No Longer Conforming

Growing up I wanted to be someone special. Someone important. Someone memorable.

I wanted to be Suzie.

Suzie was the most gorgeous, most popular girl in school. She had friends. She had style. And most importantly she had the boy I wanted. Her hair was the most beautiful blond, and she looked like she just stepped out of a fashion magazine. For a 12 year old, she looked like she was 18.

It became my mission to become like Suzie and her friends. I rolled my jeans like they did, I carried the same cool Trapper Keeper they did. And I had the very same backpack and cool purse that Suzie carried.

But no matter what I did, I could not become Suzie.

I was just Jessica.

Short. Little. Redheaded. Fair skinned Jessica.

In trying to become like her, I was losing me.

I hated having my jeans rolled in those tight rolls. The Trapper Keeper was not the color or pattern I truly wanted, and to this day I still HATE carrying a purse or a bag.

Isn’t that what we are taught at a young age though? Go with the flow. Be like the crowd. Be the majority.

Oh friend, how wrong we are. We are not called to be one of the crowd.

NO!

You and I are called to be something so much more.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world. But be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

We are called to stand out in this world. Not conform to it. To go against the flow, even when others are laughing, mocking, and scoffing at us. To be unpopular with popular beliefs. To stand alone in a large crowd.

It is not always easy, and sometimes it is lonely. But the rewards that come from it are eternal.

Be you. Always.