I have been labeled different things all my life as all of us have. Short. Ginger. Too pretty. Too ugly. Too skinny. Too fat. Too loud. Too quiet. Too bold. Too shy.
Notice how these all seem to contradict each other?
That's because it is just one person's opinion about you. About me. About everyone. We all formulate our own decisions on what we think of someone. I know I can tell if I will like someone in the first 5 minutes of a conversation. At least I thought that. Then I realized that you cannot learn anything about anyone from five minutes. Stories and joys aren't heard in five minutes. Dreams and callings and passions are heard in five minutes. Five minutes is nothing.
Girls are bad about this(I can't speak for guys so...). Girls do "the scan". They look each other up and down and instantly judge what they like, dislike and if they want to talk to that person in that scan. This is heartbreaking to me because as women we should not be judging other women who are in the world and probably fighting the same battles we do. And as christians, we should know to look at the heart.
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7 KJV)
Another thing that's just been on my heart is that people let the labels "introvert" and "extrovert" label themselves into chains sometimes. I hear so often "oh no! I couldn't go to that, I'm an introvert". Or "its okay that I'm loud and outgoing, I'm an extrovert" or "I just can't deal with any people today because I am an introvert" or the most shocking one I've heard this week, "I don't have time to have time with God because I'm just such an extrovert so I have a lot of social activities."
To me, this just seems like another labeling process that happens to match our personalities.
Why can't an introvert break out of their comfort zones(in their own way, I'm not saying we have to be a head cheerleader. There is a place for introverts in the body of Christ. Small groups are an amazing place) to get closer to where God wants them? Why can't the extrovert use that social gift they have to reach people, but also have time all alone with God?
Why not be introverts and extroverts and not use it as an excuse to settle for less than who we are made to be? Why not just be Children of God who are not conforming to the ways of the world and just stand on the truth that God made us how we are and the labels he has for us aren't what the world uses?
The world says we are all imperfect, and that is true. But we are perfectly loved by a perfect God. The world says we are not good enough, and that is also true. But God is more than enough. The world says we are better off in our comfort zones. But God says that the best things come from Him and he doesn't stay in that comfort box.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2 KJV)
So I challenge you to push past labels and step into who you are made to be in Christ.
He is worth it.
-Lexie
PS- Girls, stop scanning. Every girl is fighting a hard battle in this world. We need to stick together and lift each other up.
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