"Great, here they come again." I thought to myself. I pretended to search for something in my locker as the most popular girl and her entourage brushed by me with their matching New Kids on the Block t-shirts. I wanted so badly to walk alongside them and talk about which member of the boy band was the cutest. I longed for their small frames, flawless skin and perfectly teased hair. Feelings of inferiority seemed to be the norm for me back in the day.
It is said that Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr first recorded the expression "the more things change, the more they stay the same." There's so much truth in that statement. Here I am at the ripe age of 41 years old and as I recall those glorious junior high days, it's the early 90's and I am 13 all over again. If I'm not careful, there are situations that arise where I can let myself believe those same voices in my head now just as I did then. For instance:
Have you ever walked into church on a Sunday morning scanning the crowd to see who is available to chat with but everyone is knee deep in conversation? "You don't belong," says lie number one. Have you answered a question in front of a large group with 100% certainty only to find out it's the wrong answer? "You aren't smart enough." Lie #2. Ever worn too much make-up to cover a zit but feeling as though everyone is staring at it and you? "You aren't pretty enough." Lie #3.
It's easy to get bogged down in the trap of insecurity. But why? It could be a number of things. Maybe those feelings stem from a childhood experience or it could be Satan planting doubt or maybe we have consumed too much of what the world calls worthy. No matter the reason, it all boils down to what we let our minds dwell on. If we choose self, problems and pity are sure to follow. By fixing our minds on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8) we shift from self to God. This can be difficult as we fight against our sinful nature. But, as we fill our minds with scripture, serving others and doing things to draw us nearer to God, we have less room to be deceived and more room to accept what God says about us. We are His Chosen (Ephesians 1:4-6). His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). His friend (John 15:15). We are His.
We have come a long way since tight rolled jeans, pagers and boy bands and yet somehow, mom jeans and scrunchies have overtaken Target. Fads fade. Sizes shift. Moods change. In the ebb and flow of life, let's be thankful that we serve God who is never changing in who He is and who He says we are.
