Be Who God Made You To Be

If you find yourself resonating with this sentiment, you may have struggled with self-acceptance throughout your life. From my teenage years, I grappled with dissatisfaction regarding my identity. I aspired to possess the slender physique of Sally or the beautiful hair of Jane (names have been altered for anonymity). Additionally, I often felt compelled to conform to the behaviors and choices of those around me. Have you ever experienced similar feelings? As an adult, I married and became a mother of two, yet this mindset persisted.

During an anniversary trip with my husband, we visited the Billy Graham Library. While there, I sensed a profound encounter with God. Although I had been saved since the age of fourteen and had grown up in a church environment, my spiritual journey had not been as devoted as it should have been. I suspect that some of you may have found yourselves in a comparable situation. Upon returning to our hotel, my husband noticed my distress. I confided in him about my feelings of inadequacy and the belief that others surpassed me in worth. I also expressed my awareness of my lack of commitment to my faith. That night, in a Microtel Inn, I made the decision to rededicate my life to Christ. I am grateful to God for restoring my spiritual path.

Despite this rededication, I continued to struggle with feelings of inferiority. I began praying for divine assistance in overcoming this challenge. In response, God impressed upon my heart the following scripture:

• "I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and my soul knoweth right well." - Psalms 139:14

This scripture transformed my perspective and has influenced my thoughts for the past decade. I came to the realization that I must praise God for my unique creation rather than lamenting my differences from others. If you find yourself comparing your worth to that of others, believing you fall short, know that this is a deceptive lie perpetuated by the adversary. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by God, and He does not make mistakes. Cease the self-criticism for not resembling Sally or Jane; the truth is, you are not Sally or Jane—you are uniquely you! You are precisely who God intended you to be.