"too young"

the Lord freaking rocked my face off tonight...

since november, i have been constantly hanuted by the words "you are too young"..... "too young to hang out with those people", "too young to start this ministry", "too young to have that gift", "too young for him to be interested", "too young to be involved with anything related to church"...

...lies... it's all a load of crap. i knew it was all lies, but i guess never really knew.

"you are not too young." -- for the first time in 6 months, i truly heard and believed these words tonight. a weight was lifted off of my back and i am finally happy that i am only 19 (almost 20); no longer am i discouraged by my age or ashamed to tell people that i am 19. yes... i am young compared to a lot of the people from church that i hang out with; the average age is probably 25. but just because of the age difference, it does not mean that God has not made me capable of doing His work. there is no where in the Bible thats says:

"one must reach the age of 25 before capable of serving and doing work for the Lord." from, God

earlier today, a friend reminded me of the verse, "and don't let anyone put you down because you're young. teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity" (1 timothy 4:12). we are constantly telling our junior high kids not to be discouraged by adults when they look down upon them or do not expect someone who is 13 to be able to serve, because they are capable... yet i am the one sitting there feeling like i myself am too young. some of these 13 years olds have it more together then i do.

people are too stuck on age. what's the point? my job is to serve the Lord with the abilities He has given me and from the experiences that i have encountered... my age should not stop me. my focus should be growing in my maturity with God. just because someone is older than me, it does not mean that they know more or are right about everything... i could be more mature spiritually than a 40 year old for all i know.

do not let the lies of being "too young" bind you. you are not too young to serve the Lord.