In a creative non-fiction course I’m taking, we watched a video where a professor argued that children are being stripped of their imagination and creative confidence by being taught they must strive to never make a single mistake and they have to follow the same career path. He shared a story of a young woman had trouble sitting still and focusing in class. Thanks to an understanding doctor, she was encouraged to pursue dance and eventually became an incredibly successful choreographer. But if no one had understood her unique abilities and appreciated her differences, she wouldn’t have been able to share her gifts with the world.
So often our society belittles the idea of being different from everyone else. We want to hide our secret love of childhood books or our talent for cooking because we’re told we should really be focused on “more important things” that will make us successful. While this hinders our enjoyment of life, it also harms our witness for Christ.
When children are mocked or disciplined for not being like their peers, the idea that they must please others becomes ingrained in their minds. As they grow up, they believe they can’t share their true feelings or beliefs if they differ from others’. We allow these invisible barriers to come between us and others.
The woman at the well surely understood those barriers. Besides being a Samaritan, a person despised by the other people groups, her conversation with Jesus revealed her less than pure past. She even went to the well at a time when no one else was around, and to a well that was less frequented by her neighbors, in order to avoid displeasing others.
But after one simple encounter with Jesus, her life and her legacy changed forever. Instead of hiding from others and following the status quo, she ran throughout the city, telling everyone about Jesus. And you know what? Instead of being known as the “girl who gets around”, she became known as the one who introduced people to Jesus and helped save their lives.
Sure, it was probably humbling to do what she did, especially at first. Her reputation didn’t change automatically. But she didn’t let that stop her anymore. Instead, she lived for Jesus.
I’d consider her a very successful person, but I know others at the time wouldn’t have. After all, she didn’t have a great status, a good job, and I doubt she had much money. She didn’t even succeed at love. But she did bring others to Christ, and that’s what’s most important. If you save even one person, I’d count that a successful life.
Now, I know sharing your faith is easier said than done. I’m one to talk, since I get nervous even posting a Bible verse at Easter. But here’s the thing: people don’t want to be preached at. They don’t want verses recited to them or flyers shoved in their faces. I doubt they even want to watch that motivational video that mentions Christianity every five seconds.They want to see how your life has changed. Once they see something different about you, they’ll want that same thing too. Maybe you’re more patient and loving. Perhaps you don’t have as much fear as you used to. Whatever it is, if you share that light with others, even when it isn’t popular (especially when it isn’t!), then you will have a successful life.
The big key here is to not spend all your time worrying if you’re being successful or not. Rather, just be willing to stand out from the crowd, be told things you don’t appreciate, or be humbled. The more you rely on God’s strength, the less those things will bother you. And someday, those moments won’t even matter. All that will matter is your relationship with Jesus. In fact, that’s all that really matters now, huh?
Now many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 Therefore, when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed because of what He said. 42 And they told the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.”
John 4:39-42
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
The Will to Wake Up 