Still Surviving

Author: Meaa

  • Loving Your Enemy

    But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭44‬ ‭(NKJV)

    Easier said than done. Oh, don’t I know it. I am trying to live by this verse.

    It’s common for us to distance ourselves, retaliate, or at the very least, hold a grudge when someone hurts us.

    Yet, Jesus calls us to a different standard, one that goes beyond what feels natural. He calls us to love, bless, do good, and pray for those who mistreat us.

    What Does It Mean to Love an Enemy?

    I am not saying that we need to pretend that the hurt never happened or continue to allow toxic people to continue harming us. We should respond with grace instead of bitterness. It means releasing the need for revenge and instead seeking peace.

    Loving our enemy is about responding with kindness instead of anger. This could be as simple as speaking respectfully, offering help, or refusing to gossip about them.

    “Kill them with kindness” my mom says from time to time. From my experience, it usually shuts them up as they are surprised by my uncommon response.

    We also need to pray for them as Jesus specifically tells us in this verse alone. Prayer shifts our focus to surrendering the situation to God for vengeance shall be His (Romans 12:19).

    Why Should We Love Our Enemies?

    I know it is hard to do. But believe me when I tell you that it frees you from a lot of stress. Holding on to that anger only weighs you down. It may be the cause of some of your headaches.

    This may sound crazy but loving them It can lead to transformation as we never know how God may use our love and kindness to soften someone’s heart. The way we respond to them could be the very thing that points them to Christ.

    A Practical Challenge

    Instead of dwelling on the pain and hatred towards your enemies:

    • Pray for them (even if you don’t feel like it).

    • Ask God to heal your heart and help you see them through His eyes.

    • Look for ways to be kind, even in small ways, like speaking a blessing over them instead of complaining about them.

    Loving our enemies is hard, but when we do, we experience a deeper level of peace and spiritual growth. Jesus calls us to love differently—not as the world does, but as He does. And when we follow His example, we become living testimonies of His grace.

    How have you seen God work in your heart through loving difficult people? Share your thoughts in the comments!

  • Be You

    From a young age, we are shaped by expectations—what to wear, how to act, what paths to take. Somewhere along the way, the lines between who we are and who we think we should be begin to blur.

    I remember when I was that well-rounded, people -pleasing, butt kissing teenager.

    At first, I convinced myself that blending in was easier than standing out. But the more I tried to mold myself into something I wasn’t, the more I lost sight of the things that made me me.

    Embracing Your Uniqueness

    What if you embrace your quirks, your strengths, your flaws—all of it?

    It took me a minute (not literally ;-), but I felt better once I started to be myself. Takes a lot of stress off your shoulders.

    Being yourself doesn’t mean you’ll always be understood. Not everyone will get you, and that’s okay. The right people—the ones meant to be in your life—will appreciate you for who you truly are.

    Here’s a song I would recommend listening to called “Scars to Your Beautiful” by Alessia Cara

  • Overcoming the “What Ifs”

    We’ve all been there—lying awake at night, replaying scenarios in our heads, asking ourselves endless what ifs.

    What if I had taken that opportunity?

    What if I fail?

    What if things never get better?

    The “what ifs” keep us stuck in a cycle of fear, doubt, and regret-robbing our peace in the present. The truth is we can’t change the past nor predict the future, but we can choose how we live right now.

    Shifting from “What If” to “Even If”

    Instead of letting “what if” control your thoughts, try replacing it with even if.

    • Even if I make a mistake, I will learn from it.

    • Even if things don’t go as planned, I will find another way.

    • Even if I feel afraid, I won’t let fear make my decisions.

    This shift moves us from uncertainty to trust, from fear to faith.

    Taking Action in the Present

    One of the best ways to overcome the “what ifs” is to take small steps forward. Worry thrives in inaction, but we silence fear’s grip when we move forward

    • If you regret a missed opportunity, look for a new one.

    • If you’re afraid of failure, take a small step and see what happens.

    • If the unknown scares you, remind yourself that life has always been uncertain, yet you’ve made it this far.

    Trusting God with the Unknown

    As a cancer survivor, I’ve had my fair share of “what ifs”, but through my experience, I’ve learned to place my fears in God’s hands.

    Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us:

    Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.

    We don’t have all the answers, but God does. When we surrender to Him, we will find peace—even when life doesn’t go as planned.

    A Final Thought

    The “what ifs” will always be there, but we don’t have to listen to them. We can choose faith over fear, action over regret, and trust over worry.

    All we need to do is take one step at a time.

  • God Only Knows

    One of my anthems (can relate to and/or top favorite) is “God Only Knows” by for King & Country. This song is for those of us facing obstacles, feeling isolated, and/or being overwhelmed by other thoughts. 

    Unfortunately, we automatically go towards whatever the world offers to numb the pain—distractions, quick fixes, or temporary comforts—only to end up searching for more.

    But God sees beyond all of that. He knows the real us—our struggles, our fears, and even the things we hide from others.

    In Matthew 11:28–30 (KJV), Jesus gives us an invitation of hope when He says,

    28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
    29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
    30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

    All we have to do is bring our struggles to Him. He’s not asking us to figure everything out on our own or carry the weight of the world. Jesus requires our willingness to believe in His promises.

    God Sees the Real You

    Main point of this song is that God understands our pain like no one else can:

    God only knows what you’ve been through.
    God only knows what they say about you.
    But God only knows the real you,
    ‘Cause there’s a kind of love that God only knows.

    chorus

    It’s common that people will misunderstand us. They may judge us by our past, our mistakes, or by their assumptions. But God sees our heart.

    1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV)
    “…for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

    Psalm 34:18 (KJV)
    “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”

    If you’ve ever felt unseen, unworthy, or alone, remember: God is near. He doesn’t just see your pain—He holds you through it.

    Nothing Can Separate Us from His Love

    God’s love is unshakable, even when we feel unworthy of it. 

    Romans 8:38-39 (KJV)
    “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
    Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

    The world may not always offer us grace, but God does. He knows our full story and still calls us His own.

    Lean on Him

    If you’re carrying burdens, take them to Him. God knows your heart, sees your struggles, and loves you endlessly.

    Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
    “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

    Let Him exchange your heaviness for His peace and lean into the love that only He can give.