I was at a conference and they were the ‘cool kids’ – or at least it seemed that way at the time. They were connecting with everybody, laughing, joking and having a great time. And it seemed like everyone around was on the exact same page in life…..EXCEPT ME.

I just wanted to fit in and be like them, except the Lord did not want me to be the round peg that they were. I COULDN’T be the round peg that they were even though I wanted to. I am just…..oval I guess.

And Then…
Then in worship during that very conference God told me, “You’re not gum on the bottom of their shoes.”

It was one of those moments in worship that God made himself REAL to me and the tears flowed. Being different isn’t always easy, but it is what makes you SPECIAL, UNIQUE, and CALLED to the purpose God created YOU for.

Do you remember Stuart Smalley from SNL? “I am pretty, I am smart, and gosh golly people like me.”

God was giving me a Stuart Smalley moment. He moved me from a SURVIVING mentality to a THRIVING mentality.

The Evil Plot
Christ was tempted by the devil out in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights. He had not done anything wrong, but the enemy wants to SEPARATE us from our heavenly Father – especially when we are walking in faith.

I had not done anything wrong when I tried to connect with those ladies, but the wicked one was trying to cast doubt into my mind about my WORTH.

Why does Satan want to make us doubt who we are in Christ? Because God has set us apart for BIG plans!

“Jesus returned in the power of the Holy Spirit, and the fame of Him went out all about the region.” Luke 4:14

Use It to Thrive
The enemy knows if we start making money we are going to give to those in need, and he doesn’t want that to happen.

The enemy knows if we have a great a testimony that we are going to share it to encourage others. He doesn’t want that to happen.

You were not sent to the Earth to SURVIVE life, but God sent you here to THRIVE in life.

Don’t let your differences make you shrink back from the crowd. They are EXACTLY what sets you apart from the crowd. They are your platform! They are the thing that you can do that other people can’t!

Encouragement
God, I pray that we see through Your eyes. That we can see how You purposefully created us in ways we may not have understood in the past, but You show us how to use those very things for Your glory. God I pray that you show us how to THRIVE in life in the exact arena that you created us for! Amen.

Have you thought of yourself as ‘different’ or not cookie-cutter in the past and God has shown you how to use that to propel you to the destiny He has for you? Share that with us!