A Cellist in the Tuba Section

To the rejects, the losers, and the weirdos, the ones left out, the ones picked last, and the ones who feel alone. I know what you're feeling. I was there. Somedays, I'm still there. So, I'm not here to tell you that that feeling completely goes away because that would be a lie. I am here to tell you that it gets better, and I'll help you cope until it does. My uncle, a few years ago now, told me something about rejection that has stuck with me since. "It's not your loss, it's their loss for missing out on friendship with you." Go back and reread that sentence and really let it sink in. You are not inferior because they left, and you don't have to act like you're unlovable. I know that at moments it feels like that, but they chose to leave the relationship so they're the one choosing to miss out on all the amazing things you bring to the table. When you feel that cloud of despair and rejection descending on your mind again, the b...

Sometimes, when someone is bullying you or spreading rumors about you, it can be our first response to want to fight back or gossip about them behind their backs. (I personally struggle a lot with gossip so this lesson is just as much for me as anyone else who might read this.) However, God calls us to react differently. If we are living as Christ followers, we should be marked by our love for others-even those who treat us poorly. No, not even those who treat us poorly--especially them. That's the thing that makes us unique, in that we love when everyone would seem to say that we don't have to love anymore. This is a supernatural thing that God helps us to accomplish. Below are some Bible verses about dealing with difficult people. Memorize these now so that the next time you have to deal with someone difficult, the Spirit can remind you how to react. Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.  (ESV) Romans 12:18-21  If possible, so far as it...

Ever heard someone say "Don't pray for patience" or talk about how someone prayed for patience and then endured some terrible experience like cancer that won't go into remission for several months/years or a period of infertility that seemed to go on forever. Now, in a sense I understand why people say this: praying for patience means that sometimes God allows you to experience life circumstances that will frustrate you but ultimately build you into a more patient person. But I hate that people always say "don't pray for patience". First, it makes us seem like we can control the circumstances that God sends our way. That's in no way the case. In Isaiah 55:8-9 God says, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (ESV). We cannot understand what circumstances we need to become the person ...

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 (ESV). Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV). And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you." And he answered them, " Who are my mother and my brothers? " And looking about at...

1 Corinthians 7:17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.  (ESV). If you read the blog post  Moving into Ministry , you'll know that each of us has been given different spiritual gifts by God. One of the most difficult things to overcome when it comes to spiritual gifts, and life in general really, is the comparison game. So often we feel like we need to compare ourselves to others. We think things like: He's more spiritual than I am because he can speak in tongues. She's prettier than me because she's got a thigh gap. I'm so much better than her because I don't drink. And on and on and on... Comparison is a trap because it takes our focus off of the unique plan that God created for our lives. That causes several problems: we fail to accomplish things that God wants us to do which makes us feel distant from God. In addition, losing our focus causes us ...

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (ESV). When someone believes in Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in that person, and gives that person their unique set of spiritual gifts. Each follower of Jesus has different sets of spiritual gifts, even though the same Holy Spirit lives in all followers of Jesus. These gifts are given so that we can each use our spiritual gifts to share the good news of Jesus with the world around us. Some examples of spiritual gifts are: healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, encouragement, teaching, evangelism, and many others. God wants us to use these gifts for His purposes of growing his kingdom, not for our own selfish gain. He also doesn't want us to be jealous for the gifts others have ...

Psalm 147:1-3 Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (ESV) Have you ever had a day where nothing seemed to go your way? You got tons of homework, your friends ignored you, your crush won't talk to you, you got in a fight with your parents, or your car broke down. Maybe all of the above? When you're in the middle of that kind of day it can be really hard to know what to do. When I have an awful day, I find that I fall into the trap of impatience, and start getting mad that I'm still in a season of singleness, even if the cause of my bad day has nothing to do with relationships. The reason I want a boyfriend on those bad days: I want someone to comfort me. What I have to remember in the middle of a bad day is that I already have a comforter. God is able to comfort us at any time an...

