In God’s World, There is Nobody like You!

Whether you believe it or not, there is nobody like you, and God knows why!

You know the expression, ‘one size fits all’? Though this expression refers to inanimate items, we have begun to apply it in our perceptions of each other. We all seem to believe that everyone should behave the same, dress the same, and follow a similar life path. In fact, using the words ‘there is nobody like you, you are unique’ is rare!

I am sure you understand the pressure brought about by such perceptions very well, don’t you? Let me give you a few examples. Why aren’t you married? Why don’t you have a child yet? Why isn’t your child walking or talking? Why don’t you have a degree? Are you planning to build a house soon? The pressure behind such thoughts is enormous!

What does God have to say about all this?

1. You are created uniquely – one of a kind

The creation story in Genesis culminated with the creation of man. Unlike the previous creation process where God spoke things into being, however, the man was formed by God himself.

Genesis 2:7 “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” (NLT)

God took pride in his creation of man, and when he noted that this man was alone, he once more decided to make, not speak into being, a helper for him.

I guess you already know that part of the Bible, right? A few books later, however, the Psalmist gives new insight into our creation story.

Psalm 139:13-15 “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.” (NLT)

Dear friend, take a moment and look at your reflection in the mirror. As you do so, think about how God knit you together in your mother’s womb, part by part, into a complex being. You were ‘handmade’ right from conception – God made your inner parts and put them together to make you into the person you are. How, then, can there be anyone else like you?

You are one of a kind – nobody behaves exactly like you, looks exactly like you, and thinks exactly as you do. There is nobody like you!

2. Your life’s purpose is different from everyone else’s

Check out the verse below…

Psalm 139:16 “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (NLT)

In another version…

“Your eyes saw my unformed body;  all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (NIV)

Do you notice the words ‘me’ and ‘my’ in both versions? What does the use of these words imply? Simple –your path is not like anyone else’s. If all our paths were supposed to be the same, the Bible would use the word ‘we’ and ‘our’!

This lesson hit home this week, as I considered a challenge that several children experience in school. Most schools tend to use teaching methods that favor the masses, rather than those that focus on individual learning styles (my fellow teachers will attest to this). As a result, children who have different learning styles from the rest of the children may fall behind if there is nobody who recognizes their challenges and unique abilities.

Dear friend, just because your best buddy got married at 30 doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Yes, society will always have expectations of you, but not all of them are valid or reasonable. Ask God what he expects of you, what his purpose for you is, and what he wants you to do with your life. After all, he knows why he created you and put you on the earth!

3. You are gifted differently from everyone else

Is your best friend a doctor? Great! Is your sister a singer? Awesome! Do you have to become what they are? No, you don’t unless you share the same gifts.

God, in his wisdom, gave each of us different gifts for use in the kingdom of God, and in the world out there. Below is a verse that many of us have heard several times in church.

1 Corinthians 12:4 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.” (NIV)

The key word here is different. We cannot all be the same. If we were, there would be too many doctors, for example, and no singers to lead worship in church! In other words, being different is good!

Now – once you discover what your unique gift is, use it for God’s glory. He does not give you a gift and leave you to figure out how to use it; he gives you the ability to use it well!

Romans 12:6a “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.” (NLT)

I believe that the gifts God has given me would have remained hidden if I had chosen to follow the tide and do what all my peers were doing. God, in his grace and mercy, ‘pushed’ me out of my comfort zone to a place where I was able to accept my uniqueness, discover his purpose for me, and learn to use the gifts he gave me.

I would encourage you, dear friend, to consider embracing your uniqueness and God’s perfect plan for your life and letting God reveal and use the gifts he has placed in you. It’s time to let the world know that there is nobody like you!

 

I would love to hear your comments on uniqueness in God, and what steps you intend to take to discover why God created you and what he intends you to do with your life! Let’s chat at the comments section! Alison