Favored

The word favored came to me recently during a conversation with a close friend.  She spoke the word as she shared her story, and I quickly scribbled it on a piece of paper beside me, because I felt it was of significant importance.  How important is it to us in our life that we feel favored?  If you have siblings (I was the youngest of three), how much do we strive to be the favored one?  In school we wanted to be the teacher’s favorite and maybe a little jealous when we see another classmate easily walk into that role.  We desperately wanted to be picked for the school play, or not left standing alone, last, when teams were being chosen.  Let’s face it, it was more than important at the time to be the most popular girl or boy that everyone admired.  But you and I know, in reality, that most times we are not picked as the favorite, even in our adult life, no matter how hard we try.   Do we feel less because of not being the popular one?  Do we worry too much, thinking we did something wrong or should have tried harder?  No matter the reason, I think striving to be favored is only a pathway meant to ultimately teach us about our purpose.  It’s not about being favored from an earthly sense but realizing being favored by God is what is most important and more rewarding.  Maybe even searching for the many ways we are favored by God will help us recognize the many gifts that He has entrusted us with.  Though the disappointment of not always being favored on this earth can humble us and ultimately teach us, by His favor, that we feel truly complete.  Our goal is not to be the most popular, the most glamorous, or the best in everything we do.  It’s learning to strive to be more pleasing to Him – to stay in His favor.  I re-read these words again, “Stay in His favor”, and pray to see more clearly how Jesus desires me to be in His favor compared being in favor with those around me.  I know I am starting to recognize it isn’t just me that is favored.  It’s in every face that I encounter along the way.  What will I do with my “favored” status? What will you choose to do with yours?  God does not put you and me on a pedestal for all to see and be honored.  He is the true King, He sits on the throne!  And I, for one, feel special to be favored just to be in his presence.

“A good name is to be more desired than great wealth; Favor is better than silver and gold.”  Proverbs 22:1