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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

Uniquely You!

Have you ever wondered why you are the way you are or why you do things the way you do? I remember all the way back to Jr. High feeling like I didn’t really like who I was. I’d compare myself to those around me and try to figure out who people liked most, so I could be like them. It was exhausting!

I want to to talk a little more today about something I shared in my devotion, “The Real Me” featured at Proverbs 31 and Crosswalk. The journey God’s taken me on to become the woman He created me to be has totally changed my life, and all of my relationships, for the better. I hope I can encourage you today with somethings I’ve learned.

First of all, comparison can be my worst enemy. My friend Genia summed it up well one day when we were talking about it. She said, “When we compare ourselves with someone else, we can never measure up because we compare our insides with their outsides.”

She’s right. I usually compare how I feel on the inside with how someone else looks like they have it all together on the outside. Paul talks about the comparison trap in 2 Corinthians 10:12, “but when they measure themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.”

Comparison leaves us confused and discontent. It causes us to compete with each other but God never intended for women to compete with each other; He wants us to complete one another. Seriously, He wants us to encourage each others’ strengths and then be who He created us to be.

Paul explains why in 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, “But now God has placed the parts, each one of them in the body just as He wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? Now there are many parts, yet one body.”

The truth is: You are uniquely you because God has a unique purpose for your life. God created you with a unique personality because you play an important role in the story He’s writing in your life. You are “God’s masterpiece…created anew in Christ so that [you] can do the good things He planned for [you] long ago.” Ephesians 2:10, (NLT)

There are certain thing He wants to do through your life and that is why He gave you a personality that is one-of-a-kind! In her book, Personality Plus, Florence Littauer describes four personality types. Most of us are a blend of two. See if you can relate to the desires and emotional needs of one or two of these:

Phlegmatic: Desires PEACE
Needs times of quiet, reduced stress, feeling of worth, relaxation

Choleric: Desires CONTROL
Needs appreciation for achievements, opportunity for leadership, and participation in decisions

Sanguine: Desires FUN
Needs attention, affection, approval, activity with people

Melancholy: Desire PERFECTION
Needs sensitivity, stability, support, space, silence

  • Which personality best describes you?
  • What are your greatest strengths? What are things you think you need to work on?
  • What challenges do you face in discovering your unique “you”?

Click on the word “Comments” below to share thoughts or questions. If you don’t have a blog, click on anonymous, then leave your name and email to be part of a drawing I’ll do this weekend to give away a copy of “Shaped with Purpose : A Practical Guide for Discovering Who You Are” Workbook and CD.

Each comment will be entered for the give-away so be sure to include your email in your comment, and I’d love to know your age and where you’re from.

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Comments

  1. I, too, am struggling with just what my purpose is here on earth. I'm 57. I have two grown children, one lives here on earth and the other lives in Heaven. Since losing my son 4 months ago, my world has been turned upside down, my heart has been broken, sadness and despair are constants. I don't understand God's purpose for my life. I am struggling. I want to melt away but I also know God does have a purpose in my life and I'm desperately searching for it. I cannot imagine living the rest of my life without my son and without a purpose which will bring some sort of "good" to his passing.

    Blessings.

  2. I love this post. I am a 38 year old woman with a house full of children and a precious husband. I used to think I knew what my purpose was, what God's plan for me was. I'm just not so sure anymore. I thought I was the only one who didn't know what God would have me to do. What His purpose was for my life. Like I was wandering in the desert doing what I thought I should be doing and never quite knowing if it was Gods will.

    Thank you for the beautiful post and the encouragement.

  3. HI! I'm about to be 29 in oct. and can totally relate.I have a question what if you can relate to more than one of the personalities? my email is [email protected] God bless you and what you do!

  4. Hi my name is Holly. I am 35 and this was so helpful. I recently divorced and I feel so lost and have no idea what my purpose is or who I am. Thank you for your post – it was helpful….I hope to read more however this is just what I needed today. [email protected]

  5. I enjoy the devotions from Proverbs 31 Ministries and tie them in with my own devotion time. Thank you so much for sharing; it has been a blessing. I am 43, soon will be celebrating our 16th Wedding Anniversary. He is very good to me; but wish he would return to church with me. Please pray for him.
    [email protected]

  6. This devotion resonated. I have been a people pleaser for as long as I can remember. Always volunteering and helping others. I was 50 before I finally realized the only way to know God's will for me was to ask him and listen for his response. What a blessing to find that this is my gift and what God has always wanted for me. I just needed to remember that he wanted me to be happy, that I couldn't forget and sacrifice myself helping and encouraging others. I allow myself me time now, I follow my interests looking for a passion and pray for balance. Today I am happier, more fulfilled, and I give myself credit for the things I do. I am not always in the red trying to earn my self-worth through/in service to others. To God be the glory. Praise him!!

