Scriptural Foundation:
Psalm 139:13-18 New King James Version (NKJV)
For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.
Romans 8:29-31 New King James Version (NKJV)
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Reflection:
Do you remember your cafeteria experience growing up? If your school didn’t have a cafeteria, anywhere where large groups of kids hung out and socialized. Some of you don’t have to think back that far, because you have a cafeteria at your place of employment…where sometimes…just sometimes…people act like children.
It is amazing no matter how many years lapse there are still the same type of groups – the in-crowd, the out-crowd, and the in-between crowd. Depending on which crowd you were/are in, you experience life experiences from a different perspective than your peers. For me, I fell in with the in-between crowd, I was not popular, but at the same time I wasn’t relentlessly bullied. In a society that defines success as perfection, it is not a surprise that un-satisfaction and anxiety is on the rise. The manufactured social media posts only perpetuate this idea that our best is not good enough and that we are failing in life despite our greatest efforts.
It is when I feel my most awkward, I grab my Bible and remind my heart what is the truth in the face of a sensory overload of inadequacy. The Bible says in Psalm 139:14 that we are wonderfully made. It didn’t say “perfectly” made, it didn’t say “cookie cutter” made; it said wonderfully made!
The God of the universes created you to be different! When He said “let there be light”, He had you in mind. He predestined all of your days. You are the apple of His eye! Your life in the Lord, is an orbit/a singular universe to attract souls to Him. The Son that lives in you, holds this world in the palm of His hand.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible – Hebrews 11:3
So, if we are supposed to be different, then why do we all feel a need to fit in? In my observation, to be in a crowd is to relinquish responsibility for the injustices that we see every day. I am not talking about on the grand cultural stage, I am talking about our daily interactions with others. At the same time, to purposely isolate one’s self to avoid rejection or “march to your own drum” can at times have an even worst ramification. So where does that leave us?
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. – Galatians 5:16-18
Our flesh wants to be a part of something in this decaying – counterfeit world, but our spirit knows that our citizenship is in Heaven. Unfortunately, until we get there we will have to continue to play this internal tug of war. With that said, constantly reflect in comparison to what the Word says, your thoughts…intentions…words…and actions. Teach and/or mentor the young adults and the little lambs in your sphere of influence to be different in the Lord. Yes, it is not going to be easy, but in the end it will all be worth it. Always remember Saints:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. – 1 Peter 5:8-9
Seeking Revelation:
Grab your notebook:
- Think back to grammar school, middle school, high school and/or college
- What crowd were you a part of during that season of life?
- What is the crowd break down in your current life?
- For those of you that have kids or nieces/nephews, what crowds do you observe in their lives? Are they similar to what you experience as a child? (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
- How are you helping them navigate their awkwardness? Are you reaching for a man-made fixe or a Bible proven truth?
- Make is a habit to mediate on a scriptural promise every week. Embrace the truth that we are made to be different!