"....for thou art crunchy, and good with ketchup." - Anonymous.
I think two conditions that we as human beings get confused about are "loneliness" and "solitude".
Both require us to be separated from other people. However, one is detrimental to us, while the other is beneficial.
We're all well acquainted with loneliness, from not fitting in during high school because we didn't wear the right clothing to being the odd-man-out in a room full of couples.
But this is harder. Its more than "you don't get to sit at the cool kids' table". Its the "Nobody wants you."
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| Be Cool Or Be Cast Out! |
At heart, the message we are telling ourselves is that we are not worthy or good enough. We lack the capacity to be a proper human being.
"The world would be better off without me."
All of us want recognition and validation.
Validation is especially important if you are unsure of who you are.
Then, to validate and recognize you, allow me to remind you of exactly who you are:
- "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:14 (Made by God)
- "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children." Eph. 5:1 (Child of God)
- "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15 (Friend of God)
- "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him." Rom. 8:16-17 (Heir of God)
I think we are starting to get a picture here. You are FAR from "worthless".
"But why don't I have a better job? A better house? A better car or truck? A better life? "
In other words, why can't I be one of the Joneses? Or Kardashians? Everyone else seems to have more things or better lives than I do!
Allow me to submit to you that this may be God's way of protecting you from a lot of heartache.
Consider the following:
"In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8
What if, God is actually protecting you from that Rat Race? What if He gives you everything you really need, but not what you think you want?
All of the fighting, sniping, gossiping, back-stabbing, politicking, etc, is NOT your problem.
While the Joneses are doing everything to get more and destroy others, you are blessed and content with what God has given you, with the knowledge that He will continue to provide.
Consider also that we are to be a "Peculiar People" (1 Peter 2:9 KJV), meaning "set apart".
This separation from the "rest of the world" is the essence of Solitude.
We need this time alone with God to rest and recharge. To enjoy His Presence and His Creation.
We also enjoy His Protection and His approval simply because of His Son and His Grace.
Our value comes from The Father, not from the world. Matthew 6:25 says "Do not worry about what you will eat, or what you will drink, or what you will wear...". The Father provides us with these things, but He gives us so much more. He gives us Purpose. He gives us Meaning. He created us for a reason, and how blessed we are when we obediently follow His Will.
We're a lot less crunchy that way.
