You Are Not Alone!

Hi friends!

My name is Taylor Sandy and I am excited to share truth with you today! 

A little background…

I graduated from Grapevine High School in 2014 and participated in S3 throughout middle school and high school. I went on to play collegiate soccer for The University of Kentucky, then transferred to The University of Texas at Austin to finish out my degree and soccer career. From the outside, many people think that my life is picture perfect and Instagram worthy at all times, but that is far from reality! I have struggled with sports adversity, injury adversity, friendships, break-ups, disappointments and set-backs, but the biggest has been loneliness.

The Bible says in Leviticus 20:26 “You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own”. We are not meant for this world; we are not meant to fit in and the best example I can give is Jesus. He was bold, spoke truth in love, and He was persecuted for it. He experienced betrayal more than once and yet is the MOST significant and important person in history. Being set apart is lonely!

The world tells us to live as we choose, live by the mantra, “you only live once”, do what makes you happy, etc.

God’s Word says in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”” I have experienced moments where I don’t feel liked or accepted by my peers and I have to remind myself that the world hated Jesus first. If you feel like people don’t like you because of you, it’s most likely because Jesus lives inside of you, and not because of who you are! When you change your perspective of the criticism or judgement you may face, it frees your heart and mind to really LOVE those who persecute you.

So, if you feel like you’re alone here is my tip for you. Put yourself out there! Join a bible study if you’re not in one already, go to youth groups at church or to your Student Standing Strong meetings every week, etc. Finding like-minded friends and community who understand what you’re feeling is the key! The fact is that everyone is lonely. Every person you know, even the popular person, feels lonely sometime or another. Satan fills your mind with lies of self-doubt, lack of moral values, insecurities, sinful pasts and current sin to hold you captive and keep you in the state of feeling lonely and isolated. God wants you to know that you are loved just as you are and that He created YOU for a unique purpose that only He can fulfill. Stand firm in your beliefs, and know God’s Word. You are not alone!

With love,

Taylor Sandy (@thetayloredlifeblog)