Dare to be Different

Have you ever heard someone say, "You just have to be different, don't you?" Initially, I perceived this phrase as a derogatory remark. Still, upon reflection, I've chosen to embrace it as a badge of honor instead.

If I were to encounter Jesus as Paul did on the road to Damascus, I would undoubtedly be different, especially after regaining my sight following three days of blindness. If I found myself in a lion's den, like Daniel, emerging unscathed, I would be different. If I walked out of a furnace alongside Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, unharmed and without even the scent of smoke, I would be different. If I stood before a giant like David and triumphed with a slingshot and stone, I would certainly be different. If I were swallowed by a large fish, like Jonah, only to emerge after three days to warn the people of Nineveh, I would be different. If I were chosen as queen, like Esther, and used by God to save a nation from annihilation, I would be different.

In my own journey, I met Jesus behind a barn while confessing my sins to a horse named Preacher. While it wasn't Paul's road to Damascus, it was my own personal road to Damascus, and God met me where I was. Unlike Paul, who was blinded for three days, I was blinded for years, but Jesus, in His abundant power and grace, opened my eyes to the truth at that moment.

I am different. I am now a new creation in Christ; the old has passed away, and the new has emerged through the power of His blood and the Holy Spirit. I am different. I see the goodness of God in every aspect of my life, recognizing how He has carried and protected me to this point where I can share a story about His undeniable love. I am different because I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit and now invite Him daily into my life, feeling incomplete without Him. I am different because I am filled with a desire to share God's goodness with others. I am different because I cannot imagine life without Jesus.

I choose to be different. I refuse to conform to the patterns of this world; I want to be set apart. I will renew my mind with the truth found in God's word, knowing that God is not a man who can lie. Recently, I learned that we should not just trust in Jesus; we can trust Jesus Himself. We need not depend on the miracles He performed, as compelling as they are, for it's the person of Jesus we can rely on. He will never leave nor forsake us; His love knows no bounds, and His character is flawless. We can place our trust in Him completely. He will never let you down. He is always available to talk and will never be too busy for you. His love clings to you, inseparable and unwavering.

Just being aware of and basking in His love makes you different. You cannot help but radiate that difference, and while many may not understand or may view us as foolish, as Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 5:13, "If we are 'out of our mind,' as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us." (NIV)

Christ's love inspires us to be different because we desire to live for Him. I would much rather have His approval than seek the flawed approval of man, for earthly love cannot provide eternal peace. My Heavenly Father eagerly awaits the right moment to welcome me home with open arms and a smiling face, and for that reason, I will be different for Jesus. He is the only opinion that matters to me.

What about you? Would you dare to be different?