By: Chloe Grabeman
Have you ever encountered something that seems completely harmless in its natural state? But magnify its intricacies, how it’s made or what it can be used for, and you realize this seemingly innocent everyday element can be a weapon of destruction. Let me give you an example:
Homemade chocolate chip cookies.
When I was 14, my family was watching the Ohio State/Michigan football game, and with this being one of the most important days of the year, (GO BUCKS!), I was in charge of making a new recipe for chocolate chunk cookies. Easy enough right?
Wrong.
The recipe instructed me to use kitchen shears to cut this brick of chocolate into chunks for the cookies. As I am cutting, the shears somehow slide off the side of the chocolate and cut straight into my finger.
Quite deep.
In the end, I got stitches instead of cookies and a shattered dream of becoming a nurse with my newfound weakness at the sight of blood.
C’est la vie.
Words can often hold this power.
In their natural state they are completely harmless; but paired with insecurities or hurt, they can be used as a destructive and discouraging tool of the enemy.
There is one word that holds this particular power:
Should.
Should always has a way of telling us everything we think we lack. All the areas that are somehow missing in our lives that make us less than what we should be. 
As I am about to graduate college and enter “the real world,” should has become an antagonizer I have to disarm on a regular basis.
You should have a better resume.
You should have a significant other by now.
You should have a better work ethic.
You should look more like that person.
You should be deeper in your faith.
On an on until we feel like we have lost a race that has yet to begin.
Should always leads to shame.
Often times, when we are our most vulnerable, the enemy, is not creative in hurting these places.
In these moments of self – doubt I encourage you to “consult your army.” The people in your life that know how to speak truth and dispel the darkness.
So often when I share my thoughts of myself or hear others, I am met with reactions that completely disagree with what we think we should be.
I find myself astonished thinking how different my life would be if this person bought into these should lies. How much my life has been impacted by them being nothing but themselves.
And this is where this true purpose of the body of Christ lies. Celebrating and strengthening that we are each fearfully and wonderfully made. This word “fearfully” in Psalm 139 translates “to inspire awe.”
Rest in the truth that there is nothing more or less you should be.
You inspire awe.
Songs:
Empty My Hands – Tenth Ave North
Your Love Is Strong – Jon Forman
Soil – James Spaite
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