Differently
Hi.
This post is going to be filled with Scripture, and I hope you're okay with that.
Something I have struggled with my whole life is the feeling of not being good enough. I've always felt like I don't measure up to the expectations around me. I'm a people pleaser, so I am constantly trying to get to the point where everyone surrounding me is happy, even to the extent of losing my own happiness. I set extremely high expectations of myself and those around me, and I get ANGRY when those expectations aren't met. I struggle daily with this, and I'm learning every day how to relinquish control.
So, moving on.
As I've been in college, I've learned a thing or two about people around me. The thing is, people don't think the same as I do. I'm not saying that I'm right or that I'm wrong, just different. The dictionary definition of different is: "not the same as another or each other; unlike in nature, form, or quality" and "distinct; separate". Now, if I'm thinking unlike in nature, form, or quality than people around me, what good is that?
Well, in Matthew 5:13-16, we are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. You've probably heard this multiple times and are thinking "yeah yeah, Caroline, so what?". Trust me, I've had this thought too. However, my youth pastor once pointed out that in biblical times, salt was put on meat to preserve it. So, if we are called to be the salt of the earth, shouldn't we be preserving it? Furthermore, if we aren't being the salt of the earth, we're letting it crumble and fall apart.
So, thinking differently is what we're called to do. If we're thinking, acting, or speaking like the world, then we are not preserving it. How can one look at someone who is just like the world and say that they are living differently? We must be different. We must be a light in dark world. We must not be a flare, but a lantern. A constant light for Him, not a flicker in the darkness.
In 1 Peter, it is mentioned over and over again that, as believers, we have been brought in to an inheritance which is imperishable.
IMPERISHABLE. What weight to a word. Meaning "enduring forever". Wow.
Okay, Caroline, now what? We're called to be salt and as believers we're imperishable...so what?
I'm trying to say that it's OKAY to be different. It's beautiful to be different.
In 1 Peter 2:4-5, it says "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ".
Alright. So many things are being said in these two verses, but I dwell on the words "rejected by men BUT in the sight of God chosen and precious". When I fail, when I don't meet my expectations, when I am looked at as different, God sees me as precious and chosen. When the people around me don't understand why I am different, God reminds me I am precious. I am His, and He is imperishable.
What a beautiful sight to see that though we may be rejected and shunned by those around us, the Lord accepts us.
Furthermore, I've been drawn back to Romans 12:9-21 for the past month. My Bible titles it "Marks of the True Christian". I've focused on one aspect each day this month and really reflected on if it is truly my heart. If it isn't, I ask that the Lord will grow me in that way. It's been a crazy ride to just let Him have control, but it's been so rewarding.
So back to the beginning of this blog post. I'm a people pleaser. BUT, with the Lord accepting me as precious, chosen, and a member of the IMPERISHABLE Kingdom, I can rest in Him. I may be rejected by men, but I am accepted by Christ, and that's fine with me.
Galatians 1:10 rocks my world every time I reflect on it. "Am I now trying to win the approval of man, or of Christ? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ". We can either choose to live a life of this world or of Christ. We can either choose to live a life saying "look at me!" or a life saying "look at Christ!". For me, it's so much easier to win the approval of Christ, who accepts me, flaws and all, than to win the approval of the world, which is fickle. I can trust that living my life for Him and following His plan for my life is the expectation, and I can meet that. I can measure up to that.
I can think different than those around me and follow what He sets forth for me. Even though it is still a struggle to feel rejected by man, I have to trust the Lord has something greater for me.
Act different. Think different. Speak different. Live different. Love different. Be different.
This post is going to be filled with Scripture, and I hope you're okay with that.
Something I have struggled with my whole life is the feeling of not being good enough. I've always felt like I don't measure up to the expectations around me. I'm a people pleaser, so I am constantly trying to get to the point where everyone surrounding me is happy, even to the extent of losing my own happiness. I set extremely high expectations of myself and those around me, and I get ANGRY when those expectations aren't met. I struggle daily with this, and I'm learning every day how to relinquish control.
So, moving on.
As I've been in college, I've learned a thing or two about people around me. The thing is, people don't think the same as I do. I'm not saying that I'm right or that I'm wrong, just different. The dictionary definition of different is: "not the same as another or each other; unlike in nature, form, or quality" and "distinct; separate". Now, if I'm thinking unlike in nature, form, or quality than people around me, what good is that?
Well, in Matthew 5:13-16, we are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. You've probably heard this multiple times and are thinking "yeah yeah, Caroline, so what?". Trust me, I've had this thought too. However, my youth pastor once pointed out that in biblical times, salt was put on meat to preserve it. So, if we are called to be the salt of the earth, shouldn't we be preserving it? Furthermore, if we aren't being the salt of the earth, we're letting it crumble and fall apart.
So, thinking differently is what we're called to do. If we're thinking, acting, or speaking like the world, then we are not preserving it. How can one look at someone who is just like the world and say that they are living differently? We must be different. We must be a light in dark world. We must not be a flare, but a lantern. A constant light for Him, not a flicker in the darkness.
In 1 Peter, it is mentioned over and over again that, as believers, we have been brought in to an inheritance which is imperishable.
IMPERISHABLE. What weight to a word. Meaning "enduring forever". Wow.
Okay, Caroline, now what? We're called to be salt and as believers we're imperishable...so what?
I'm trying to say that it's OKAY to be different. It's beautiful to be different.
In 1 Peter 2:4-5, it says "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ".
Alright. So many things are being said in these two verses, but I dwell on the words "rejected by men BUT in the sight of God chosen and precious". When I fail, when I don't meet my expectations, when I am looked at as different, God sees me as precious and chosen. When the people around me don't understand why I am different, God reminds me I am precious. I am His, and He is imperishable.
What a beautiful sight to see that though we may be rejected and shunned by those around us, the Lord accepts us.
Furthermore, I've been drawn back to Romans 12:9-21 for the past month. My Bible titles it "Marks of the True Christian". I've focused on one aspect each day this month and really reflected on if it is truly my heart. If it isn't, I ask that the Lord will grow me in that way. It's been a crazy ride to just let Him have control, but it's been so rewarding.
So back to the beginning of this blog post. I'm a people pleaser. BUT, with the Lord accepting me as precious, chosen, and a member of the IMPERISHABLE Kingdom, I can rest in Him. I may be rejected by men, but I am accepted by Christ, and that's fine with me.
Galatians 1:10 rocks my world every time I reflect on it. "Am I now trying to win the approval of man, or of Christ? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ". We can either choose to live a life of this world or of Christ. We can either choose to live a life saying "look at me!" or a life saying "look at Christ!". For me, it's so much easier to win the approval of Christ, who accepts me, flaws and all, than to win the approval of the world, which is fickle. I can trust that living my life for Him and following His plan for my life is the expectation, and I can meet that. I can measure up to that.
I can think different than those around me and follow what He sets forth for me. Even though it is still a struggle to feel rejected by man, I have to trust the Lord has something greater for me.
Act different. Think different. Speak different. Live different. Love different. Be different.
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| Romans 12:5-21 |
Amen! Be who you were made to be and love every minute of it!
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