Lessons from Old Testament Women #1

Old Testament Women: God Created You to Be Unique

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. Psalm 139:14

There are many principles we can learn from Old Testament women that apply to your life right now, right where you are. It doesn’t matter whether you are homeschooled, or in in public or  private school.It doesn’t matter if you’ve been a follower of Jesus most your life or if faith is new to you. These principles are for you.

The first one is this: God created you to be unique. Remember Eve? God created her as a full-grown woman in the Garden of Eden in his own image. Eve was the first woman, so of course she was individual, but so are you. God doesn’t have a limited set of molds he uses to create people. He makes each one with his or her own looks, personality, talents, and strengths.

Think about your friends. One might be short, red haired, musical, and love roller coasters. Another might be tall with dark skin and dark hair and be the track star. You may look totally different from either of them and have some shared and some different interests.

God made you your own person. When you try to be like someone else, you cheat yourself of the individuality God gave you. Sure, it’s okay to try the same hairstyle as one of your friends or to want an outfit similar to hers, but you shortchange yourself when you try to be her and not yourself.

Look for the things that make you unique and special. Are you outgoing? thoughtful? good at planning? Can you sing? identify all the constellations? decorate cakes? God gave you the looks, talents, and personality traits he wants you to have. It’s up to you to develop them and to be willing to use them for him.

Thinking It Through

What makes you special? How are you using your own talents and personality traits for God and others?

Pray Psalm 139:14 as a prayer of thanks to God—and really mean what you say. Next time you find yourself wishing you were more like someone else, think of these words.

Adapted from The One Year Devotions for Girls Starring Women of the Bible.