Called to Stand OutНамуна

You have probably heard it before: “You are chosen.” But if we are being honest, it is easy to hear that and still not feel it.

It’s easy to know that God calls us His “treasured possession,” but still walk around carrying insecurity, comparison, pride, or fear. Why? Because the enemy works overtime to convince us that we are not enough—or that we are too much. And when we start to believe his lies, the light God created for us to shine with, begins to diminish.

Let’s talk about three traps we quickly fall into!

Trap #1: The Desire to Fit In.
We know what it takes to be accepted—so we shape-shift. We say what we are supposed to say, dress how we are supposed to dress, and slowly lose sight of who God created us to be. When we are more focused on pleasing people than honoring God, we start to settle for a version of ourselves that feels safe. But safety does not shine! It hides. And God did not choose you so you could blend in—He chose you so you could stand out!

Trap #2: The Weight of Rejection.
Maybe you have tried to fit in and just… didn’t. No matter how hard you worked, the world did not welcome you. And instead of seeing that as protection or redirection, you started to believe that you were broken. You learned to hide what made you different. You decided maybe your light was too dim to be worth much. But hear this: the very things you think disqualify you might be the things God wants to use the most!

Trap #3: Finding Identity in Being Different.
And then there is the other side of the spectrum—the one where we know we are different and we wear it like a badge of honor. But instead of giving God the glory, we start to boast in our uniqueness. We make our personality or story or quirkiness the priority, and we forget that the whole point is to reflect Jesus, not ourselves.

In each of these traps, the enemy twists something good—community, identity, and uniqueness—and tries to use it to pull us away from our calling. But here is what is true: you are not chosen because you shine. You shine because you are chosen! Your light matters. And it was never meant to flicker, dim, or distort. It was meant to reflect His!

So, do not chase acceptance. Do not run from rejection. Do not idolize your individuality. Chase Jesus! Reflect Jesus! Shine for Jesus!

Because you are His. And that changes everything.

Reflection Question: What lie are you most tempted to believe about your identity? What truth from God’s Word do you need to hold onto instead?