Do you ever compare yourself to someone else? Maybe there has even been a moment where you wished you could walk in their direction instead of your own path? Perhaps the difficulty of your own circumstance makes you wish you could be anywhere other than where you are?
The writer of Hebrews encourages his readers by saying, "Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).
This is an encouragement to individuality, realizing we are unique and we experience God's unique plan and purpose for our lives. Individuality means that you are a distinct character, distinguished from others. Spiritually, it means that God has made you by His design and has a purpose and plan for your life that will bring Him glory. You have an individual, unique race that God has set before you.
Jesus taught His disciple, Peter, this very lesson. After Jesus rose from the dead, He had an important conversation with Peter beside the Sea of Galilee. He had just indicated to Peter the kind of death he would experience and how it would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, "Follow Me" (John 21:19).
Peter turned his gaze from Jesus to another disciple, John. Then, he asked Jesus, "What about him, Lord?" Jesus' response to Peter is one that we must always remember, especially in difficult times.
Jesus said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!" (John 21:22).
Your walk with the Lord is unique, designed by Him for His glory. There are a thousand things we can't possibly understand about how God weaves all the details of His plan together for good. There is one goal and action for you at all times — follow Jesus.
The writer of Hebrews puts its this way —
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up.
Hebrews 12:1-3 NLT
In these words we see the secret to living out our own individual, unique purpose designed by God. Keep our eyes on Jesus. Just follow Him wherever He leads. In a horse race, some horses require blinders so that they are kept free from the distractions of the crowd and other horses in the race. I think that some of us are in need of blinders as well so that we won't be distracted from the race set before us.
I love this prayer by Ann Kiemel in her book I Love The Word Impossible —
Jesus, I like what I am because it was Your idea. Help me to find adventure in my uniqueness, and not want to be what someone else is. God, if I lose sight of the fun of being me, then Your dreams of what I can be in the world will die. Always help me to remember that this is Your way of being creative.
Ann Kiemel in I Love The Word Impossible
Can you imagine walking through a rose garden and every rose looked the same? The beauty is found in the individuality of each rose. There are the folds of the petals, the different stages of bloom, and the varying colors. Each rose reaches up to the light of the sun and grows into a blossom of beauty.
And so it is with you, dear friend. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and follow Him wherever He leads. And as Ann Kiemel prayed, don't try to be like anyone else. Find adventure in your own uniqueness. You are God's idea. And He has a plan for your life. Follow Him to discover all He has in mind. And draw near to Him to know Him better and love Him more.
So today, dear friend, find joy in your individuality and follow Jesus.
Dear Lord, thank You for making me according to Your own unique design. Give me the strength and faith to keep my eyes fixed on You, following wherever You lead. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Blessings ♡ Grace
