Where do you find your approval from?

 When I started to think about writing this blog, I began to think of a word, just one word that could describe my generation. I started thinking of things I have noticed, especially these past four years in highschool that have been a common theme for us.

And I have got to say, after a lot of thought, there isn’t just one word for our generation… Actually, the more I thought about the characteristics of this generation, the more I realized how every human has one common desire, that we all just pursue in different ways… 

We all just want to be fully known, accepted, and loved. 

No, I don’t mean that I believe everyone is in a constant pursuit of fame and fortune, with the dream of having their name in lights, or in a star on the sidewalk of Hollywood, but rather that everyone longs for the acceptance of this world, and the people in their world. Deep down in each of our hearts, we desire to be told who we are, for that to be okay, and then for someone to love the parts of that person, that we are ashamed of. We as humans, believe that once we achieve that, then we will feel whole. 

And actually when you gain that knowledge, you do in fact, feel whole. 

But based on who you get the answer from, is how long that wholeness will last. 

Living in the broken world that we do, we cannot expect anything less than a broken heart when seeking our approval and wholeness from it. When we seek out things of this life that ultimately don’t bring us closer to our Creator, we might be able to find our contentment for a moment in time, but in the end will find ourselves feeling lost. 

A lot of the time we try and find our wholeness by attempting to be the prettiest, strongest, smartest, funniest, or even most athletic… 

But the truth is this life is NOT a competition, and the sooner we can figure that out the easier it gets. 

We, humans, are all running ONE race. 

God did not say for everyone to try and be perfect, and whoever does the best job gets a spot in His kingdom. Instead He tells us that we ALL have a place in the Kingdom. He tells us, to accept the fact that we are in fact not perfect, and are broken people, and with that, admit that we are in desperate need of redemption, and a restoration, that can only be found through Him.

So let’s stop trying to be the most popular. Or the one with the most followers. Let’s stop seeking the answer of “Who am I?” From a world full of people trying to figure out the same exact thing. And instead ask the One who hand made you. 

He will tell you that you are made in His image, Fearfully and wonderfully. He alone will give you wholeness. 

Through our father ALONE, you will know who you are, you will feel His acceptance, and will know that you are fully loved.

Yes, we all fall short and will seek the approval of the people around you, but having the knowledge of where your wholeness is solely found, gives a freedom that you can only understand when you have. 

Let’s start seeking spiritual wholeness rather than a temporary one. 

Isaiah 3:18-23

Says: “In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the sorts, the headbands, and the crescents, the pendants, the brackets, and the scarves, the headdresses, the arm lets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; the signet rings and nose rings, the fest always robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags, the mirrors, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils. 

Instead of perfume there will be rottenness; and instead of a belt, a rope; and instead of well-set hair, baldness; and instead of a rich robe, a skirt of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty.

Your men shall fall by the sword and your mighty men in battle. 

And her gates shall lemme and mourn; empty, she shall sit on the ground.” 

The things of this earth are fading. If everything was taken away, would you still be able to feel whole? Have you found your spiritual fullness solely in our God?