To Thine Own Self Be True

For a long time, I tried to be like so many other people that I lost myself. I was stuck in this vicious cycle, and let me tell you, it is a miserable way to live!

Because I was abused sexually by my father, I always felt like something was wrong with me. I didn’t like myself, and that negative feeling drove me to try to be like other people I admired or thought I “should” be like. I tried to be like my husband, who is the exact opposite of me. I tried to be like my pastor’s wife and my neighbor, both of whom were completely different from me and had talents I didn’t have.

In fact, if anyone even suggested that I do something differently than the way I was doing it, I immediately felt pressure to change. For instance, after I was married and had children, I had a good friend who often visited my house. At times, she sat and talked with me while I did my ironing (yes, people once ironed all their clothes). One day she asked, “Why do you start with the collar of a shirt when you iron? I always start with the body.”

My friend was simply making a comment, but from then on, when she was at my house and I was ironing, I started with the body of the shirt. I did what I thought would gain her approval instead of ironing the way that was comfortable for me. The funny thing is, she probably didn’t even notice how I was ironing after her initial comment, so all my effort was wasted.

Long story short, I failed in all my attempts to be like other people, and I was miserable because I wasn’t following my heart. I spent many frustrating years as a Christian trying to please others until the Lord showed me that He loved me and created me the way I am for a purpose. It was life-changing for me to learn that as His child, I could trust Him to lead me instead of spending all my time and energy trying to be like other people.

In the same way, in order to be your unique self, it’s absolutely crucial for you to know that you can be guided by God and that you were designed for a specific purpose. He’s wired you with the skills and talents you have for a reason, and He will put desires in your heart that may not make sense to anyone but you.

That’s why it’s so important to stay true to yourself, without letting others’ demands and pressures control you. Whatever the case might be—whether it’s a career decision or even a question of how to iron a shirt—it’s vital to follow peace and be true to the way God has designed you.

God created each of us, and according to Psalm 139, He did it very carefully. God doesn’t make mistakes, and all of His works are wonderful. That means you are wonderful!

_{Adapted from the book Authentically, Uniquely You by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2021 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.}