Don't Pluck The Nose Hairs!

Have you ever looked at someone else and wondered why you can't be as (fill in the blank) as they are? Why can't I be as thoughtful as her?  How come she seems to be able to balance motherhood, a healthy lifestyle, caring for the downtrodden, and serving others cheerfully and with such grace and I can hardly get my own people out the door dressed and in one piece, five to ten minutes late to wherever we're headed?  Much less think to pick up a card or deliver dinner to someone having a rough stint. Why can't I this? Why don't I that?

It's been said...

...and can I get an AMEN?

It's so easy this day in age to compare ourselves to others with all the publicity we give our daily ins and outs on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and the like.  As good as social media can be, it can also be one of the Enemy's greatest tools in bringing down the spirit of God's people. 

On the contrary, we don't necessarily need social media to inform us of all our self perceived inadequacies. Social media is fairly new to our society in the grand scheme of things, but ladies, comparison to one another is not a new phenomenon. Generations of women before us have struggled with it, and unfortunately it's easier than ever now to develop an unhealthy sense of deflated self worth. 

But here's the thing, we don't have to compare ourselves to others. In fact, we shouldn't. 

In the book of Romans in the Bible, the writer, Paul, shares with us some incredible information that truly should revolutionalize how we consider ourselves in relation to others in the Body of Christ. He writes, "so in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts according to the grace given us."  He goes on to list a few of the Spiritual  gifts possibly bestowed upon us when we become believers and receive the Holy Spirit and that each person should use his or her own gift generously in accordance with the faith. 

Later in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul goes on to illustrate the importance of each of us playing our own part, keying in on our own strengths and not rendering someone else's role as more important than our own. 

"Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body, it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? But in fact, God has arranged the parts in the body, everyone of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?"

Ladies, this is such an encouragement to me! It should be to you as well. We absolutely do not need to compare ourselves to other women. In fact, to do so is somewhat unbiblical, the way I see it. Scripture is clear that the Lord has gifted Audrey in this way, and Alison in that way, and even still, you are gifted in your own special way for the purpose of all of you working together to create and carry out the body of Christ. It specifically says, if you were all the same, functioning simultaneously and identically to one another, the body would be incomplete. 

The body of Christ needs you just as you are. Sure, someone may have more time on their hands to help and serve in ways you cannot. Maybe you wish you could help others financially more than you're able, or perhaps your best friend's sense of compassion and concern for those in need leaves you feeling less than human at times. That's ok. It's not for you. Figure out what your gift is, what's special and unique about you and ask God to begin to show you how He wants to use that gift in you. When He doesn't use you the same way he uses that lady you measure yourself up against, smile in appreciation of the fact that you are so special to Him, that He gave you your very own gifts and talents that will help you fulfill your very own role in the body. 

"All of these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as He determines." -1 Corinthians 12:11

Your gift may seem small and unimportant at times. When thinking of the body, you may find yourself feeling more like a nose hair than the brain or the hands and feet. You just might be a nose hair. Somebody has to be. But consider the nose hair, though so seemingly unimportant from the outside, they have an extremely important job. They create a barrier between all sorts of outside toxin and pollutants and your internal organs. If not for those little "boogers" (pardon the pun), all sorts of unhealthy gunk would infiltrate the inside of the body causing a plethora of illness and destruction. We don't necessarily see all that the nose hairs do. In fact, rarely do they even grab attention.  So it may with you. No matter how insignificant you may feel, whether always or just for a season, your role is so very important. So, be that nose hair and be it proudly. You booger, you... ;)