Embracing Your Uniqueness
Look around. There’s no one quite like you. Sometimes that may feel isolating. With the constant pressure of social media, you may feel like you never measure up. “If only I could have this or be that...”
Rather than finding all the ways you don’t equate to the picture-perfect influencers who fill your social media feed, live in confidence that who you are is more than enough. The news that you are specially designed should fill you with excitement. The reality is, for many of you, your unique quirks and qualities serve as a constant reminder of your insecurities. While you have probably heard this before, I pray that these words wash over you with newfound meaning today:
God loves you. Just as you are. In the messy, in the sinful, in the broken. He still chooses you every time.
Although you might not consider your individual characteristics to be special, God created you with an extraordinary purpose. Each person is indwelled with specific giftings and talents, and the experiences you go through help shape the mission He has placed on your life. All people are qualified to be used by God. Don’t believe me? Let’s hear what the Bible has to say.
In the Old Testament, God appointed craftsmen to construct a tabernacle for worship. Unlike the public figures dominating Scripture—those mighty individuals known for leading crowds into victory–these people were tasked with hammering wood and cutting stones. While this may seem insignificant, their skilled work paved a way for people to enter the presence of God. By being obedient and leaning into their unique calling, these individuals made an impact just as great as the people in the spotlight.
While it may not seem as glorious to serve behind-the-scenes as others rise to status, you must trust that your gift is valuable and the role you play is necessary. Even looking at the makeup of the 12 Apostles, each one brought a unique trait to the table, yet they were all chosen and called by God. Though it may have been frustrating for Bartholomew to watch Peter, James or John soak up the attention, he remained faithful and obeyed Jesus in a surrendered pursuit of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:17-20 states, “If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? In fact, God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”
God is purposeful. He created you just how He wanted: in His own image. While it is easy to be struck by jealousy or envy for another person’s gifting, you have a unique role to play, and God has equipped you for that role through His purposeful design.
If you are familiar with popular Christian lingo, you may have heard about “spiritual gifts.” There are numerous tests available online to guide you into discovering the remarkable talents God has placed inside your core. I encourage you to delve into exploration of these gifts on your own. For now, read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7:
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
Did you read that last sentence? The Holy Spirit grants us power for the common good. While it is easy to get caught up in using these qualities to advance our own kingdom, consider how they can be utilized to build the Kingdom of God. 1 Peter 4:10-11 is another passage that demonstrates the responsibility to steward our gifts:
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
By leveraging your unique abilities for God’s glory, you live into the potential He imagined from the moment He knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). You were created to reflect the Creator, so I urge you to delight in your “quirks” and believe the truth that you were designed with a purpose. I recommend that you pray that the Holy Spirit will help you discern just what purpose God desires for you and the gifts He has given you to serve Him and bring Him glory.
There’s no one quite like you. And that is a gift to be cherished. Now reflect on how can you make yourself available to allow God to use that gift for His purposes!
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