Do I belong?
This has been weighing on my heart for some time.
I work in the Young Women’s see…
And so many of our dear girls don’t feel like they “belong.”
I understand…
I moved to a new town, home, and new life when I was 12 years old. I struggled for years to “feel like I belonged.”
When I left for college, all excited for a new adventure with new friends, I wondered, “Where do I belong here?”
And each time I moved, joined a new group or a team or service community, I’ve wondered, “Do I belong here?”
As if “joining something” will make me feel like I belong…
Sometimes I found dear friends who held similar belief’s and I settled in…
Sometimes I didn’t and I struggled.
Over the years of experiencing this struggle and watched others…
I’ve learned a few things …
I hope, as we talk about this idea of “belonging” this month, that it helps you, or someone you love, as they struggle with the questions and/or statements, “Where do I belong? and What’s next for me?”
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Belonging Takes Effort
The only thing certain in life is that life is always changing.
We are all looking for that place where we feel like we belong…
So we can just settle in and never have to worry about or struggle with it again.
Why?
Because it’s lonely.
And it takes effort… and you aren’t certain that others will accept your effort to belong… and that can be scary.
Sometimes you feel welcomed and sometimes you feel ignored.
Sometimes you don’t want to even try, because you might feel disappointed.
It’s risky. It’s uncomfortable. It’s unfamiliar.
But here’s the reality…
Any time you move, change schools, start a new job, try a new skill, etc. you will wonder…
“Do I belong here and how?”
These questions won’t ever go away completely… not in this mortal way of living.
But you can find peace, when your most important place to belong is in your relationship with Jesus Christ.
No matter where you go, or how life changes, HE will always remind you – you belong with Him… ALWAYS! Listen for His loving reminders.