Masks You probably think of Halloween. I think of church because all too often, we don't come as we are. We cover ourselves and pretend our lives are perfect when we know they're not. We get so afraid of what others will think sometimes we forget that Sunday is meant for worshipping God, not worrying if anyone will see through your disguise. We hide because we don't want anyone to see our shame but by protecting ourselves we push others away. Others who don't know Jesus. Others who don't know where to turn. Others who are just as broken as we are. I understand: as Christians, we must try hard not to sin but when we do, we must repent and move forward because hiding it is killing us and others. We can't be afraid of "dirty words" like: depression, abortion, homosexuality, attempted suicide, masturbation, abuse, heroine, alcoholic. We all make mistakes. Sometimes we cave into the flesh, but hope is...

Psalm 77 is a perfect example of how we should react to doubts about God's love, faithfulness, mercy, and all other aspects of God. Asaph is the writer of this psalm and he begins by discussing how he cries out to God and believes that God will hear him. He talks about how often he cries out to God; all day and all night he pleads before God. In verses 7-9 Asaph brings his doubts directly to God. He doesn't beat around the bush. He asks the questions that are weighing him down. And then for the rest of the psalm he sets the perfect example for us. Starting in verse 10 he immediately recounts several of the wonders that God has performed in his life, and several of the ways God has proved himself. He ends the psalm with confidence in God's love and faithfulness. So, the lesson here is that when you have doubts, the most important thing to do is lay them down at the throne of God and leave them there.  Instead of picking them back up, rejoice in God's past mercy and l...

Genesis 6:6 And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart . (ESV) (I know that that does not sound like an optimistic way to start a devotional, but bear with me for just a moment.) The thing that sticks out to me from this verse is the word "regret". I think so often in our culture, we feel that regrets mean we've done something wrong. But it doesn't. God is perfect, so He never messed up, and yet He is capable of feeling regret. So, regret is not a sin indicator. I think that often the devil uses regret to try to make us turn around, even if we're headed on the right path. For example, let's say you knew that your friends were cheating on a test, so you told the teacher. If they made fun of you or got mad at you later, you might regret your decision to tell the teacher what was going on. That doesn't mean you did the wrong thing--you very much did the right thing by telling your teacher what happened and try...

Job is usually not a favorite book of the Bible for most people because it contains a lot of suffering and loss. However, when God responds to Job, He expresses how much higher He is than we are, and I love reading of His power. Job 38:22-24 Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war? What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?  (ESV) This passage amazes me (and feel free to check out the rest of Job 38 for more imagery about the power of God). God coordinates so much from His throne. He is in control of the snow and hail falling and light breaking forth upon the earth. It's amazing to think of all that God has to do, and yet He is never too busy to listen to us and speak with us through His Word and His people. Rejoice today that God, who controls the whole world, loves you and invites...

Do you often feel unloved? Excluded? Well, I have recently been searching to learn about God's love, and what that looks like. So, below I have compiled some of the verses I've found about how much God loves you, so memorize some for those moments when you feel absolutely alone and unloved. Lamentations 3:22-24 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." (ESV) Psalm 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  (ESV) Psalm 103:11-14 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remem...

Imagine that you hear about a fall dance at school. A friend tells you that everyone will be dressing up for this dance, so you find a really cute cow costume assuming that she meant it was a Halloween dance. You're dressed up in your cow costume and you get out of the car, and...everyone is wearing dresses and suits. This is a formal dance, and you are standing outside in a cow costume. Imagine how out of place you would look and feel in that situation. Maybe you would wait outside for your mom to pick you back up, or you'd walk home, or maybe you would brave it out and pretend that you're a royal cow. Regardless, there would be no way to hide how out of place you are if you go in to that dance. However, as a Christ follower, the difference between our lives and the lives of people who haven't yet begun a relationship with Christ should be that different. It's important to note: I'm not saying that non-Christians have all the fun while Christians are staunc...

Matthew 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (ESV) I think so often, we look at this passage and we assume that preaching to all the nations means we need to go to a third-world country somewhere with a rainforest or cannibalistic tribes who need to experience Jesus. However, everyone you interact with needs Jesus, so your mission field right now may be your school, the place where you work, your home, the local library, or even the grocery store. God will open amazing opportunities for you wherever He has placed you in this season. Don't be so caught up with discovering some future mission that you miss the mission He has for you today. And if you don't see results today or next month or in ten years, don't be discouraged. Sometimes we never get to see the fruit...

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV) Deuteronomy 6:5-9 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (ESV) Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (NLT) When I was growing up, I helped with...

Does it ever feel hard not to worry? Is your mind often filled with concerns about grades, relationships, sports, clubs, or other hardships you may be facing? I often struggled in high school with worry, and there are some days where I still worry a lot. However, I have gathered some verses that have been helpful to me in moments of fear, and I hope they will ease your restless soul too. (All of the following verses are from the ESV). Matthew 6:27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? Proverbs 31:25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. Zechariah 9:9-10 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having a salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peac...

Jesus was a plain-looking man. Think about that. Sounds pretty normal at first. However, Jesus literally designed his own face. After all, He is God, so He could have created his human body to meet every male beauty standard there was. He could have chosen to draw people to him because of his appearance, but He didn't. He chose to give himself a plain face. Isaiah 53:2 says For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. (ESV) I believe this holds several important lessons for us today as women who are often held to impossible beauty standards. First, this is a wonderful example of humility. Jesus chose to humble himself and give himself a plain face. Secondly, it is an example for priorities in our lives. Internal perfection is more important than external perfection. Use your internal beauty to draw others to you rather than obsessing about your exte...

It used to rule my life: the desire to be chosen by a guy. To be liked and get flowers and chocolates. To get asked to prom. To feel singled out for affections, chosen in the most glorious way I could imagine. In high school, I would plan outfits to try to catch a guy's attention. I would analyze a guy's actions with my closest friends for days. And it did nothing to fulfill me. It only made me feel like I had wasted a lot of precious time. Looking back, I realize I really did waste a lot of time obsessing over opinions that don't matter. Sometimes it was a teacher who I wanted to impress or someone I wanted to become friends with, but for the most part, it was usually the opinion of a guy I liked that mattered most. The desire to be chosen by a guy doesn't rule my life anymore. There are days when controlling my desire to be chosen is an uphill battle, and days where I lose that uphill battle, but I am no longer consumed every day by the stress of being perfect enoug...

Change is really, really hard, and unfortunately, inevitable in life. For me, the hardest periods of change have been when I have had to create new relationships. For example, I switched from a private school to a public school at the beginning of 5th grade, and it was hard for me to learn how to make friends and what was and wasn't socially acceptable at public school. For example, at my private school, people kept secrets. At public school, I soon learned, secrets became gossip about two seconds after you told them. Making friends after everyone found out who I was crushing on was a very difficult thing for me to do. Then, there was the transition to junior high, where all my friends were in different classes than me, and new students were transferring in from other local elementary schools. I had to make new friends, which was really hard for my awkward, introverted 7th-grade self. And finally, in high school, drama often lead to some friend break-ups. There were really hard ...

Have you ever been sitting with a group of people and felt like your friends don't know the real you? Sometimes it can be really hard to show people the most authentic version of yourself, and sometimes Satan uses this to gain a foothold in our heads. He whispers, "No one knows the real you. If they knew what you've done, they wouldn't like you." In those moments, it will be very difficult to feel valuable and loved. However, Satan whispers lies. Jesus loves you, and there is no one who can ever know you as deeply as Jesus does. He sees all you've ever done, all you'll ever do, and knowing all there is to know about you, He chose to die for you so that you will have hope for eternity. So do not believe the lie that you have to hide behind a mask. There is someone who sees past all your masks and loves you more deeply and fully than you could ever fathom. Romans 5:6-8  For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one ...