Fitting In Part 2: Who Likes Me?

Human Approval

Fitting In Part 1: Previously

This personal quest for approval, so common for many of us, often begins early in life. From childhood, we are conditioned to seek the approval of parents, teachers, and peers. As we grow older, this need for validation does not diminish; it only transforms. We seek to be liked by family, friends, colleagues, social circles, and even strangers. This constant hunger and thirst, the striving for approval, though often satisfying for brief, illusive periods, is like emotional cotton candy: empty and never gratifying. No matter how much approval we receive, it is never sufficient and requires great amounts of energy digging, husking, panting for fulfillment.

For some of us, external validation often defines our self-worth, and it is easy to forget that our true value isn't dictated by others' opinions which are frequently motivated and protected by self-interest. Subject to change, often critical, the sometimes viciously condemning assessments by others of us can have "teeth" and in seeking endorsement we are venturing into unpredictable territory, not unlike swimming in an alligator swamp.

God's Approval

Love from God, however, is unconditional when we turn our lives over to His care and guidance, the byproduct of our faith in Jesus Christ. This eclipses the need for conditional approval, unreliable validation, and the fickle love we often clamor to obtain from people. God's love transcends, supersedes, and in many cases renders irrelevant these human limitations. When we realize and accept that our true value is rooted in God's unwavering love for us, our self-worth no longer hangs in the balance of human judgment. Instead, we find an unshakable foundation providing peace and confidence.

God's Warm Embrace

Embracing God's love means acknowledging that we are inherently valuable and worthy, not because of our achievements or the approval of others but because we are loved by the Creator. This divine validation empowers us to acknowledge and freely accept both our imperfections and strengths alike.

When we internalize this most authoritative acceptance, a divine perspective, we begin to see ourselves through God's eyes—worthy, cherished, and capable of great things. This shift in perspective--The Embrace of God--is like the appointment of a president, the security of a fortress, and comfort of a soft blanket. If God is for you, who can be against you?

Conclusion: You are LOVED!

Our inherent value as individuals doesn't lie in fluctuating opinions or temporary validation from others. When we anchor our self-worth in the unchanging love of God, we free ourselves from the exhausting, endless pursuit of human approval. God’s love and validation (You can use the big words such as "Justification," "Substantiation," etc.) provide the true measure of our worth, guiding us to live authentically and confidently. The comfort to simply be yourself without concern or even fear becomes more increasingly a part of your daily life when you look beyond human judgments and anchor your self-worth in the unwavering love of God.

Jesus
"Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11 (28)

David
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! Psalm 139 (13-18)

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