Fitting in

So you’ve just started your High school career and everything is totally different from Primary. You’re all grown up now and believe that your transition from “childhood” to teenagehood allows you to make your own decisions. But everything is so different now and to top it all off, you’re no longer the “TOP DOG” because you’ve just discovered that there is someone more popular than yourself. In order to regain your former status or simply just to fit in, you have to prove yourself so that you can feel at home.

Most of us have faced this scenario and it is usually at this point of our lives that we throw away the morals others have taught us and turn our faces from the values we once held so dear. For some of us, fitting in is not a problem, but for others it’s a daily struggle to find acceptance and feeling free to be ourselves. We resort to measures that are beneath us; we run the risk of thrashing our dignities just for the sake of fitting in. We do things others tell us to and even though we know it, we hang with people who are bad influences and bring us down because we are afraid of being lonely and having no friends.

But what did Christ say about loneliness? “I will never fail you. I will never forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). He promised to be a constant companion and no matter where you go, if you can’t find a friend in anyone, you can ALWAYS find a friend in Him. And if you fear He too will change, remember that He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Why fit in with the normal crowd if you can start a trend of being unique? As long as you fit in with the crowd that’s with Jesus, you’ll never have to prove yourself.

Fitting in is something we all want to feel and there’s nothing wrong with it; so long as we understand that there are limits to what we can and cannot do. It’s easy to be led astray and be enticed by the new world we’re in but remember, fitting in is not about impressing others by what you are not, but understanding yourself, knowing how to stand your own ground, staying true to yourself and finding people who are content with that.

God Bless,

Nthabiseng Patsa