That Was Then,
This Is Now...

Wearing the head covering in public has been an interesting experience, eliciting many looks and stares. Some have looked at me with the most obvious disapproval, some have looked, then turned their head and laughed right in front of me, some have looked and pointed, some have taken double looks, and others have literally just stared. Now, I am sure I am much more aware and sensitive to the fact that my appearance is different, but surely I didn’t imagine all of these responses. Quite honestly after running errands all day I felt a bit dejected and ridiculed. Was a piece of cloth on my head so different that I am now a laughing stock to the world? Lord, I wonder how this will help my witness. I began to question, “Did you really called me to this?”

Have you ever questioned anything the Lord has asked you to do in obedience? It could be you were afraid or rejected for presenting the gospel, making a life style change, or simply taking a stand for Jesus. It doesn’t have to be a head covering that the world thinks is foolish. It’s anything about Jesus and His Word that the world finds foolish. And, sadly many Christians are swayed by the cares of this world as well.

As I prayed the next morning confessing to the Lord, “Forgive me God for not wanting to go down this path, the narrow path, and forgive me that I don’t want to suffer ridicule.” I have a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea of just how much suffering the Lord went through on our behalf. And, that day walking around with a head covering, I felt a miniscule amount of His shame in comparison. My flesh didn’t like it.

Don’t I have a right to fit in? No. Jesus came and gave up His rights that we might have life in Him. Philippians 2:5-8 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

During my time praying 1 Peter 2:20 came to mind, “…when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” And, immediately following was the answer to my question. Did you really call me to this? 1 Peter 2:21 “For to this you were called…”. Wow! God hears and answers our prayers. Thank Jesus for giving us life! May I live for righteousness. Are you struggling in an area of obedience because of fear of man or fear of rejection? Be encouraged my sisters by our Lord’s example and His Word.

1 Peter 2:21-25
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
” Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed.”

Others may not understand and they may wonder why we do what we do in our Christian walk. But it says in His Word, 1 Peter 4:1-7, that we should arm ourselves with the mind of Christ and not live for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. Your friends and family may not understand why you aren’t doing what you did before or why you do what you do. 1 Peter 4:4 “In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him…” When you are mistreated or misunderstood for doing good give it to God, Jesus gave it to God when He was ridiculed and mistreated.

Wendy