No, being different in today's world is often looked down on and laughed at.
Sometimes causing us as Christians to shrink away from our beliefs and hide behind our insecurities. We're human. We want to be accepted.
Lately I've been learning about what it means to be bold. A verse that has been my "get me through senior year" verse is Hebrews 10:39:
"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed. But of those who have faith and are saved."
We are NOT of those who shrink back. That sentence alone gives me so much courage.
Unfortunately, in most circumstances I'm probably better at shrinking back than I am at being bold. I mean sure, I've never directly denied Christ. But we all shrink back and deny Him in our own little ways every day.
Like when everyone around us is talking about another person in a negative way. It's easy to "shrink back" and join in even when we know that's not the kind of person we are called to be. It's easy to find negative qualities in someone else.
It's not easy to be bold and stand up for that person. Or maybe even just walk away and refuse to be apart of it.
But it's the right thing to do.
Or in any circumstance that you're around others who may not strive to live the kind of life that you do. It's easy to shrink back. Sure, you don't have to take part in what they're doing/saying. But how often do we just sit back and watch what's going on around us instead of choosing to be bold and try to put a stop to it.
I want to make a difference in people's lives. That's something I've been passionate about for as long as I can remember.
But I'm learning that in order to make a difference, I have to BE different.
I fall short of this all the time. It's all too natural to take the easy way out. But I'm praying He will give me a spirit of courage; that He'll teach me to be bold in all my words and actions.
We have to make the choice. When controversial situations arise, are we going to choose to shrink back and hide behind our fear? Or are we going to choose to boldly step forward with a spirit of confidence, courage, and faith?
Courageous by Casting Crowns is a pretty well known song from the movie Courageous that came out in 2011.
One of the lines from the song that really stands out to me from that song is "may the watchers become warriors."
In my own words, may the ones who shrink back become bold.
This is something He's been teaching me for a while now. I am not of those who shrink back and are destroyed. But of those who have faith and are saved. I am called to be courageous and confident in Him. Boldy stepping out and allowing Him to shape me into a woman after His heart.
I fail. You fail.
We all fail and will continue to, but thank goodness we serve a God who doesn't hold anything against us.
May you have the courage daily to wake up and choose to live boldy for our King. Even when it's not easy to be different.
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