Feel Like a Misfit?

There’s a red box and a blue box. In the top of each box are square and round slots. You’re given red, blue, round and square pegs to put in the appropriate box and slots. You’re doing a pretty good job until you reach for the last peg. It’s not red, blue, square or round.  It doesn’t fit in the red box or the blue box. It doesn’t fit in the square or round slots. The last peg doesn’t fit!

Do you feel like that last peg? Do you look around and see lots of pegs fitting comfortably into a world where you don’t fit? Do you feel like a misfit?

There’s a reason for this feeling. You’re a child of God.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John: 3:1

Children of God don’t fit in.

To feel like a misfit in this world isn’t new. Jesus didn’t fit in. His disciples didn’t fit in. We don’t fit in because we know Jesus.  To know Jesus and be a child of God doesn’t make us a peg that fits in today’s world because we’re not of this world. 

The red, blue, square and round pegs boldly proclaim what’s in their heart.  Their words spill from the portals of media and it’s difficult to block your spirit from their messages. You can try to protect yourself by deleting a text, refusing to read a post or turning off visual media. But there’s no escape from the pegs in your life – maybe they’re family and friends that say to you,

Who are you to judge?

Who are you to call this evil?

Who are you to say this is wrong?

Who are you to say you’re right and we’re wrong?

Just who do you think you are?”

So, how do you respond? What can you do as a misfit?

Your identity is in Christ in a world that is antichrist.

Accept reality – you don’t fit in this world.

Our identity is in Christ and we’ve been called to live in a world that’s antichrist. We’re called to be different. Our words don’t fit. Our actions don’t fit. Our mind doesn’t fit.

Know you’re not alone.

We’ve got a family that extends beyond time and borders. Our family includes God’s children from the past, present and future. Our family includes brothers and sisters in every corner of this world.  No round, square, red or blue pegs in this family – all misfits.

Be grateful you’re God’s child.

God through the gift of faith enabled us to believe in Jesus and become His children.  There’s no greater gift.

Share your story.

We were born to fit in this world. But Jesus changed that. Tell your makeover story to the red, blue, round and square pegs in your life. Who doesn’t like a good makeover story?  Who doesn’t know makeovers require change, discomfort and discipline? Tell them the results are worth it and God’s gift is free.

Be a child.

This is not the season to believe your mature faith can keep you from being overcome by the red, blue, round and square pegs. Don’t forget the disciples were seasoned fishermen but feared for their lives as waves battered their boat while Jesus slept peacefully in the stern.  A mature believer can grow weary and frightened by the waves seeking to overturn the church. Call out to Jesus. Lean on Him.  Be a child. 

We’re misfits because we’re God’s children and not the world’s children.