You were the kid that always struggled in school. You were taught to stifle and control your imagination and energy to a level that is acceptable to the school's standards. The bright and colorful kid you used to be was shaped and molded into a tiny robot where there was only one way to do things. You felt as if standardized tests were more important than the assurance of you actually learning something. You had to change yourself to please your school.

You were the child that pushed yourself to every limit. The last thing you wanted to do was to disappoint the people counting on you; therefore, you always stretched yourself extremely thin with no thought to your own needs or desires. You had to be the best child at everything because it was a reflection of your work ethic, integrity, and character. No matter how hard you tried, you never seemed to be enough. Time after time, authority figures shook their heads in unsatisfactory disapproval. You had to change yourself to please your mentors.

You were the person that lost sight of who they were to impress a boy or girl. You started to lose confidence in yourself and started picking out the things you hated most in the mirror. You started to starve yourself and you lost several friends. There was always something wrong with you because you weren't getting the attention from your crush. Maybe they kept telling you things that weren't lovable about you, which you needed to change immediately. You had to change yourself to please your partner.

Friends, there is a place where you are accepted just as you are. It is in the arms of our Lord and Savior. No matter where you come from, or what you have been through, Jesus loves you just how you are. Whether you identified with one of the situations above or changed yourself for another reason, I am sorry. Never again do you have to feel inferior, insufficient, and ignored. You are adored by the God who created the stars and the galaxies, and who also took the time to create you just the way you are. So come as you are, with everything you have, into the open arms of someone who you don't have to impress because they already chose you. He knows how many hairs are on your head, and he knows the deepest fears of your heart. It's time to stop searching and changing yourself and just rest.

Psalm 139:13, "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb."