it, I have often discovered God’s wisdom on it, even if I haven’t completely understood the journey. The path of least regret focuses the mind toward the implications and responsibilities of our decisions – and protects us from following other paths which lead to unhelpful destinations. Next time you’re faced with a major decision in your life, take a moment to ask the Holy Spirit to show you this path. You won’t regret it.

CHECK OUT THE JUNCTION CHURCH LEICESTER!

in church / church in leicester / church in loughborough / Culture / Featured / General / Leadership / leicester / loughborough / students 0 comments
church leicester
 by admin

HOW TO TELL IF IT’S GOOD ADVICE
by Roy Todd

We’ve all been faced with times in our lives when it seems like everybody is happy to offer us the ‘gift’ of their opinion! But how do you tell the difference between good advice and bad advice?  Here are two key questions which are always wise to consider before taking it on board:

1) What is this person’s track record?

Before taking on board a persons fine advice, you have every right to look at their track record. What has this person built in life? What have they accomplished…NOT not what have they said they’re going to accomplish…but what have they ACTUALLY accomplished? How has this kind of advice worked for them – and would you be content to become like that? Are they faithful & loyal or gossipy & backbiting? Is their outlook on life faith-filled & optimistic or negative & pessimistic? Do they show consistency in life or do they flit from one thing to another? Would you be happy for your life to emulate theirs? Remember, a person’s track record IS their statement – far more than their dazzling words. So it is completely reasonable to consider a person’s track record before taking their advice on board.

2) Will this advice bring you closer to God & His house?

This is an incredibly important question which we should always want to consider. Will this advice draw you closer to God and HIS house? Truth is, so many people neglect to take this on board before accepting ‘advice’. Does it encourage carnality or stir you to pursue God’s purpose? Is it focused on self interest or does it have an eye toward eternity? There’s nothing wrong with ambition. In fact, it’s good to be ambitious. But when fulfilling it comes at the expense of being planted and rooted in God’s house, the irony is that it always ends up becoming unfulfilling and disappointing – no-matter how ‘successful’ a person becomes. Remember this: good jobs are EASY to find. Good church communities are not. So, where will this advice lead you?

Finally, in the midst of all the advice you’re offered in life, what about seeking the guidance of the ONE who really matters? He’s described in Isaiah 9:6 as ‘Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ When you pray, don’t spend all your time telling God what you think. Take time to ask him what HE thinks. Listen out for the answer. This is the best advice you’ll ever hear.

 

CHECK OUT THE JUNCTION CHURCH IN LEICESTER!

in church / church in leicester / church in loughborough / Culture / General / Leadership / leicester / loughborough / students / worship 0 comments
church leicester
 by admin

HOLD YOUR NERVE & KEEP SHOWING UP
by Roy Todd

If you’re going through a difficult season in your life at the moment, I want to remind you of something very important: “Tough times DON’T last but tough people DO.” (quote by Robert Schuller).

The thing about challenging seasons is that they do eventually come to an end. But when you’re going through one of them, it’s so easy to lose perspective and believe that this is your lot for the rest of your life. So during those times, we can panic and assume that the answer is to run away. But this is not the answer because wherever you might end up, you still carry your issues with you!

In the Old Testament, Jonah discovered that when he tried to run away from God, the devil provided the transport. He still does. Jonah’s destination though….well, it really wasn’t good. You ought to read his Old Testament book to find out why!

The point is that in the tough times, you don’t need to always have all the answers about why things are tough. There’s no point in being too self-analytical either (that will come). Resist the temptation to blame too. This is a trap which so many people fall into. No, in tough times, all you need to do is hold your nerve and keep showing up. This is the bravest thing you can possibly do. Real courage is a lot less about performing some great heroic act and a lot more about quietly getting on with it.

If you’re going to have the worst day of your life, have it in church. If you’re going through a season of hardship and heartache, surround yourself with a church community that’s full of faith and prayer. It might feel a little scary to do it but your perceived vulnerability is absolutely nothing compared to the REAL danger of isolation. The latter is a killer of dreams and a destroyer of destiny.

I’ve been in church leadership for over 20 years. During that time, I’ve experienced seasons of incredible blessing and success. I’ve also gone through seasons of pain and heartache. Yes, leaders aren’t superhuman. They experience tough seasons too. That’s why it’s always very wise to pray for your pastors.

