In this world, many of us struggle to remain confident when we feel like we do not belong. At every stage of life, around every corner, we are met with rejection and exclusion. In such a big world filled with so many people, we feel like just one small, insignificant person wandering, ignored and unnoticed, in a sprawling crowd of people. In every aspect of life, whether it is in work, school, finding a spouse, or making friends, we feel as though we are competing to stand out from this crowd and be recognized as someone unique and special, constantly trying to fit in and find acceptance. Some of us do not have a traditional family or friends, and many of us do not have an easy time making friends or meeting people. Though we are all unique, we all share a longing to feel treasured, supported, and accepted for who we are at our core. Unfortunately, we too often seek to fulfill this desire in all the wrong places. Because other people are as imperfect as we are, they will never bring us the satisfaction of a perfect acceptance and relationship that we so desperately need, so we are disappointed and our confidence is shattered every time we are ostracized, let down, or pushed away. When we feel lonely, we need only remember that we have a flawless relationship with our Lord waiting for us that will always make us feel treasured and adored. Each time our earthly father turns away from us, betrays us, or abandons us, our heavenly Father, supreme to all, has a comforting hug to wrap our soul in, surrounding us with His warm love. He calls us His children, today and forever, and He will never disappoint us or leave us behind. We need only call out to our Father, and He holds us tightly, answering our prayers. We must submit to Him, standing in awe and appreciation of His generous gift of inheritance, as He allows us to be co-heirs with Christ. Though we may have challenges in this life, He will not only help us through them, but glorify us in proportion to them when the time comes. If we focus on all He offers us, we realize that while the world may reject us, He cherishes us as His child, and while others turned us away, He chose us out of all others on earth. In wonder and reverence of our Father, we realize that we are not children of fear, but confident children of an all-powerful Father, who emboldens us to carry His name with honor, living as upright brothers and sisters who show love as our badge of courage and assurance. Knowing now that we are children of God, heirs of His kingdom, and not of this world, we can clearly see that it is only natural to be rejected by the world who does not know God. Yet, we can walk on confidently knowing that God, whose ways are higher than the entire world’s ways, gives us the strength to carry on and assure us that we are loved, accepted, and treasured as the apple of His eye.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:14-17

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Deuteronomy 7:6

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18-19