Another Year, Another Milestone

I’m not one for making blog posts like this, but this year is a big year for me. How so? Yesterday, I turned 30. There’s a lot to look back on, and I have a lot to be thankful for.

Reflecting on where I was when I entered my 20s, I distinctly remember being much more insecure about who I was and what I would do with my life. I was also very immature in my faith. I didn’t know my Bible nearly as well as I do now.

In my early 20s, I thought I had everything figured out. I formed a detailed plan for what I wanted my life to look like. I was obsessed with being noticed and becoming well-known for doing something amazing—something that would change the world (think Bill Gates or Winston Churchill). It’s fair to say I was a little too zealous at times. Of course, none of these things happened the way I expected. But it turns out God had other plans.

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” – Mark 8:36 (NIV)

While I didn’t achieve worldly fame, I did continue to grow in the Lord. I can see how He has been at work in my heart—taming me, helping me live to serve His kingdom, and freeing me from the obsession with what the world calls “success.” I’ve learned not to measure myself by those standards.

I also seriously struggled with my mental health—especially in the first half of my 20s. There were days when I found it hard to muster the motivation to do anything, and even the simplest tasks felt exhausting.

But as I look back over the past 10 years and mark the start of my 30s, I can clearly see God’s grace in my life. I’ve experienced so much growth, and I have countless reasons to be thankful. God has blessed me with a fulfilling career, a home, and—most importantly—an amazing wife and son.