Identity

Dear YM:
You are re-inventing yourself.  There was such teasing and picking in elementary that you decided "enough!"  You found new friends in middle school and new ideas about how you want to be perceived.  You are making things happen on your terms.  God is being so gracious to you; I don't think you realize it!  In fact, I know you don't.

That group of kids you seek to bond with, they really are good kids.  A little mischievous, but not enough to cause real damage--just enough to push the envelope.  Maybe they're all scared of middle school, too.  All this change for all of you, different groups feeding in from different elementary schools.  People jostling for their place in the pecking order.

God is far from your mind, but He is still keeping you safe.  He is putting the right mix of classmates and teachers in your life.  They are challenging you and pushing you to dream big.  These are the years when you'll see that education after high school is critical.  And because you're pulling away from church and the family that "pushes" that, you not only see how far, but how FAR AWAY you can go.

You'll stumble.  "Friends" will encourage you to drink, a boy will break your heart, other people will betray you.  You will also find loyal, true friends who draw out the best in you, who cheer you on and hold high the bar for your character.

I wish you knew how loved you are, just the way you are, the real you.  God doesn't need you to have good grades, play sports, be involved in student government.  Your search for acceptance and validation is about your desire to be seen, to be known, to be loved.  No human will ever do that perfectly.  You'll learn that.  But not before you try very hard to find, to earn those things.

However, you'll look in the right place someday and the peace and rest that you will find in God is amazing.  What people think of you will mater less and less.  The God who made you and called you to Himself will fill your heart with purpose and meaning and deep soul-satisfaction.

I can't wait for you to feel it!

**Click here for index of other posts in this #write31days series.