Fitting In

Thousands of parents and kids around the country had a similar experience this week as school started. Plop down on the couch; roll the eyes; and sigh like you were asked to haul a grand piano up a mountain. Yeah, school work is hard. Yeah, schedules are hectic. But there’s an underlying fear that trumps all of them: "Will I fit in?" (cue the dramatic organ music).

I hate to admit it, but this fear doesn’t necessarily dissipate in adulthood. The jockeying for social hierarchy positions bears many resemblances to Jr. High – it’s just better dressed and more developed. So whether you’re in grade school, Middle School, High School, College, going to work, or new to town, here’s a dose of the gospel that I think will bring some relief: you weren’t made to fit in here. That’s right. There’s a reason you won’t ever feel like you totally fit in – because you won’t ever fit in. You’ll never be exactly what everyone else wants and needs all the time. And if you try to be, you’ll go crazy. You were, in fact, made for something much more wonderful than Middle School or water-cooler-group. You were created for God, and by His amazing grace, He has made you fit with Him.

It says in the bible that God has “…qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered you from the domain of darkness and transferred you to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin.” (Col 1:12-14). What makes this such good news is that God did the necessary work to make you fit in which means not you nor anyone else can undo it. You will ALWAYS fit in with God when you believe in Jesus. God, in all his authority and power, says you belong.

So…as friends at school act weird and gamey and make you feel like you don’t fit in. Remind yourself that someone way more important than them has declared that you do fit in with Him. And because of this, you can be really good friends with anyone.

Blessings on the Mission
Pastor Brian