An “In” Crowd of One

Have you ever been watching a TV show or movie and it triggered something about yourself? For me, it was the movie Mean Girls. Maybe you haven’t seen it. It’s about this group of girls that everyone in the school envies, with the exception of a few. Girls who treat everyone, including each other, kinda terribly; it’s a little extreme. They all live for keeping secrets and trying to live up to the expectations of others.

And no, I didn’t hang with the mean girls back in high school. Neither do I have to think back that far to when I tried to “be myself” and failed under pressure.

By failed, I mean that others in my so-called “circle” didn’t approve of me, and I decided that I would rather conform to what they wanted. I longed to be part of the “it” group, and I’m not talking about when I was a youngster. As an adult, I can now admit that I wanted to be somebody other than who God created me to be.

When God Reveals Who You Are, Embrace It

Nothing to be proud of, but I’m done being ashamed of it. I’ve even learned that there are times when we, as adults, think that we’re beyond certain things because we are grown. Nope, not so.

Learning to love who you are called to be is a process, even as you get older. We spend so much time teaching our children to be different, and that they don’t need to worry about what others think of them. But way too often, we forget or neglect to take our own advice.

How often do we try to be “original” in this world of fakes, followers, and false friends? How often do we retreat back into our shells when it doesn’t seem to work out for us?

Way too often.

There are times when I can look back and recall doing more of what was preferred by others, than what I know was required of my character. As a “grown-up”, I was still trying to figure out who I was, because for so long I ignored the voice of God calling me out. Christ came so that we could follow Him, not those we are surrounded by.

So often, we lose who we are because we want to be one of the “birds”… you know how the saying goes, “birds of a feather flock together.” God created us as individuals. His plan was so intricate that there is no one else with your exact DNA – not even if you have a twin. No matter how identical, your fingerprints are different, your dental records are your own, and your desires and dreams may be worlds apart.

So, What’s the Play Call?

We each have our own identity and it is only found in Christ Jesus. Many times, we talk ourselves out of being who we know we should be, for fear of what others think and how they may react. Here are a few things that I hope will help you embrace your individuality:

1. God knew who you’d be before you became. So, there is no reason to try to hide from yourself or Him. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5
2. You were created to look like Him, not them. Our Playbook says in Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
3. If God meant for you to be like everybody else, He would have made you that way. He didn’t – so be you. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
4. There are some crowds you must step away from. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” 2 Corinthians 6:17
5. God loves you. “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 21:3

God has so much for you, but it is for the authentic you – not who you have learned to be. Seek Him for your true identity. I’m rooting for you and pray you will begin to live out your God-given identity and potential.