I grew up listening to the music from the 1952 Danny Kaye movie, Hans Christian Andersen. Recently I rewatched it and now I keep thinking about The Ugly Duckling. The duckling, hiding, believing itself ugly and unwanted by the other birds, finally discovered where he belonged.
We all suffer from “ugly duckling thinking.” Some of it is our own insecurity, some comes from other’s words and opinions. We hide in the fear that what we been told is true: we are ugly, unwanted.
But it isn’t truth and never was. The real Truth is who we are in the eyes of the only One who sees clearly, without bias and full of love. This is what He says,
For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
“I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals;
you will be disgraced no more.
Zephaniah 3:17-18 NLT
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He delights in you, calms you, rejoices over you. He loves you. You are a member of His tribe. You belong.
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Define yourself radically as one beloved by God.
This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.
God’s love for you and his choice of you constitute your worth.
Accept that, and let it become the most important thing in your life.
Brennan Manning
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I am not, and never have been, an ugly duckling. Neither have you. We are accepted because we are His. We belong. And that is the truth!