You

Before I begin, I just want to say that I'm not claiming to be an amazing preacher or teacher, but I do want to share what has been on my heart a lot recently. I hope I can share this eloquently enough so anyone of you who reads will understand!

I think being yourself is possibly one of the hardest things. Sometimes its so much easier to pretend, to wear a facade; a mask, imitate somebody else in order to be accepted. I know that I have struggled with this in the past, and continue to at times. The question I ask myself is: why do I do it?

Apart from the reasons aforesaid, I come to the conclusion that it is because I use it as a defense mechanism. If people don't know me, they can't judge me or put me down. When you get told negative things, or get judged by people who for, whatever reason, have taken a dislike to you- you start to believe it. Why believe it though?

What good does believing those people achieve? The Bible says that we will be persecuted and hated and mocked and judged. But it doesn't matter! That is what is so amazing. Because, by the grace of God and the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ, we do not have to suffer the burden and carry it ourselves, because Jesus has already paid for that on the cross. Whatever we experience on earth, whether celebrations or hardships, are temporary, compared to the eternal pardise we can have with Jesus in heaven.

We can sometimes think: "Oh I wish I was as Godly as her..." or "If only I could be as well liked as he is..."
The mintute we do that, we are doubting ourselves, but more importantly, we are doubting God; HIS workmanship. God made YOU for a purpose that no one else can do:
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2 v 10.
If we try and be somebody else, we will not be fulfilling God's purpose for our lives and fall short if we compare ourselves to someone else. We can't be perfect but we CAN be the best. You can be the best YOU! No one can be you, like you can. As obvious as it sounds... God made you as you are, and He is well pleased, He loves you, He cherishes you, you are His child and He couldn't be prouder:
"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3 v 17.

Don't let people ruin you by pointing out faults and flaws in your character (unless they come to you out of love- in which case- you can talk about it and pray about it!!) Don't let the enemy feed you lies. Don't try and be someone else or hide who you are.

You are a masterpiece, painted by the finest artist.
You are a symphony, composed by a matchless maestro.
You are a human, created by a fantastic Father who loves you.
Just believe it, and be YOU.