Hey, what’s up? How are you? Nothing and you’re fine, right? That’s a typical response from anyone these days. We keep it simple and impersonal because we don’t want to infringe upon others’ lives with our own burdens, so we keep to ourselves. It’s okay to admit that you are not your strongest sometimes. It’s okay to say, “A lot is happening right now and I am struggling on my own.” I think Bill Withers said it best when he wrote his song, Lean On Me.

We all have struggles we face. We all have pain and sorrow. Things we think we won’t make it through. Trials and tribulations in our lives and events that impact us in such a way that we often carry remnants of what we experienced with us. I don’t know what personal struggles you are experiencing right now, but I can tell you that you are not alone. There are others who know exactly what it is like to be where you are. There is someone that you can lean on for support.

I know that isn’t always what you want to hear when you are at a low point, but there is something of a relief to know that there is someone else out there who can empathize and relate to you and what you are going through. There is strength in unity and relativity. There is hope in having a support to lean on when you are struggling on your own.

Recently I have encountered what has felt like more than my fair share of struggles. I am a nineteen-year-old college student who is still trying to figure out this crazy, big world. There is a lot changing faster than I feel like I can keep up. I know what it is like to feel like giving up, giving in, and falling apart with the world that feels like it is crumbling in and around you. There are a lot of times where I just don’t know how I am going to handle this and I feel like everything is falling apart each time I work to rebuild it. It’s tough. I promise you though, you can make it through this, whatever it is.

Someone once told me that God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers. My reply to that was, “He must think I’m one hell of a soldier then”. Let me tell you now, despite how weak you feel, how difficult your struggles seem, and how much you feel like you can’t do it, that you, friend, are not alone in this. YOU are strong. YOU are a fighter. YOU are the best you that you can be. YOU can handle this. God is always around to support you. You just need to lean on Him, for when you are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). He created you for this moment and He knows your pain and suffering before you ever encounter it. He knows and has faith in you that you can handle whatever it is you are facing. Have faith in him that he will see you through it. God created you in His image, and you may be imperfect, but you are perfect to Him. He loves you unconditionally and eternally. You will never be alone.

You are an incredible person! Don’t compromise yourself in the midst of improving your situation. You stay true to who you are and don’t give up. Do not let anyone tear you down and degrade you. Improve and become better, but do not change yourself so much in the midst of the chaos that when the dust clears and you are able to look clearly in a mirror that you do not recognize the person looking back at you. You will need that familiar face to help you get through more tough situations in the future. Remember, you are stronger than anything this world may throw at you. This pain, hatred, anger, fear that all comes along with the struggles you are facing, that will all fade. You will improve. You will become a better you than the you that entered this difficult time. In the end, you will still be yourself, but also you will be stronger!

Please don’t take these words lightly. This world is a crazy mess and there is a lot of scary things happening each day beyond our control. However, regardless of what this crazy, hectic world may throw at you, you are stronger than even its most devastating bomb. Stay strong. Seek support in yourself, in God, and in the world around you because you are never alone. You are something important and you can make it through this. It might be hard now, but in the end, you will overcome. You are the only you that this world will ever have the joy of knowing. You can do this. When its all said and done, you will look back and be proud of yourself for not giving up.

With lots of love, compassion, and support,

A strong soldier like you