“I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14)
When our boys were young, Sesame Street was a staple on the television in our living room. Our family favorites were Oscar the Grouch and the Swedish Chef. To this day, I remember most of the characters, their personalities, and even the songs they sang. One of my favorites was Kermit the Frog’s theme song, “It’s not easy being green.”
When you think about it, it’s not easy being many things. It’s not easy being tall when you stand a head or two above everyone else. It’s not easy being short, when you can’t reach things on the shelf. It’s not easy being a parent, trying to raise children in these times. Perhaps the bottom line is that it’s just not easy being human. Maybe that is why we try so hard to become someone we aren’t. Someone other than who God created us to be.
Jacob in the Old Testament is a perfect example of someone who tried to be someone else. When his father, Isaac called for Esau in order to bless him as the firstborn, it was Jacob who answered him with the Hebrew word, ‘Hinei,’ which means, “Here I am!” That was a lie. Jacob was not Easu. Jacob lied about who he was for the same reason we lie about who we are. Jacob wanted to become someone he wasn’t in order to get something he wanted but would not trust God to give it to him. Okay, so we don’t lie about who we are in order to get a birthright like Jacob. But perhaps we present before others a pretense about who we are in order to get praise, or attention, or respect. Something we think we can’t receive if we are the person God created us to be.
Jacob paid the price for his dishonesty for years. One day he found himself in a wrestling match with the Lord. But here’s the interesting thing about that scuffle. While wrestling with Jacob, the Lord asked him one question – one very important question. He asked him, “what’s your name?” (Genesis 32:27). This time Jacob answered with his true identity – Jacob. (And in case you weren’t aware, Jacob means “deceiver.”) At that point, the Lord changed his name to Israel. He said to Jacob, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” (verse 28).
Trying to become someone we are not, is no different than Jacob trying to receive something that did not rightfully belong to him. If we want God’s blessings; if we want to be free from pretense; if we too want to overcome our inadequacies; we must learn to be content being exactly who God created us to be. God has a perfect plan for each of us. We will miss that plan if we are not content with being who God created us to be.
God created each of us with a unique personality and temperament. He gave each of us precise gifts and talents to be used for his glory. Sure, we can admire and respect someone else. But let’s be careful that we do not distort who we are by trying to be someone we aren’t. We are each uniquely God’s creation. Let’s embrace it!
Darlene