If it wasn't for God, I honestly don't know what I would do. It is only through Him that we have full acceptance. The people of the world size us up everyday, and 9 times out of 10 we amount to nothing to them. This world is filled with impossible standards. Many times when you do succeed, people only like you for a moment. Then it's on to the next one. Nothing is more hurtful than giving someone your all, and that person walks away the moment you can't give anymore. It's equally painful to work hard on something just for someone to tell you it isn't good enough.
There are so many rules that exist in this world, and so many expectations. You have to look a certain way, dress nice, and act in ways that cater to every individual. These rules hold no security. You can follow these rules step-by-step and still be told it's not good enough.
You are not good enough. This is the message Satan tries to send to you everyday. As long as we are on this earth, we are going to be scrutinized.
John 7:20 “You are demon-possessed,” the crowd answered.
Matthew 9:3 “This fellow is blaspheming!”
Luke 23:35-39: The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself." There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
These are just some of the many insults Jesus had to deal with. Since He dealt with it, we will have to deal with it as well.
John 13:16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
The world may say you're not good enough, but God says you are precious to Him.
Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.
The world may say you're not pretty/handsome enough, but God loves you for who you are.
1 Samuel 16:7 The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
We have to shield ourselves from the rejection of this world by saying God is enough. Everyone in this world may say you're not smart enough, but God says you are. That all that matters. When it comes to God, the majority doesn't rule. He rules.
God doesn't look at us the way the world does. Sometimes we get so used to the way we are evaluated here on earth, that we think God views us the same way. God sees our efforts, and most of all He sees who we are going to be.
The world only gets a snapshot of who we are now. I feel sorry for those who looked at you and sized you up to be a failure! God is our security. As long as we focus on Him, we have a guarantee that we will be somebody. Now granted, His definition of a somebody may differ from yours. But you have to trust that He has your best interest at heart. He knows us better than we know ourselves.
Looking at things from the other end, this is why we have to be careful with our assumptions about others. Especially when it comes to dating! I've heard women of God say they want a man of God, but he has to be making good money. On the other end, I've heard men of God say they want a woman of God, but she has to look a certain way. Now your standards are your standards, but make sure you are not settling for less. Ladies you can have a man of God who is a janitor today, but has a promise behind him that guarantees he will be a king someday. As long as he has his heart on Jesus Christ, you have a security that you will be ok. For men, there may be women who look great today, but like a beautiful flower, she will wither tomorrow. You never know! God has seen your future wife grow up, and He also knows what she will look like in the future. So if He says that's your wife, then trust Him! He knows what will satisfy your standards for a lifetime and not just a moment.
So zooming back out to the bigger picture, keep trusting God. I know it's hard. You may not be where you want to be now, but we serve a God who is working full-time to ensure your success. He's not just going to toss you anything sloppy just to pacify you like Satan would. Instead He uses tough love and does what He knows is best for you despite your discomfort in the waiting room. Have faith in God's identity, and His significance. Believe that He is mighty, beautiful, and the creator of every living thing. Now think. If He says you are precious to His sight, then why be discouraged by people who are only on earth for a moment? Through Him you have everlasting life and acceptance. So keep holding onto Him. Your time will come.
Ezekiel 16:4-14 On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised. " 'Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, "Live!" I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, you who were naked and bare. " 'Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD, and you became mine. " 'I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you. I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments. I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck, and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was fine flour, honey and olive oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen. And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD.
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