I remember a few years ago, I went through a particularly challenging season. Finances were stretched and we were feeling the pressure. Church was in it’s formative stage. We were working hard to build healthy culture into the life of the community. We loved and cared for the people, often getting home in the early hours. But I was tired. I was also on the receiving end of some pretty mean spirited & nasty criticism to which I maintained a silence and did not react. It was not a pleasant season and it took it’s toll on me. One day, I sat in a coffee shop just to take a bit of time out and rest my weary mind. As I sat there, I felt the Holy Spirit gently whisper into my heart over and over again the words, ‘ Hold your nerve! Keep showing up! Hold your nerve! Keep showing up!’. I felt deeply encouraged and that’s exactly what I did. The tough season passed and not long after, we transitioned into an incredible new season in the life of the church.

Now listen. That challenging season you are going through – it will either make you or break you. It will either strengthen your faith or suffocate it. It will either be a stepping stone on the way to your destiny or a grave stone where your dreams die. The choice is yours. I encourage you to stick with it. Hold your nerve. Keep showing up. Somebody needs you to keep running your race. A generation will one day be grateful for your faith & endurance. It’s totally worth it.

 

HEY, CHECK OUT OUR CHURCH IN LEICESTER!

in church / church in leicester / church in loughborough / Culture / General / Leadership / leicester / loughborough / worship 0 comments
church leicester
 by admin

MUSTN’T GRUMBLE

When I first started out in ministry, I lived in Yorkshire for a few years. One of the things I loved about the people there were the quirky terms and phrases they’d often use. I remember talking to one older man who’d been through a life of real hardship. He had every reason to complain about what he’d been through – but he was made of different stuff. In his strong Yorkshire accent, he dismissed any notions of negativism. ‘Mustn’t grumble!‘ was his favourite little phrase. I liked him. There was something profoundly dignified about that man which garnered my respect. He simply refused to complain.

One dictionary defines grumbling as ‘murmuring or muttering in discontent‘. It’s something which is prevalent today. Take a look at your Facebook timeline and you’ll soon find it. Every office, school, university and family has it’s grumblers. Churches aren’t exempt from them either.

However as followers of Christ, the Bible very strongly encourages us not to engage in it. For example, Philippianes 2:14 says ‘Do all things without grumbling‘. James 5:9 says ‘Do not grumble against one another‘. 1 Peter 4:9 says ‘Show hospitality to one another without grumbling‘.

In the Old Testament, after Moses had led God’s people to deliverance from the oppression of Egypt, some people began to ‘grumble’ against Moses (Numbers 14:2). Later in the story, God spoke to his people, telling them that the grumbling was a ‘wicked‘ act which reflected ungrateful hearts (Numbers 14:27). In other words, God took an extremely dim view of grumbling.

So here are 30 short reasons why grumbling is no good for you:

1) It feeds your cynicism.

2) It disempowers you.

3) It enslaves you to temporary opinions.

4) It roots itself in the fickleness of anger.

5) It creates stress.

6) It clouds good judgment.

7) It panders to ill-discipline.

8) It contaminates your words.

9) It’s bad for your mind.

10) It’s gossip’s best friend.

11) It undermines your credibility.

12) It develops into a bad habit.

13) It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

14) It’s addictive.

15) It feeds negative thinking.

16) It hinders your faith.

17) It’s unhealthy.

18) It’s not truly honest.

19) It harms your relationships.

20) It drives positive influencers out of your life.

21) It yields to unbelief.

22) It’s unpleasing to God.

23) It stunts your progress.

24) It gives you a reputation as a complainer.

25) It’s unwise.

26) It’s a distraction.

27) It kills your joy.

28) It extinguishes your hope.

29) It steals your identity.

30) It makes you more miserable.

 

Best not to grumble then!

 

Check out the Junction Church Leicester!

in church / church in leicester / church in loughborough / Culture / General / Leadership / leicester / loughborough / students / worship 0 comments
churches in leicester
 by admin

DEALING WITH DISCOURAGEMENT
by Roy Todd

Discouragement is something which virtually everyone faces at some point in their life. It’s causes can be wide and varied – including loneliness, criticism, pressure and even success.

In the Bible, numerous characters struggled with it. Elijah was one of them. It’s pretty ironic when you think of it. He was a man of huge charisma who called fire down from heaven and even saw the dead raised. He embodied all the traits of a ‘successful’ ministry. Yet he still experienced profound discouragement, so deep that he became reclusive and isolated. This teaches us an important lesson. Discouragement is no respecter of persons. It can happen to anyone, no-matter how ‘successful’ they might appear. In the New Testament, the writer James summarises the life of Elijah in one sentence by telling us, ‘he was a human being, just like us’ – James 5:17.

