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Teen Revival
The Problem with
Ordinary
By Kalista King
As I was going through my journal last week from sophomore year, I came
across some notes I took at a youth event called, “Acquire the Fire.”
The speaker for this event was an incredible godly man named, Mike
Guzzardo, and his messages rocked my world that weekend. As I read
through my notes, Mike’s words began coming back to me very clearly. He
addressed the issues of being “cool” and fitting in, calling out all
the lies we so easily believe on this topic. Because of his anointed
words, I was inspired to write this article, entitled, “The Problem
with Ordinary.”
It is a high concern of mine that there is an STD spreading rapidly
throughout our nation. This Spiritually Transmitted Disease is most
commonly known as, “Ordinary.” Symptoms of this disease will typically
come in three phases. The first phase contains a serious case of
hypnosis, in which the person will become hypnotized by ordinary ways
of life. The second phase is even worse, in which the person begins to
legitimize ordinary living. However the third phase is most dangerous,
even deadly. In this phase the person becomes minimized by an ordinary
mindset and lifestyle, characterized by the effects of the first two
phases. Once the third phase sets in, it will cause them to be
stationary and ineffective, possibly for the rest of their life. If you
or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, I highly encourage
you to seek council from The Healer right away. You can reach him by
simply calling on his name, Jesus. His office is open 24/7, so please
do not hesitate to seek his help if you have caught the “Ordinary” STD.
This disease is fatal and can lead to death if not treated instantly.
I, myself, have a history with the Spiritually Transmitted Disease
called, “Ordinary.” Though I am only 18, it has occurred to me over the
years that this disease is most commonly introduced to teenagers. As
kids we are often told to stay true to ourselves, be extraordinary, and
chase our dreams. But as the years go on this becomes very difficult to
do, for a number of reasons. The main reason I can come up with,
however, is the pressures of junior high and high school.
I just recently graduated this year from Greenville Senior High, and I
finally understand what people mean when they say, “hindsight is
20/20.” Looking back, it is much more clear to see how many people have
caught the “Ordinary” STD and why. As a past victim of the disease, I
will be the first to admit that it usually goes unnoticed for a while.
For me, it started in sixth grade. I have shared my testimony in past
articles, but I will briefly reiterate some of it. From the time I was
twelve to the time I was fifteen, I desperately wanted to fit in. I
tried just about everything you possibly can as a middle-schooler;
pills, alcohol, pot, you name it. I tried fitting in with the partiers,
and I tried fitting in with the popular kids. Honestly, I could fit in
with about any clique I wanted to, but no matter how hard I tried, I
still remained empty inside.
Teens today are faced with so much pressure… pressure to fit in, to
look a certain way, to be “cool”, to meet every expectation, to never
screw up, and when you do, to cover it in any way that you can. I have
experienced it first-hand, and I believe the pressure is always going
to be there. Unfortunately, there is no way of escaping it that I am
aware of, but it is simply a matter of how you handle it.
Of course, the “Ordinary” STD is not an actual diagnosis you can get
from a doctor. It is just a way of conveying the state of emergency
that many people in our society are in without even realizing it. It is
amazing how many people live their entire lives stuck in a cycle of
ordinary living. I have discovered that being like the rest of the
world is extremely boring, and trying to fit in all the time only gets
exhausting. It was not until I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ,
that I finally realized the freedom in just being who he has created me
to be.
I firmly believe it is only by the grace of God that I was able to find
my way out of the pressures to fit in. Through many peoples’ prayers
and willingness to reach out to me, I was finally able to break free of
my insecurities and find my identity in Christ alone. I have
experienced the awesome power of God’s love and ever since, it has
become my highest priority to share it with everyone I can.
I have indeed waivered in my faith at times, but God has remained
faithful and has never left my side. The point in this article is
simply to challenge you. I want to challenge you to love
unconditionally and forgive those who hurt you. I challenge you to
reach out to everyone you can, because everyone you meet is fighting a
battle you know nothing about. Make a positive difference in the lives
of those around you. Be willing to let God use you, and do not be
afraid to stand out from the crowd. It is more than worth it. Whatever
you do, please do not remain ordinary. This life is but a vapor, and
you were born to make an impact for God’s Kingdom.
As God calls me to Lima, Ohio to start a new chapter in my life, I
found it of great importance that I write one last article for
countynewsonline. It has been a tremendous privilege to write
encouraging articles for the citizens of Darke County and share what I
have seen God do here. I am so blessed to know that the majority of my
time in Greenville was lived to the fullest. For those who believe in
the power of prayer, I humbly ask that you please pray for me while I
pursue a degree in Bible and Ministry through Teens for Christ’s Youth
Ministry Institute program in Lima.
Thank you all for your love, support, and prayers. It means more to me
than you will ever know. God bless you all!
In Christ,
Kalista King
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