I have to be honest with you today, I am struggling.  As much as I try to tell myself that I don’t long to fit in and be accepted, I am struggling with just that.  Whether it be trying to find acceptance with my peers or those on  blogs and Twitter, I have been struggling with wanting acceptance.  As humans, we long to fit in and be accepted,  but what makes all the difference is realizing that we are already accepted.  We are accepted by a loving Savior.  When we forget to look to Him for our purpose and acceptance, we look to the world to fill the place in our life.  The world can never fill that hole in our heart, only Jesus can.  Even as believers, we know we are already accepted but we forget that and start to look for acceptance from friends, family members, peers, and boyfriends/girlfriends.  I don’t know about you, but when I go searching for acceptance from others, it leaves me drained and worn out.

“You don’t have to try so hard to ‘fit in.’ God thinks you’re pretty great just the way He made you.” Caleb Grimm (Member of Anthem Lights)

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Psalm 118:8

I have to find my true happiness and peace in the loving arms of my Father.  It shouldn’t even matter how many people are following me on Twitter or how what my peers think, I need to find my acceptance in Christ.  Sure, I get pretty excited when people want to follow me, but that can’t provide me with true happiness, it is just a tool for me to share the Gospel and encourage others.

It is time that I let go of what has been holding me back.  I don’t need to search for acceptance from others because Christ has already accepted me.  I need to focus my eyes on Jesus and surround myself with Him because when I take my eyes off of Him, that’s when everything falls to pieces.  God is really working on my heart in this area of my life, and I can’t be too busy to take the time and listen to Him!  Does it mean that I won’t struggle at times with acceptance?  No, I am work-in-progress and I will still struggle.  But, when I focus my eyes and heart on Jesus, I will find the strength I need to ward off the negative thoughts and lies!