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Hunger for Excellence

A Letter to a Friend (How Faith Led Us Here)

February 5, 2019 By Drew Shepherd

letter to a friend (faith) thumb

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith.

That was all I had two years ago.

Well, faith and excitement. But disappointments quickly tempered the latter.

So yeah, faith. That’s all I had.

I never had a goal in my mind. There was no subscriber count I strove to reach.

The truth is, I just did what I was told.

I was told that one day I’d be a teacher. And the funny thing is, younger me scoffed at the idea.

“A teacher?!?”  

It sounded so lame.

All I could think of was lazy-eyed Miss Johnson from 2nd grade. Surely I wouldn’t grow to be like her.

But later I realized this wasn’t “teacher” in the conventional, schoolhouse sense. And that’s great. Because my life’s been anything but conventional.

That’s why I needed faith two years ago. I needed faith in what I was told, but more importantly, I needed faith in the One who revealed it.

Without faith, I would have stopped a long time ago. Without faith, my life wouldn’t be worth living.

But I had faith then. And I still have it now.

I wanted to see the promise then. I’m downright craving it now.

The faith that made me start is the same faith that pushes me to completion.

And it’s this very faith, that led me to cross paths with you.

I couldn’t see any of this back in 2017. I only started to piece it together a few months ago. But now? It’s clear as day.

And the worst part is, I can’t tell anyone. I can tell the world but I can’t tell anyone. They wouldn’t believe me.

It’s too unreal to understand from the outside. And even I couldn’t write a story this good.

It’s all just a matter of time now. So don’t get too down on yourself.

Yeah, I know there have been plenty of wasted months, you’ve gone over the “what-if’s” a million times, and everyone around is growing impatient. But please don’t get discouraged.

“Why not?”, you ask.

Because He put you here.

He put you here just like He put me there. I’ve watched your story play out and all I can think about is myself.

Everything about us is so similar. Heck, we even share the same names:

  • “Psycho”
  • “Madman”
  • “Piece of (you-know-what)”

Those were my names too. But they aren’t anymore. And they won’t be yours for much longer.

All these people thought they hurt us—and yeah, it was painful then—but if they knew what they were really doing, they would have never touched us.

They don’t see what we see. They don’t know that they’re just pawns. They’ve played a supporting role in a much larger story. And who would have thought they’d be so eager to sign up?

I know our roles aren’t what either of us would have chosen, but if He thinks a setback will benefit us more in the long term, then who are we to argue?

Our accusers think they put us here. Our enemies think they did it too. But they can’t do anything more than what He allows.

He had to break the both of us in order to build something better. And yes, it’s annoying now, but He always finishes what He starts.

That’s why it’s been so hard for us lately—we’re both tired of waiting. We both long to be where we should have been months ago.

But it’s out of our hands now. So we have to wait.

My frustration grows every day but I know I have to wait. So I’ve learned to be content with where I am and not go crazy over what I thought would come sooner.

But that doesn’t mean my faith has left. And that doesn’t mean my story is finished.

I know yours isn’t finished either.

Remember how Joseph summarized his story? That he was sent ahead to preserve life?

That’s what’s happened to you and me. We’ve both been plunged into the future. And now we’re waiting on everyone else to catch up.

So again, don’t get down on yourself. You and I both know who put us here, and we know that means we’ll get out.

It’s too much of a “coincidence” to not be true.

But hey, I could be wrong. Maybe I am just talking to myself. Maybe I’ve over-analyzed and misinterpreted yet again.

But I don’t believe I have.

So please, do us both a favor…

And go win.

-Drew

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