If there has been one thing I have struggled the most with lately, it's the disapproval of others. Bottom line is that people are mean. People will judge you. People will talk about you, and all we can do is pray for that person. And sometimes it is extremely hard not to follow our natural desire to fight back, or lash out at them for treating us the way they do. But what benefit eternally will that give us? Someone said to me once, or I might have read it somewhere, that almost everybody has had the same struggle as someone they come encounter with every single day. I know you're thinking "well yeah obviously" but it's so much deeper than that. I know several girls who are extremely intimidated by other girls. Something so simple as walking into a room of 3 or 4 girls that you don't know. It's intimidating. They might be judging your outfit, your shoes, the way you do your makeup, how cute your hair looks, and so on..it's a constant battle of trying to "fit in" and get by without being extremely bashed by other girls. And then you throw in social networking..whether it's sub tweeting on twitter or talking about people's pictures on Instagram. The bottom line is that it is purely from the devil. God has called us to love everybody. Not just the people we like or the people who dress the same way we do, He says love EVERYBODY. Everytime I look at someone and have every intention of judging them, I am SO thankful I have the Holy Spirit inside of me saying, "you don't know what she's going through today, what pains she holds from her past, how broken she is underneath that smile," and because of this my heart has grown so much love for people. Even the ones I know are saying things about me when I turn the other way. You never know who is hurting. You never knows who is on the edge of darkness just waiting for someone to shine light into their life. And as Christians it is OUR job to be the light of this world.
"Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death." 1 John 3:13-14
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
