You Belong Here - a short devotional - January 2025

He walked into the coffee shop and adjusted his tie. Glancing at a seated patron, he stuck out his tongue, climbed onto the nearest bench and waited for his dad to bring the cocoa.*

Four-year-olds don't question their belonging.

Adults, however, question every sense of belonging. We suffer from imposter syndrome in new places, sometimes long past the place being new. Some of us, dismissed as children, try to avoid taking up space in others' lives as if that were possible.

It's not.

Despite how you feel about yourself, God put you here, wherever "here" is for you. He carved out space in this physical world for you to live, breathe, work, shop, connect and worship. He put you here with no more or less intention than any other human. He put you here with the intention that you take up space in others' lives. Yes, God meant for you to take up space.

So, walk into the coffee shop and remove your hat. Glancing at the nearest patron, nod and smile (don't forget, they belong here, too). Slide onto the nearest bench with your latte and take up the space God designed for you.

You belong here.

*thanks to my pastor for this recent story!