Be a Samuel

        One fact that hasn’t changed since the beginning of time is the perception of a person is based on their appearance. I totally understand certain appearances are necessary for different environments. I agree as Christians our appearances should reflect that Christ is living in us. I know that since our body is a temple God created we should treat our appearance with respect. 

My parents- the first "Samuels" I ever had. They have fought for me my entire life because they knew my ability outshined my circumstances. They are a constant foundation I know I can always count on.

          But one thing I stand against is when a person’s ability is measured by their appearance. We don’t know what a person has had to endure in life and nine times out of ten their appearance is reflective of the battles they’ve fought. That’s why it’s so imperative we look past those battle scars and see their capabilities and worth.

My sister has been a giant of a "Samuel," in my life.  She has always been the first to cheer me on and celebrate my victories because she was the first to believe I could surpass the limitations before me.

        I think I’m so passionate about looking past appearances because I have had people perceive me a certain way based on my appearance. Growing up, my appearance mirrored the battle I fought, however; when people began looking past my appearance and saw my ability and worth, my cocoon of insecurities and lack of confidence from my teenage years fell away and I blossomed and bloomed into an independent woman no longer afraid to share my God-given abilities with others. 

My Grandma...what a "Samuel," she has been! She is always there with a listening ear for me to vent my frustrations and provided the comedic relief I needed to forget scary and uncertain days. 

         I believe this is why I have always felt a kinship toward King David in the Bible. Right before we are introduced to David in I Samuel, chapter 16 it’s clear that even the kind and God-fearing prophet who the book is named after wouldn’t have considered David as the next King of Israel. In fact, when he saw David’s oldest brother Eliab, who was probably tall, fair to look at, and regal looking, Samuel thought for sure this was the son of Jesse God had chosen to replace Saul. But God had this gentle rebuke for Samuel: “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”  

Lisa Harper- My mentor at Asbury University and such a special "Samuel," in my life. She is the first person other than family who looked past my appearance and saw my ability, therefore, I began to bloom into the woman God created me to be.

          I have to wonder if God didn’t check Samuel’s conscience or if Samuel didn’t heed God’s warning, would David have been anointed King that day? While the Bible says that David was ruddy, had a beautiful countenance, and was good to look at, he had two things that went against him- he was young and he was a shepherd. Those two things didn’t exactly emanate royalty.  But I’m so glad Samuel listened to the Holy Spirit that day because then we would have never known a lowly shepherd boy could defeat a lion, a bear, and a giant. We would have never learned that a lowly shepherd boy could go down as being one of the greatest Kings in history. We would have never believed a lowly shepherd boy could become such a fierce warrior. And most importantly, we would have never realized a lowly shepherd boy's bloodline could produce the greatest man who ever walked on this earth, Jesus Christ—  proving that appearances are not always what they seem. While Samuel was quick to judge who he thought “appeared,” to be King, he just as quickly took a step back, listened to the Holy Spirit and understood he needed to look for someone with the ability, worth, and heart to be King.

These girls are such huge "Samuels," in my life. From the very beginning, they saw my worth and that has given me the confidence to reach for all God has for me. They are the epitome of what friends and sisters in Christ should be.

       So my advice to you is be a “Samuel.” The next time you see someone and judge their ability by their “appearance,” take a step back and listen to that still small voice that is always near.  Build that person’s confidence by looking within them and acknowledging their worth and what they are capable of doing in this world because you never know…you just might unlock a “David.” 

Without those "Samuels," in my life, I would never be the woman you see in this photo-Grabbing every adventure and opportunity God gives me. It's my prayer I can impact others just as much as they have impacted me, giving other beautiful souls the courage to unlock their "David'."