I’m about to reveal an embarrassing secret:

To this day, I sleep on the top bunk of a red metal bunk bed that was probably designed for 10-year-olds.

I’ve always been pretty careful to keep that little fact about myself on the DL—probably because I didn’t want to do anything to hurt my macho reputation—but here I find myself posting it online for the world to see. The only reason I’m comfortable talking about it now is because in just a few days, I’ll be graduating to a big-kid bed. Seriously, folks. This is a big step.

A few nights ago, I found myself on a gravel road after dark, throwing rocks at a metal sign and unloading my burdens on a friend. The stress of trying to help people through some really difficult situations, the struggle of dealing with a lot of change, and feelings of failure had pushed me over the edge, and I overreacted.

The next day, after some much needed sleep and a chance to put things back into perspective, I just felt embarrassed by how childish I had acted the previous evening. I thought to myself that I still have a lot of growing up to do.

I was reminded of 1 Peter 5:6-11, where Peter writes this to the exiled Christian young men living in Asia Minor about 30 years after Christ was raised from the dead:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

There’s probably a lot more I could say about this, but I think Peter sums it up pretty well. And besides, a little red bunk bed is calling my name.