On Sunday I shared 2 songs. On Tuesday I explored the meaning behind the first one. On Wednesday I wrote about how to move on from that place. So today, I’ll look a little at the second song.
As a reminder, it’s called ‘Tryin” and is about not trying to be who others want you to be, not trying to fit in, and learning to love who you are, exactly as you are.
The world around us has loads of images that tell us what passes as beautiful/handsome. That doesn’t always match what we see in the mirror. The world is wrong, not the mirror. You are uniquely beautiful/handsome and the world doesn’t get to make you believe otherwise. God made you, you are beautiful.
The people around us can tell us who/what we are. Or what we’re not! Sometimes they might be right. But before you believe what they say, no matter how well meaning, judge it against what God says.
I can give an example. I shared with a friend a specific gift I feel I have, a characteristic trait that I am comfortable with about myself. That person told me I didn’t have that gift, that character trait, because if I did I would be more like someone else (a mutual friend of ours).
Well, let me tell you, I believed them. I counted myself out. Because I wasn’t like that other person, clearly I didn’t have that trait. Let me also tell you, my friend was absolutely wrong. It took me a little while to realise it, but that gift, that trait, is just as evident in me as it is in that other person, even if it looks different.
Just to clarify, my friend wasn’t trying to put me down or belittle me. In fact, she was trying to help me. But in this instance, listening to her was not the right move on my part.
Think of a cake. Different ratios of ingredients show themselves differently in each cake. Doesn’t mean the ingredient isn’t there! So God is like the master baker, carefully measuring out the ingredients for each of his creations in the ratios he intends, and the combinations that are just right. OK, that’s not technically theologically accurate, I made that one up. You won’t find that analogy in the bible. But it’s a good image!
So linking this back to the song, we don’t need to change to be the person other people think we are. We don’t need to measure up to pictures in magazines. The person we are, the person God made? That person is enough. The same God that took care to create the delicate butterfly, patiently crafted you (and me…)
So maybe instead of wishing to be different we should try loving the person we are. I’m not saying never change. Growth is good! But change because its right for you, because God is directing that, and not because the people around you want you to be different.
You are enough. You have been hand-made with love by the Master Baker himself. You are amazing.
The Reason for my Hope Blog 