Celebrate Diversity

The Lord has been speaking to me lately about fully grasping who He created each of us to be. As humans, it can be so easy to look around at everyone else and what they have and compare it to what we don’t or what they can do and what we cannot. A cycle of doing this will leave us empty handed and feeling worthless and jealous. After all, why can’t we have and do as they? And the answer is fairly simple.

God didn't create you to do what they can. He gave you something unique that they don’t have, something so special and vital to the Kingdom. And what happens when we continually focus on others abilities and not our own? We become stagnant in the things of God because we aren’t proactively using the gifts He has given us. I love how The Message puts it:

In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. Romans 12:4

It’s time we grab ahold of God and take seriously what He has gifted us. If we want to see the Kingdom flourish, then it needs us all doing our part together. These words have been in my heart for the past couple of years, “Celebrate diversity.” Not everyone will have the same gift as you and that’s simply ok. God placed something on the inside of you that only you have! It is so unique and one-of-a-kind that the world will never experience the anointing you carry unless you put it to work! It may look different than everyone else’s but in fact, it’s suppose to. As a songwriter, I have come to realize that my voice and songs may never sound like others that I aspire to be like and they aren’t supposed to. The world needs one Joanna Jones just like it needs one you! We can celebrate the fact that no one else is like us and cheer each other along, knowing that we all play a vital role in the Kingdom.

Each one of us is joined with one another, and we become together what we could not be alone. Since our gifts vary depending on the grace poured out on each of us, it is important that we exercise the gifts we have been given. Romans 12:5-6 

So, next time you catch yourself wishing you could be like “them”, know that God didn’t make a mistake when He created you. He knew exactly what He was doing, down to every detail. He knew if you would be tone deaf, if you would be good at speaking in front of others, if you were meant to go the nations, if you would finish college or if you would plant a church. He knew each one of these things before you were ever born. And just like when He created the world, He looked at you pleased and said that it was good. When you see someone who is excelling in what God has given them, celebrate with them! Celebrate diversity! And then celebrate what God is doing in you.

Blessings,
Joanna