We Want You
“But 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. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” . . . Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:24-27
During your teenage years, you feel incredible pressure to blend in. You want to wear the right clothes, say the right things, do the right activities, and hang out with the right people. You take your cues from everyone else about how to be.
Guess what? You slowly start to lose yourself when you try so hard to be like everyone else.
Scripture teaches that within the body of Christ (which you are part of as a Christian), you have a special role to play. Your specific personality, your specific features, your temperament, your likes and dislikes, your interests and talents, and even your style and sense of humor contribute to the beauty of the whole community. When you celebrate what makes you unique and different, you actually reflect God’s glory.
But we’re terrified of being different. One of the most important things that can happen to you as a teenager is that you learn to just be yourself—the you God made you to be. That’s the you that everyone wants. So if you love sushi, cats, cowboy boots, and jazz music, that’s you. If you love watching old cartoons, baking cookies with your friends, and playing soccer, that’s you.
Don’t try to be her. Be you.
Take a minute and think about what you love. Are you doing things you don’t actually like just to fit in? Are you afraid to wear that awesome dress because it’s not in style? If you love it, do it. The goal today is to be you. We want you!