Are You “Cool” Like That!/My Modern Day Journey of Faith/ “Truth Series”

Have you been thinking lately that you are an open mine field for adversity? 

You can start your day off thinking the best about yourself and immediately get to work via Zoom or an event via Zoom (Welcome to 2020) and someone brings up to you something underhanded or snide. Then instead of moving along you find yourself stuck in a self-deprecating space.

I see this happening every day, and honestly it has made me realize how much we all really define ourselves by what others think of us. How we believe our identity is wrapped up being “cool”. 

And many of us have that “If you can’t beat them, join them” mentality, so instead of speaking up against people being so brutally honest about how they feel about us, we tend to go along with whatever is being said, to fit in. Not Cool!

For the most part, we internalize this, allowing these opinions to change how we feel about ourselves. 

We are all glutton for punishment and yet we do not know how to stop eating up so much of the junk food that comes out of other people’s mouths or keyboards. You have to realize that hurt people hurt people.

How many of you find yourself idolizing the opinions of others? And no matter how successful you are, or how far you have come in an endeavor, you still find yourself wanting to receive some more attention (likes) for what you have accomplished. We yearn to be cool.

I know I have. I have dressed with an expectation of receiving compliments. I have done extra work in expectation of receiving that pat on the back. I have also hung out with people and did the things they were doing just so that they can consider me a part of their clique.

The opinions of others used to impact every inch of my mind. I would see myself through the lens of what they spoke about me, instead of enjoying my own amazing qualities. 

I was being a cool actor in my own life. 

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

As humans we are all weak to the will of our flesh. Our physical craves attention every minute of every day. 

Whether we are using perfumes, creams, dye’s, weaves, wigs, makeup, jewelry, drugs, tattoos, hair products, entertainment etc.; we all use these things, at times, for the attention it brings us. 

There is nothing that feeds our ego more than hearing how great we look. There is no one I know who does not enjoy a compliment. 

Compliments are beautiful and provide the boost we need to navigate through our lives.

We all deserve to be recognized for good things, but the problem comes when we depend on them to make any moves forward.

“For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8

 If we are using all those things I listed above to attract attention, then we are headed down a very slippery slope. 

The court of public opinion changes with the wind. And every celebrity, business owner, author, athlete, and or public figure knows that what was “Hot” yesterday will not necessarily be “Hot” today. 

We can not base our expectations of ourselves on how others see us, because we will never reach our full Godly potential. 

We must view our own selves as how God sees us in order to live out our purpose.

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

We were all created in the image of God. Why punish yourself with wanting to be someone God did not intend you to be? 

The world would have us look at success as just the level of how others view us. The world would say you are not successful unless you have a million followers and/or likes on social media. 

The world would have us look at success as how much money is in your bank account or how many employees you have working for you. 

The world would have us look at success as how many expensive vacations you have gone on or how big of a house you own. 

All of these are great accomplishments. 

But if your driving force behind these are to get high fives, and standing ovations, then you will find that these are temporary distractions that will not keep everyone attracted. 

The only thing permanent is this life is God’s will and purpose for us. 

Everything else is just like getting extra topping on ice cream, looks good on the surface but in the end can sometimes create a big mess. 

Why try to turn God’s creation into something it was never meant to be? He built us to be better. We are more than just “cool”.

God said in Isaiah 43:4, “Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.” 

How many people do you know have said that to you? You are so precious to God even if the world diminishes your worth!

I love God because when I was listening to the lies of the world, He was steadily feeding me the promises of His heart. I love God because he forgave my dependent ways and opened my eyes to who He created me to be.

He is the way, the truth, and the light. And because we believe in Him, He has set us free from the confines of the worldly prison of opinion. 

You are better than what people say you are. You just need to open yourself up to receive more than what the world has ever given you. 

No more worldly affirmations, we will now only accept the Godly rewards. 

As always you know you got this!

Sincerely,

Terryn