Popeye speaks for all of us when he boldly states: “I yam what I yam!” Who else can he be, after all, but himself? Who else can you be? But are you, like most, sometimes dissatisfied with the way you are? Do you feel like your ears are too big, your mouth too small? Maybe you think God isn’t really pleased with His creation of you. You can’t sing like Wendy, you can’t draw like Stan. You’re not outgoing like Peter, you’re not patient like Linda. You aren’t, you can’t, you won’t…
As long as we think like that, we can never be all that God intends for us to be. If we dwell on what we can’t do, on who we can’t be, we’ll never strive to do anything or be anybody. I struggle with my self-image at times too – until I refocus on who I am in Christ. He says of both you and I, “…you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession” (1 Peter 2:9)
You are royalty! Here are a few thoughts to help you to really understand and believe that.
- Accept yourself – Go ahead and love yourself. You are God’s workmanship just the way you are. (Ephesians 2:10) Certainly there are some things about yourself you’d like to change. That’s OK. Begin setting goals to change those things that you have control over and can do something about. Changing the things you can will give you a sense of control over your life and keep you from sitting around lamenting the fact that your hair is thinning…When you love yourself the way God made you, you’re not afraid to risk letting people know the real you. It becomes easier for you to reach out to others.
- You are accepted by others – There is no reason to assume nonacceptance unless you have strong evidence. It may look as though you’re not accepted – especially if you are ignored by others. But many times its shyness on their part, or possibly they don’t feel accepted by you. It’s a risk to reach out, because you’re never sure how you will be received. But someone has to make the first move. It might as well be you…”Accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us” (Romans 15:7)…Since God asked you to accept others, do your part and assume their acceptance in return. After you’ve done that, there looms the possibility that they won’t accept you – but that’s their problem.
- God accepts you – “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) – Nothing can separate you from His love. In light of His undying love for you, what are big ears? Or even a club foot? There will always be things thrown at you in life that you have no control over. At those points, remember that God is for us. You can rise above the circumstances.
- You can do anything God asks of you – There is unlimited potential in you, as a child of God. – “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) – As He reveals His will to you, there’s nothing you’re not capable of doing! Nothing! If you can do everything, why not start with one thing that you’ve been wanting to do, but never thought you could – and then work at it until you master it. You know you can do it. God says you can.
- You are somebody – You are a VIP because you were handcrafted by God Almighty. You are as important to God as Billy Graham or the Apostle Paul. They may be better known, but they are no more valuable to God, because God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Jesus spent a day with Zaccheus, a hated tax collector, when he could have spent it with any one of the well-respected leaders in Jerusalem at that time. Zaccheus was important to Jesus
- Be yourself – Don’t try to live up to others’ expectations for you. Everyone’s expectations are different, and if you try to be someone different for each person in your life, soon all those identities will blur together and you won’t know who you are.
God is excited about who you are becoming in Him. So am I. In fact, please know that I’m on the sidelines cheering – Go God! Go ! Go God! – Oh, by the way, cheer for me too, because I need to practice what I preach.
Let’s blossom together,
Pastor Steve