14/12/2022
Hi friend,
Do you ever feel misunderstood?
Or that the people around you don’t know who you really are?
Jesus once asked His 12 closest friends and followers:
“Who do you say that I am?”
Only one of them, Peter, responded with a right understanding of His Master’s true identity:
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
They had all been with Jesus at this stage for almost three years. They had personally witnessed His miracles, healings, and deliverances. They had listened to His teaching.
Yet, after all this time, only one of the 12 grasped who He really was. The other 11 were either confused, uncertain, or completely misunderstood Him.
The simple reality is that NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO GET YOU.
Not everyone will recognize your gifting or calling.
Not everyone will appreciate your uniqueness.
Not everyone will like you.
You won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.
And that’s okay.
Even some of the people closest to you - your friends and family - can’t see past who you used to be or who they want you to be.
They’re so focused on your history that they totally miss your destiny.
Jesus doesn’t express shock that the other 11 don’t get Him. In fact, He seems more surprised than Peter does. He knows that Peter could only see His true identity through Divine revelation. God had opened His eyes so He would perceive properly.
Similarly, God is going to bring people around you who will perceive who you really are.
They will see what others miss.
They will look beyond the clay pot and find the treasure within.
They will see your flaws - yes - but they will be more focused on your potential.
These are the men and women God has called you to partner with. Only those who honor the gift within you can fully receive what that gift can give them.
Stop trying to make people recognize you or what God has placed inside you.
Don’t expect everyone to get you or agree with you.
Stop trying to convince people who you really are, or of the calling on your life.
You don’t need to prove yourself to anybody.
Simply live out what’s inside you and those whom God has called to align with you will see it and walk alongside you.
Stay forward-facing and focused on the destination.
People aligned with your assignment will be drawn to you by the Spirit. You won’t have to convince them to stay.
This will be your ‘tribe’ - the people you will progress with into this next significant season.
There may not be many of them. But there will be an ease and grace in these relational connections that you have been longing for.
They will carry your spiritual DNA. It’s a union of hearts - not denominations, backgrounds, age, or even theology.
For the first time, in a long time, you will sense that you’ve found your ‘home’.
From my friend Jeneen Bullen Kohler .
———Craig Cooney
