Rejecting Labels

I remember a time a number of years ago where I was working on getting healthy.

Eventually, over time, I got down to my ideal weight.  I was happy, well-adjusted, energetic, and free of carrying all that excess.

Notice I said “was”.

Then a couple of acquaintances came along and rained on my parade.

On the surface they seemed to be truly concerned, worried that I was anorexic.

And so, I listened to them and ended up gaining all that weight back.

Looking back, I wonder if these same people would have come to me worried about me having a heart attack if I gained what they considered “too much” weight.  I kind of doubt it.

I should have remembered that only what God says about me matters.

More recently, I went into another tailspin when relatives who think they know me tried to put other labels on me.  I ran one of the labels by a good friend, and she totally disagreed with them.  Another label I know for sure is not correct; it was more like a false accusation, but I let it bother me anyway.

Accusing and debasing words only have power over us if we let them.

I’ve just got to stop letting them!

I reject those labels and accusations.

They are not helpful for the furthering of the kingdom of God.

They drag me down, as I waste time analyzing their veracity or lack thereof.

They get me thinking about me, what’s wrong with me, what others think of me, poor me, they hurt MY feelings, and so on.

They get my focus off of God who is supposed to be my first love.

They accomplish exactly what the devil wants them to accomplish, unless we reject those labels and thank the Lord, instead, for how

He declares us “fearfully and wonderfully made”. (Psalm 139:14)

The people who said these things think they know me, but they really don’t.  They look at me through the lens of their past, and not necessarily even of our past together.  In addition, they have hardly spent any time with me in the past twenty plus years or so.

God, on the other hand, has “searched me and known me” daily.

• “He knows when I sit down and when I rise up.” 
• “He knows and understands my thoughts from afar.”
• “He is intimately acquainted with all my ways.”
• “He knows every word before it comes to my tongue” to be spoken.
• He watches over me even while I sleep.

And He never, ever falsely accuses me.

He never calls me mean names.

He never tries to degrade me to make Himself feel better about Himself.

He never tries to discourage me.

He is my favorite relative and best Friend!

The only labels He puts on me are good labels, like:

• Loved
• Forgiven
• Accepted
• Beautiful
• Valuable
• Useful
• Cared for
• Holy through Christ
• Seated with Him in heavenly places
• Cherished
• Known
• Heard
• Seen
• His delight.

Wow!

Why in the world am I listening to these other people, anyway?

Enough already!

It’s not my job to be what other people think I should be!

It’s only my job to be the me that God made me to be, with His help!

I choose to listen to God instead of people!

I choose to reject the labels of mankind and accept the labels of my loving God!!

How about you?

Do you struggle with labels and false accusations?  Do you get bogged down and discouraged?  Aren’t you glad that God knows you and loves you and values you?

P.S. For more encouragement check out Psalm 139.

 

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