I recently heard a new song put out by Mercy Me titled “Dear Younger Me.” It really is an incredible song. The songwriter wrote it as if he were writing a letter of the most important life lessons to the younger version of himself. Check out the lyric video below.

It got me thinking, if I could go back in time to talk to a younger version of myself, what would I say? Besides the wibbly-wobbly, timely-wimey effects it would have, what lessons could I impart to younger me that might make things smoother or better?

1) Life isn’t all about you or being right all the time. 

– Don’t be so loud. There is a great amount of beauty in what is quiet yet watchful. And yes, you might be right about something, but trying to shove it down peoples’ throats definitely won’t convince them.

2) Always love and live passionately.

– People will not always remain in your life. They will die, leave, or you’ll grow apart. That’s okay. Don’t fight it because it’s a natural part of life. But rather, love and cherish them while you can. When you feel led to say or do something for someone, do it. One day the opportunity may be completely gone and you don’t want to live with that regret.

3) Don’t let hurts, or the fear of hurts hold you back. 

– People will hurt you, that’s part of life in a world full of imperfect human beings. When they do, though, please don’t hold on to it. All it will do is make you bitter and angry. It will spread through the rest of your life, damaging as it does, and it will take a LONG time to root it out and heal from it. And don’t let past hurts and regrets…or fear of future ones…keep you from meeting and loving the new people and things in your life.

4) Don’t be afraid to live your passion.

– It may take you a while to find it, but when you do, don’t be afraid to take the risk and jump, grab ahold, and live it out passionately. You DO NOT have to conform to what everyone else expects you to do, your life doesn’t have to be rigid. Living your dreams won’t be easy and won’t be without fear, but keep fighting, be patient, work and pray hard, and just keep moving forward.

5) No matter what anyone else says or does, lean on Christ for ALL things: guidance, salvation, peace, and contentedness. 

– It will be so easy to look around and see people that are “Christians” but don’t act much like it. It’ll be easy to be distracted by frilly-froo-froo or “pop” Christianity, but don’t be.  No matter what, keep your sight and faith on Christ. Make His Word your foundation. People will always say things that oppose it or are slightly off. If you make other imperfect humans your safety net in life you will fall. If you make it Christ, you will NEVER ever be left behind or led off course. It will be hard but His kind of love is more than worth it.

“If I knew then what I know now condemnation would’ve had no power. My joy my pain would’ve never been my worth. If I knew then what I know now it would’ve not been hard to figure out what I would’ve changed if I had heard. Dear younger me. It’s not your fault. You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross.” – Mercy Me