My Difference is My Gift

One of our strongest human desires and needs is to belong to a family or group. We often want to hide our differences or to morph ourselves into what we perceive the group accepts or wants to ensure we will belong. When we don’t fit into the group we are splintered with rejection and a false belief there is something wrong with us.  In other words, we believe our difference is bad. 

I have struggled against my uniqueness in the past. I’ve felt deserted, invisible, and in despair. Now I see God made each and every one of us wonderfully different on purpose! He’s given each of us gifts to serve Him and others. God specifically states we were all created to be different because we all have a different place and function within the body or family of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:15-25). ¹⁷ 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? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

Maybe one of my gifts is to let others know they are not alone.  No matter how unique they are or what they have done in the past, with Christ they are welcomed, hurts are healed, and they are made new. He loved, accepted and welcomed the murders, thieves, prostitutes, and liars while He walked this earth. And He loves you. Your sinful past or current condition doesn’t condemn your future when Christ is in you.

Our creator made us all different but with equal importance. Many have seen and still see the difference of love, grace, and mercy in Christ as a weakness. Yet for these reasons He was able to endure the pain and suffering of the cross to ensure we would have eternal life. Often our differences in looks, abilities, and talents have the potential to give us the confidence to illuminate this dark world.

When we accept God into our hearts, we are instantly adopted by the King of Kings and belong to the family of God. We don’t need to strive for the approval of other humans but only for the honor of our Father God and King, the keeper of eternity (Galatians 1:10).

Am I now trying to win human approval or God’s approval? Am I only trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. While I serve Him on this earth, I won’t allow Satan or others to tell me my differences make me an outcast.  I know I have a place, importance, and purpose. The creator of the universe loves me and accepts me; therefore, I will love and embrace myself. 

It’s up to each person to embrace and learn about our gifts and how we can use them. Will we choose to embrace our uniqueness and love ourselves and serve God and others; or will we spend our life trying to be something we aren’t and end up with bitterness, resentment, and revenge. Will we end our life with joy and contentment that we used our uniqueness to better the world or will we die with regrets and anger? What will you choose?