So how do you deal with discouragement? Here are 4 thoughts:

1) Allow yourself some breathing space

This is not about becoming reclusive. That was Elijah’s big mistake. It’s about establishing rhythms of time & space in your life where you can process the reasons for your discouragement. While external factors can trigger discouragement, ultimately it’s a heart matter. So you need to allow your heart some space to breathe in the oxygen of God’s grace. This never needs to be a long time. Resting too long is unhealthy. It’s amazing how your perspective on life can change after just a short period of rest. So be kind to yourself and factor in rhythms of rest which help you to breathe.

2) Surround yourself with encouragement

The world is full of discouragement. How many offices are dominated by negative vibes? How many businesses are influenced by pessimistic culture? How many families are laden by doom and gloom? These things feed discouragement. Therefore, it’s critically important to FIND a community of encouragement. At the Junction Church, that’s exactly the kind of culture we’re passionate about building. We’re investing our whole lives into shaping a community into the values of God’s Kingdom. We understand that encouragement isn’t just a few nice words. It’s an environment. It’s a culture. It’s what draws greatness out of people. The smart people will want to get into an atmosphere like that.

3) Trust through the fog

Discouragement is a bit like a thick fog. As blinding and gloomy as it can sometimes feel, it will eventually pass. God’s grace will always make a way. Of course in the midst of the mist, this can seem like a life time. However, this is where faith comes into action. As the author Jeff Lucas puts it, we need to have ‘faith in the fog’. When we can’t see the way ahead, that’s when we must trust God like never before. Discouragement is not the end. You will get through it.

4) Be firmly planted in God’s house

Don’t just be seated in church. Get planted in it. Develop strong roots which will sustain you in the long term. This was a lesson I had to learn in my life. A number of years ago, I struggled with discouragement. No-body would have been able to tell. I had a reasonably ‘successful’ speaking ministry, travelling to events in the UK, the USA and across Europe. Yet during one of the most fruitful times of ministry that I’d ever known, I struggled with deep discouragement. Looking back, I believe that the root cause was loneliness. It’s not that I didn’t have lots of friends in my life – I did. But the loneliness I felt was a consequence of not being firmly planted in a local church. This is one of the reasons why I now feel so passionate about the truth of Psalm 92:13 which says ‘Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God’. Being planted doesn’t mean that we won’t face discouragement. However, it provides us with a solid foundation that will sustain us through every discouragement and keep us sane, healthy and growing.

There is no reason for any of us to struggle with discouragement on our own. Remember, whatever you are going through, God is with you. Listen to his voice. He spoke to Elijah in a ‘gentle whisper’. In the midst of your discouragement, he wants to speak to you too.

Don’t forget to check out the JUNCTION CHURCH LEICESTER

 

in church / church in leicester / church in loughborough / Culture / General / Leadership / leicester / loughborough / students / worship 0 comments
church leicester
 by admin

DON’T FACEBOOK YOUR PROBLEMS.

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who expresses their feelings of disgruntlement about someone or something else? How many times have you heard this kind of sentiment pre-fixed with the phrase, ‘I’m just being honest’?

Whether the complaint is reasonable or not, there’s something about the subjective use of the word ‘honest’ that shifts the conversation from a matter of principle to become something that is profoundly personal. To query the validity of the vexation at this stage would then be to question the very integrity of the complainant. There’s no-where else the conversation can really go from there.

Social media (especially Facebook) can be quite notorious for this kind of thing. No doubt you’ve witnessed one of those ferocious tirades on your timeline where someone lays bear their emotions and lambasts another. The thing is, it’s so easy to be a keyboard warrior who sits behind the comfort of a computer screen typing all kinds of ‘honest’ feelings, criticisms and complaints. However, it is never wise to do this….ever. It might garner attention & some short term sympathy but it actually inflicts huge long term harm to the writer’s credibility, whether the comments are valid or not.

Honest dialogue is an important part of life. However we must always remember that a dialogue is a two way thing. What if the ‘honesty’ that a complainant expresses isn’t totally honest? What if the disgruntlement merely focuses on the 10% that’s wrong but fails to acknowledge the 90% that’s right? Is this really honest? What if the backstory of the complaint is to do with personal disappointment, a bruised ego or a bias toward negativity? Can it then be said to be truly honest? Where’s the accountability?

Too often, the words ‘I’m just being honest’ are actually an excuse for negativity. Such words rarely reveal the real reason for a person’s annoyance. For example, how many times will someone come straight out with it and honestly say, ‘I’m just really bitter that I was overlooked?’. Or how about the brute honesty of, ‘I like to be in control rather than respect authority’, or, ‘I’m just a really jealous and envious person’. Ok, the latter gets a bit extreme. But it kind of makes the point. At least it would be truly honest.

