Set Apart to Shine

When I was growing up, there were times when I wanted to do something just because all my friends were doing it. I’d go to my parents and plead my case: “But Mom, everyone else is doing it!” And you know what she’d say? “Everyone else isn’t my child. You are. Now act like it.”

At the time, I thought that was the most unfair thing in the world! But now, looking back, I realize there was so much wisdom in those words. What she was really saying was, “You’re set apart. You’re different. You don’t belong to everyone else—you belong to me.”

Friend, that’s exactly what your Heavenly Father says to you. You may look around and see what “everyone else” is doing. Maybe everyone else is cutting corners to get ahead. Everyone else is compromising their values to fit in. Everyone else is settling for less than God’s best. But your Father says, “You’re not everyone else’s child. You’re Mine. Now act like it.”

The Scripture says in 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own possession.” That means you’re not supposed to blend in—you’re supposed to stand out.

When you belong to God, you can’t just follow the crowd. You’re not called to imitate; you’re called to illuminate. The world says, “Go with the flow,” but God says, “Be the flow.” He didn’t create you to fit in. He created you to make a difference.

Yes, standing apart can be difficult. There will be seasons when obedience feels like loneliness. But remember, when you stand firm in faith, you are never truly alone. The Lord walks beside you, His Spirit gives you strength, and His favor goes before you. In time, He will surround you with the right people—those who share your values, support your calling, and remind you of who you are in Him.

So when you feel tempted to follow what everyone else is doing, pause and remember who you belong to. You are not defined by the crowd but by your relationship with your Heavenly Father. You are loved. You are a child of the Almighty God. Live like it. Stand tall, walk boldly, and shine brightly. Because the One who set you apart has also promised never to leave your side.