    [email protected]

  8. Amazing. I was just in tears before reading your devotion asking God if he can hear me… I am a Choleric/Sanguine and also a ENTP personality. I have been been an emotional wreck this week. I am in a new career again!! I still after all these years not found what I really love. I am not sure what God has planned for me. I don't honestly think I even like to work, but maybe because I still haven't found what I loved. Can you see my confusion!! I do love being home with my three girls and spending time with my husband. I have been working from home doing so many different things. I know I LOVE to travel with my family, but of course that costs $$$ we don't have. That is my Fun! I am so confused, but I know that I am on the right track because I would have never read this devotion if God was not listening. One step at a time right. Thank you Renee for being a bridge. God Bless
    Suzanne

  9. Really encouraging!,right now I am reading a book called " Grand Weaver"… and accidentally stopped at your blog, it was amazing.

  10. I, too, struggle with finding what really makes me happy and what my purpose is. I have spent so much time trying to make other's happy, doing works of service, thinking I was doing "God's work." It wasn't until I finally stopped doing everything for everyone, trying to please everyone, that I realized I wasn't happy or fulfilled at all. I am now slowing down and allowing God to move first, then I follow. I still am not sure of where God wants me to be, but I am doing a much better job of letting Him show me the way. It is freeing to let God be in control and show me the way, instead of thinking I have to know it all.
    I am Susan from Genesee, Wisconsin [email protected]

  12. Thank you for your ministry! I am 36 and still growing and learning about myself along with the other readers. I am a stay at home mom of 2- ages 4 and 18mos and spend so much of my time wondering if I'm doing this parenting thing right. Am I going to totally mess us my kids?? Being a mom is more draining than I ever thought it would be. I strive for peace and perfection- according to your questions earlier- and those two things are kind of polar opposites of having little ones!…. actually polar opposites of life!

    Our pastor gave some great advice on mother's day. He said, we moms lose our lives for our children- it's in us, it's what we do- but Christ is asking us to lose our lives for him, not our kids. So, that's what I'm in hopes of doing; and in the process, teach my kids how to do that, too.

    Your blog is a good reminder to me that I do need to spend more time with my Father, so I can better know what I can do for him being uniquely me!

    ally- 36 from Kansas City
    [email protected]

  13. I enjoyed your devotion, but really appreciated all the comments as well. I am 49 and glad to know that am not alone in my search for myself.

Uniquely You

My devotion “The Real Me” is featured today at Proverbs 31 website and Crosswalk. If you found my blog through my devotion, I am so glad you stopped by. The journey God’s taken me on to become the woman He created me to be has totally changed my life – and all of my relationships – for the better. I hope I can encourage you with what I’ve learned.

Have you ever wondered why you are the way you are, or why you do things the way you do? From the time I was in Jr. High, I didn’t really like who I was, so I compared myself to those around me and tried to figure out who people liked the most, so I could be like them. It was exhausting!

I am convinced that comparison is our worst enemy. My friend Genia summed it up best when she said, “When I compare myself with someone else, I can never measure up because I am comparing my insides with their outsides.” Isn’t it easy to compare how we feel on the inside with how someone else looks like they have it all together on the outside? Paul talks about the comparison trap in 2 Corinthians 10:12, “but when they measure themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.”

Comparison leaves us confused and discontent. It causes us to compete with each other but no one wins! God never intended for women to compete with each other; He wants us to complete one another. We need to encourage each other’s strengths and be who God created us to be. Paul explains why in 1 Corinthians 12:18-20, “But now God has placed the parts, each one of them in the body just as He wanted. And if they were all the same part, where would the body be? Now there are many parts, yet one body.”

You are uniquely you for your unique God-shaped purpose. We are all “God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”Ephesians 2:10, (NLT) God created you with a unique personality because you play an important role in the story He’s been writing since the beginning of time. There are certain thing He wants to do through your life and that is why He gave you a personality that is one-of-a-kind!

In her book, Personality Plus, Florence Littauer describes four personality types. See if you can relate to the desires and emotional needs of one or two of these:

Phlegmatic: Desires PEACE
Needs times of quiet, reduced stress, feeling of worth, relaxation

Choleric: Desires CONTROL
Needs appreciation for achievements, opportunity for leadership, and participation in decisions

Sanguine: Desires FUN
Needs attention, affection, approval, activity with people

Melancholy: Desires PERFECTION
Needs sensitivity, stability, support, space, silence

  • Which personality best describes you?
  • What are your greatest strengths? What are things you think you need to work on?
  • What challenges do you face in discovering your unique “you”?

Click on the word “Comments” below to share thoughts or questions. Or simply leave your name and email to be part of a drawing I’ll do this weekend to give away a copy of my CD and Workbook, Shaped with Purpose: A Practice Guide for Discovering Who You Are.

Each comment will be entered for the give-away so be sure to include your email.

Discover more from Renee Swope

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.