“The Hands That Didn’t Pick You Are Much Smaller Than The Ones That Did”

When I was in elementary school, I was the typical nerdy girl — glasses, bookworm and ignorant of the ‘in’ things to do, say or wear. Yes, I was that girl. Lacking athletic ability didn’t help matters either. It generally meant being passed over when it came time to forming teams on the playground. How I hated physical education.

Standing in the hot sun on black concrete and being the last one chosen was never a favorite sport. Neither did it lead to forming bonds of teammates and skill building. When no one wants you around, it’s pretty hard to stay motivated to get out there and ‘win it.’

Fast forward to college and things morph. Only this time because of my newly found commitment to Christ, I’m scorned for not joining in the partying and being ‘conservative’ in my thinking and chosen activities. Some things just don’t change. Even if the backdrop does.

While striving to develop a career and establish myself in my profession, a place of heartache and broken dreams seem to silently but tangibly surround me. When you are overlooked for special projects or promotions … resentment, bitterness, jealousy begin to surface — it became a breeding ground for losing ground. Defensiveness turns into divisiveness and fractured relationships. Aspirations to be a forerunner translates into just being a runner.

Ever been there, Friend? Are you in that place now? I get you. I. Get. You.

The set up is perfect for a let down. I could have banked all my efforts, energy, dreams, hopes, aims, visions, goals … into the hands of man. The disappointments would have left me hungry and thirsty for more levels of approval and short-lived accolades. I probably would have worn myself into a mental heap of ruin and a well-scarred soul.

¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. John 15:16 ESV

Those characteristics and traits that are engraved in you, Friend, those have the Fingerprints of GOD on them. And because you belong to Him, you bear His Image. That connection to the Father is evidence of being Handpicked by Him.

For they no longer belong to this world any more than I do. John 17:16 The Passion Translation

 If you were to give your allegiance to the world, they would love and welcome you as one of their own. But because you won’t align yourself with the values of this world, they will hate you. I have chosen you and taken you out of the world to be mine. John 15:19 The Passion Translation

More often than not, we have need to hit ‘refresh’ on our thinking of acceptance and approval. We erroneously stay on the course of ‘rejection’ and make that our dwelling place. Going down a rabbit hole of reasons and excuses about why we choose to be miserable and angry at the world for seemingly disregarding us.

We are in need of refocusing our lens to see that GOD’s Hands have been at work on our behalf all along. The so-called rejection of man could very well be the prelude to seeing what truly requires our attention.

“The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Luke 10:16 ESV

My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! James 1:2 The Passion Translation

Being discarded or jilted by man … not getting the popular vote … not being invited … I have discovered that is sometimes how GOD gets my attention to see He is intentionally ‘pulling me to the side’ to remove potentially destructive distractions. And having lived so, so many of these experiences, I can attest to the love of GOD in those moments. It’s His way of whispering, “This is not what you need. You need Me.”

There will always be someone prettier, smarter, stronger, wealthier, more well known, have more friends, go to more events, do more projects … oh, the list is endless! Even if today you were voted #1 for one of these categories, tomorrow there would be someone else to succeed your throne.

But that doesn’t happen to the one who belongs to He who sits on the Throne.

His Hands picked you with love to experience His Love.

So, commit today, Friend, to stop striving for the approval, recognition, and badge of accomplishment from those who are just as human as you. Created by the same GOD that created you.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, Ephesians 3:20 ESV

You are His work of art, Girlfriend! And that’s saying a lot about your value when considering Whose Hands skillfully crafted you.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.Ephesians 2:10 NIV

I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~~

LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary