WELCOME TO THE TEAM...?

Design vs Depression

Have you ever wondered why God has designed you the way that He has? Have you ever sat in front of a mirror and cursed the design that you see? Have you ever thought that God made a mistake when he placed you together and released you into this world?

When you read Psalm 139: 14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made your works are wonderful,  I know that full well." do you throw up a little bit in the back of your throat? Well if this is the case...welcome to THE TEAM. 

You know... THE TEAM!

THE TEAM of people who specialize in beating themselves up at a moments notice.
THE TEAM of people who believe that their lives do not measure up to the models of strength, spirituality, beauty or intelligence as those places in front of them daily.
THE TEAM of people who read this passage and curse the God who designed them the way that they are, wishing beyond hope that they were something else, someone else, or at least had some talent or ability other then what they have?

You will know you're on THE TEAM if... when you heard the parable of the talents, you assumed that you were either the one with the one talent or the one with few, and not the one with many talents. 

Well if this is you, I have some advise for you... YOU'RE ON THE WRONG TEAM. 

I remember the story of the gold medal winning duck who was looking to make varsity track and field team. The gun would sound and no matter how hard the duck tried to win, his small legs just could not move fast enough to reach anywhere near the speed of the rest of the squad. The duck worked out, bench pressed and try as much as he could but the race would be won by the rabbit and the cheetah every time. 

 His frustration only grew when he tried out for "Shot Put" but the boar with a simple flick of his snout was able to best the ducks distance by a whopping four yards. And he did not even try to best the high jump score of the kangaroo, somehow the kangaroo was able to sail over the bar with ease and the duck just knew that he would be disqualified if he so much as flapped his wings once...

Just as it is not right for a duck to be on the wrong team it would not be right for you to neglect the gifts that God has placed in you thinking instead that you simply don't measure up. 

God, the designer did not intend you to live your life with a downcast heart. Nor did he intend you to live your life wishing for more, wanting the gifts or ability of another. But God designed you to be fulfilled with the amazing and wonderful work that you are. Made fearfully and wonderfully. 

So as an encouragement to you today, take a moment and release your heart from the burden of THE TEAM. Recognize that if those around you are placing undue restrictions on your life and ministry that you may be on the wrong team. God intends you to life a life full of the wacky, wonderful, and weird... all that makes up you. Discovering your design is a journey that each of us must take. My prayer for each of you is that you will find the assistance you need to be able to unearth the treasure that is....

You!

Oh and by the way... the duck won the gold medal in long distance swimming. The elephant wasn't even close and the giraffe was disqualified for walking across on the lake bed.