Individuality…Who God Called Us To Be

I read a quote today that said, “The hardest battle you’ll have to fight is the one to be yourself.”  It made me think of how we often try to be someone we aren’t or how often we feel intimidated by others or how often we are not satisfied with who we are as a person.  Believe it or not, this is something we all go through.  Even the person that to us may seem to “have it all together”…they hide their insecurities about themselves very well.  But I have heard the following verse quoted more than twice this past week:  “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” ~Psalm 139:14.  It made me think of how I need to be thankful that He created me to be an individual…I am unique…and I am wonderfully made by His own hands.

God made us the way we are…and so often we try to change that or cover it up in one way or another.  Or, we just try to hide who we truly are by a facade of who we want to be…like “so and so”.   Galatians 6:4-5 (MSG) says, “Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others.  Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.”  …Don’t compare yourself with others.  Unfortunately we tend to do this more than we realize.  But, God gave each of us talents and gifts with which to work.  We need to take a careful look at who we are trying to be and who God wants us to be.  Then, we need to realize that being ourselves is not a bad thing.  We do not have to changed who we are to be accepted.  God has accepted us the way we are…all He asks is that we follow the plan He has laid out for our lives.  Not a hard task if you think about it.  And besides, being yourself has a lot less stressful “strings” attached. 

I can speak from experience…there was a time in my life that I tried to be who I thought others wanted me to be.  I always was afraid to show my true-self.  But, when I finally realized that it was “okay” to be me and that it was acceptable…it was like a big load lifted off of me.  God made us each individually.  We are each unique.  We do not have to be “cookie cutters”.  Think of it this way…when we see the snow falling gently we think of how beautiful it looks.  Every snowflake is different…yet together they make the scenery around us beautiful.  It is okay for us to each be ourselves…and together we can make a beautiful picture for Him.