A little bit of life experience has taught me that when someone expresses negativity towards someone or something else, there is invariably a story behind the story. In this instance, real integrity would be to face up to the issues of the heart rather than try to apportion blame. Don’t Facebook your problems. Just face them.

The Psalms teach us much about honesty. Sometimes they’re full of positivity and praise. However sometimes they’re angry and even bitter too. But they always come back to the heart. Our heart is our own responsibility. We are it’s gatekeeper. This is where honesty really begins.

In Psalm 139:23-24, David says:
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

This is real honesty. It’s all about managing our own heart.

Check out the JUNCTION CHURCH LEICESTER

in church in leicester / church in loughborough / Culture / General / Leadership / leicester / loughborough / students 0 comments
church in leicester
 by admin

WHEN LIFE DOESN’T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN
by Jonah Dykes

What are you chasing after in life? Everyone’s got dreams, goals and targets they’re pursuing. Each person’s dream is personal and specific to them, be it a particular job, a promotion, academic grades…the list goes on. But what happens when, in the fight to make these dreams become a reality, something goes wrong? What do you do when life doesn’t go to plan? That’s exactly what happened to me.

I’m currently a student at Loughborough University and for the majority of the 20 years I’ve been alive, it was my dream to run in the Olympics. However, at the age of 15, a seemingly endless stream of injuries started happening that prevented me from competing for the best part of 5 years. This is quite an obstacle for someone who dreamt of competing at the highest level. The injuries became so numerous and frequent that recently, I had to make one of the toughest decisions of my life. I realised that with the intense level of training I’d need to do and the physical strain this would continue to place on my body, I could no longer pursue my Olympic dream. It was an incredibly tough decision. However, it was the right decision.

I’ve learned loads of lessons along the way. Here are 8 things which I thought I’d share with you:

1) The why is more important than the goal

Let me explain: my goal was the Olympics. However my why was that I really enjoy running and the buzz of a physical challenge. So when life got tough for me, it was the why that helped me keep everything in perspective. A healthy why helps protect us from making the goal a dangerous & unhealthy obsession. 

2) Never let the goal itself become bigger than your why

You see, becoming too fixated on your goal instead of your why is what causes people to blindly keep going after a goal when it’s actually doing far more harm than good. The fact is, circumstances change, and sometimes it’s wise to adjust the goal to suit your why amidst these ever changing circumstances.

3) Never place your identity in the dream that you’re chasing after

Not in the highs, not in the lows. This is a difficult one, trust me, I learned this one over and over during those 5 years. But it’s SO important. Choose to place your identity in something more permanent. For me, this is my adopted sonship by God the Father.

4) Stop focusing on what you can’t control

Instead, get stuck into what you CAN do. There are lots of things in life we can’t control. Focusing on these will leave us feeling helpless and fearful. But there’s a lot we can control, and focusing on this will leave you empowered and motivated. Being a part of The Junction Church in Loughborough continually inspires me to really get stuck into these things and do them with excellence (Colossians 3:23,24).

5) Learn from the situation

Is there anything that could have been done differently? It’s an investment in your future if you take the time to learn from it now.

6) Get the right people around you

We weren’t meant to do life alone (Genesis 2:18). Isolation will do no good for you when you’re facing a struggle. But neither will pity parties. It’s key that you get people who not only understand you and your heart, but will also encourage you and cheer you on too. A bit of pragmatism goes a long way here. I have been so blessed at university to find an abundance of these people at The Junction Church and the impact they’ve had on me has been simply incredible.

7) Remember, everyone’s got their own battle they’re fighting

When you’re struggling, it’s important to lean into God and have people around you to help build you up. However, we must also remember that everyone is fighting a battle of their own. We need to strike a healthy balance here between the two. Hey, don’t over think it. Just remember, it’s not all about you – well, not all of the time!

8) Pray

The Bible tells us we should pray in all circumstances (Philippians 4:6), so let’s commit to that! But let’s get real in these prayers. God knows your heart, so don’t dither about: tell him how you’re feeling. If you need help, ask him for help. If you need something, ask him! Trust that God HAS a plan for you, and God IS bigger than any obstacles that you face in working to fulfil that plan, so let’s step into these prayers with faith.

Be sure to check out the JUNCTION CHURCH LEICESTER

in church in leicester / church in loughborough / Culture / General / Leadership / leicester / loughborough / students 0 comments