Do you remember how, as a kid, you wanted so badly to be
in the in-crowd that someone would say to you, "I dare you to do
this" and suggest something that was either stupid or that put your
personal safety at risk? You probably did it anyway, because your desire to be
accepted overruled the desire for safety.
Most of us spend our entire lives trying to earn
acceptance. We want to earn it from our parents, peers, partners in life, from
people we respect, maybe even from people we envy. The drive to be accepted is
a deep drive that can influence the kind of clothes you wear, the kind of car
you drive, the kind of house you buy, and even the career you choose.
We do it because we love the feeling of being
accepted. When you’re accepted, it does tremendous things for your self-esteem.
The truth is, God accepts you, and that acceptance is not based on your
performance. You don't have to earn his acceptance; you don't have to prove
yourself to him or anyone else. There are over 6 billion people on this planet;
I think it’s okay if a few don’t accept you. It’s their loss.
We need to stop thinking, “I’ve got to be a
good boy or good girl to be accepted." God has already accepted you. There
are other people that have accepted you too. If you’ve got people that are
constantly down on you, find some new friends. You don’t need those negative
people in your life.
You’re better than that.
