Are You Okay with Being Unpopular?

Are You Okay with Being Unpopular?

Webster defines “unpopular” as-viewed or received unfavorably by the public. In today’s world, a fear rises up within us if we think we fall in the unpopular category. Oh what a horrible fate if we were to fall into the dark abyss known as unpopularity!! THE HORROR!!

But before we all start to grab our wine glasses and pints of ice cream, let’s look at the root of the word unpopular. The root word is popular. Hmmmm...if one is popular, it would be safe to assume that you would care what others think of you. After all, isn’t that what popularity is based upon? This idea that you are accepted, liked, and/or enjoyed by many people. Now, before I continue, I don’t want anyone to think that being popular or well-liked is negative. I also don’t want people thinking you have to walk around being a grump to everyone! Not at all! What I’m trying to get at is this: Is your popularity more important than your relationship with God? If you had to choose, would you be okay with being unpopular?

Before you answer, let me share some of my personal thoughts with you. Before I made a true commitment to work on becoming the woman God would have me to be, I worried about being liked or popular. Some of my thoughts were: “what if they don’t like what I post on Facebook?”, “ what if my clothes are out of style? “, or “what if I don’t drive a really fancy car?” Maybe you have thought about these things in your own personal life. Well, I’d like to give you a few things to think about:

1. Did you know the word “popular” (in our English translation) is not mentioned in the Bible? Not once did God call us to be popular! He did call us to be holy. In 2 Timothy 1:9 it says, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” We aren’t called to be holy according to our works or our material possessions, but according to God’s grace! I don’t know about y’all but this is good news!!!
2. We are commanded to be set apart. This may lead us to be unpopular with some of our family, friends, coworkers, dating companions, etc. Not so sure about this? 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light. “ Wow! This verse is filled with affirmations of God’s love! He says we are a “chosen generation”, “a holy nation.” God chose us! According to God’s word, we’re meant to stand out! We weren’t designed to fit in according to the world’s standards!
3. Lastly, we are asked to change the way we think. Many times our thoughts can dictate how we act or conduct ourselves. Romans 12:2 is a great verse for reference: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Here, God is telling us NOT to conform! In choosing to follow God’s lead and plan, we will discover His perfect will for our lives! So let me pose this question: If God has already called you to greatness, does it matter to you if you’re popular? For me, personally, I’m okay with being unpopular because of God’s love for me! If I had a choice, I would much rather have God’s approval of me over mankind any day!!

I hope this post spoke to you and you were encouraged by it! I hope you’ll continue to read and by doing so, encourage me! Let’s choose to stand out and stand up for Christ together! Until next time y’all……..be blessed!!!