So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. 1 Pet 5:6 (MSG)
EE Cummings says, “It takes courage to grow up and become you really are.” So many of us hide parts of ourselves away for fear of so many things – insignificance, failure, humiliation, rejection… the list is endless. For much of my life, I pretended to be a certain way and know certain things to try and attain self worth and belonging. It’s such an act to keep up with – tiring and soul destroying. I thought it would wear off by the time I was an adult… but it didn’t – as you get older it just becomes more of a craft to hide things away. Whether it be sin, habits, fears, hopes, dreams, skills… negative and positive emotions… being untrue to yourself and to others is always detrimental and essentially, inauthentic.
It's ironic that we live in a time where we crave authenticity, but absolutely struggle with truth and genuineness. It's a complicated and tricky exchange. There're all sorts of pressures and circumstances that challenge our authenticity – work issues, relationships, guilt, greed, lust, anger, offence, pain…
Pride is the driving force of inauthentic behaviour, which expresses itself up to arrogance, and down to self-loathing. Both of those prideful ways spill out onto those around us.
Humility is the gateway to authenticity. Being humble isn’t being a walkover or weak… It’s simply being in agreement with God and what He says about you. It's surrendering the idea that you know better, or you know it all, and starting to see the truth about who God has made you to be.
Stop trying to be someone you’re not. Stop trying to make it on your own. Stop drowning in self-pity and worthlessness. God created you – be content with who you are. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. God's hand is upon you – allow Him to lift you up, you don’t have to do it yourself. His timing and ways are perfect.
Be humble – agree with God that you are valuable, called, chosen and saved. Born for such a time as this – on purpose for a purpose. Be courageous and be you.