I often think about the jokes I’m going to make about my age.

This past Thursday I celebrated my 31st birthday! I will always always love birthdays because I definitely don’t shy away from special attention ;) But what I’m still working on is how I’m going to address my age when I get older.

I’m working on what jokes I’m going to make about it, because I want them to show how comfortable I am with the age I’m at. I never want someone to think I’m afraid of getting older or that I’m sad for not being “young” any more.

For one thing, fear of getting older doesn’t look good on your face, and for another thing it’s a total waist of time. It’s completely out of our control, and every single person you come in contact with is going through the same process. So being afraid of it is just silly.

Besides, the Bible tells me that God has only good things in store for my future, so that’s exciting!

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

-Jeremiah 29:11

The absolute biggest lesson I’ve learned this very first year of being in my 30’s was that it’s so important to do what Hebrews 4:11 tells us and that’s to, “be zealous and exert ourselves and strive diligently to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves].” (AMP)

I have clung to that scripture so many times when things weren’t going the way I had planned, and when fear tried to leak into my mind. Instead I would strive to enter into God’s rest. I literally surrounded myself with scriptures so that my eyes would hit on the Word of God the moment unrest hit my soul.

Between our own thoughts, what we see on Instagram, Facebook or what we hear other people say – there is plenty of opportunity to become discontent. But that’s not peace. That’s not living in the freedom we are promised. So everyday, sometimes every five minutes I choose to enter into God’s rest and be content with the age I’m at, the place I’m in and the position God has for me.

And it’s wonderful. I lived in fear, but choosing freedom is sooo much better.

So I can’t think of a more fitting shirt to represent this next year in my life. It comes from this verse…

She is clothed with strength and dignity,
    and she laughs without fear of the future.
 -Proverbs 31:25

I get to spend another year being me and you get to spend another year being you. When we think about our future, let’s laugh :)

PS: This won’t be the last pic you see of me wearing this shirt. If you want your own, go here…