Growing up, you expect everything to work in your favor. Then you're confronted with the reality of physical, verbal, mental, emotional, and sexual abuse. When disappointment strikes, you hide your true battles and struggles behind a mask you wear and adjust daily. You begin to live a masqueraded lifestyle, thinking it will never catch up to you-until your life begins to fall apart. Not knowing who to trust and turn to, you lose yourself trying to survive. All of a sudden, you become dependent on drug and alcohol abuse. Promiscuity begins to take over your day-to-day interactions. The need to be loved and satisfied are temporarily controlled by a moment of pleasure. You spend all your money with nothing to show for it. Unable to stop, you begin to entertain the voices in your head telling you to end your life. You believe that you're worthless, good for nothing, never going to amount to anything, and will just become another statistic. Having a degree and being financially successful means absolutely nothing. Next thing you know, there is a knife to your vein; you're walking out in front of a car, ready to jump off a bridge; or you are overdosing. In order to heal, you have to deal with the root of your wounds. Reality is that you're not the only one struggling with a specific issue. You're one of the many who are afraid to ask for help or speak up due to fear of being rejected, judged, and abandoned. Fear of the unknown is inevitable. It's time for you to dress yourself in the "just do it" mentality and take on His yoke. Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) God is standing by to show you just how much He loves you. Be brave, take off your mask, and face your reality head-on. It will lead you to overcoming the odds one day at a time
