"If only you could see me yesterday, who I use to be before the change. You'd see a broken heart, you'd see the battle scars. Funny how words can't explain, how good it feels to finally break the chains." Fireflight 'What I've Overcome'

I'm not who I was in high school, by no means. The girl people knew back then was afraid. She was afraid of failure, afraid of the unknown, afraid of loss, afraid of what others thought of her, and afraid of what was in her own heart. These fears stifled growth, and sometimes they paralyzed it.

But something changed. God shared His truths with me in a way that washed over all the lies I use to believe. He cast out fear with his all encompassing peace. The insecurity, the insecurity about who I was, what I was capable of, and how worthy I was, vanished in light of His purpose and design for me. The fears of betrayal and rejection were dispelled in the presence of His love. The shame, and doubt about my own character, and the mistakes of my past, were silenced as His grace and forgiveness overcame me.

I think it's easy to get caught up in the patterns, cycles, and expectations of our own world and lives. But God is constantly working in us. We are constantly changing in light of God's grace. We are never finished, and we are never captive to one way of living. Let go of labels, break out of your boxes, and embrace the freedom to change, to grow, to mature. Though we were weak yesterday, we can be strong today. Though we were sad yesterday, we can have joy today. Though we failed yesterday, we can be victorious today. Don't believe the lie that you are only who you were. God is not done with you. He is not done with me. He is not done with us.

"You've been who you were, not who you could be." Moriah Peters 'Born to be Free'

"And we all, having been unveiled in face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit." 2 Corinthians 3:18