Feeling like you don’t fit in?  Somebody has already accepted you…

Acceptance is a big deal.  It seems like everyone I know has felt like they didn’t fit in at one point or another in their life.  It’s an awkward and uncomfortable feeling.  It can sometimes even cause some self-doubt and thoughts of “what’s wrong with me”.  At times being around certain people can even make us feel worse about ourselves.  The lack of acceptance by others is one of the common causes of insecurity.

It’s not a new issue either.  Timothy in the bible apparently didn’t feel accepted or didn’t feel like he fit in because he was young.  Paul had to explain to Timothy not to let his young age (or people who didn’t respect him because he was so young) get in the way of his ministry.

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)  

I heard a song on the radio the other day when I was riding with Eric.  It was actually a pretty catchy song, but listening to the lyrics made me a bit sad.  The song was “Cool Kids” by Echosmith.  Part of the lyrics say, “I wish that I could be like the cool kids ‘cause all the cool kids, they seem to fit in.  I wish that I could be like the cool kids, like the cool kids.”  I hear pain in this song.  I hear the hurt of not feeling the acceptance of others and not being able to fit in.  I hear a message that most people could relate to at some point in their life, myself included (“cool kids” might not even be kids).  Continue reading →