You won't always get picked in the draft....

There will be times you won’t get invited.

There will be groups you don’t get to be a part of.

There will be days when you don’t have the right name.

There will be friends that will "filter" when you get to be part of the friendship.

There will be people who will pick and choose when you do and do not get to be important.

There will be times when those you love the most won’t love you back.

There will be times when they won’t choose to fight for you.

There are days when you won’t get a seat at the table.

And....there are kickball games you won't get picked in the draft.

You guys I am picturing an elementary playground and a friendly game of kickball about to commence. All of the kids line up and the two "chosen ones" get to be team captains. Each and every kids fate lies in those two kids hands.

Some stand in anxious anticipation, tall and proud knowing they'll get picked first! Some stand staring at the ground as they swipe dirt back and forth with their foot, knowing they have potential to go mid-draft, not first, but definitely not last.

And then, there are those who stand defeated before it even begins, knowing they'll be picked last if they even get a spot on the team.

You guys all know what I'm talking about. Some of you are sweating bullets as you read flashing back to your childhood. Some of you are like "ohhhhh yeah those were the glory days." You were the team captain or definitely went first in the draft lol.

You all know that while life isn't a kickball game...it kinda is. Even now as an adult, I still don't always get picked in the draft.

Surely you know by now where I'm going with this. Now that we're done reminiscing on "the good ole days...." let us get to the point.

This world is so backwards. It’s messed up. People are mean, selfish, inconsiderate and stupid a lot of the time. And if I’m being totally honest, people can just be punks. (I know some of you are reading saying "yeah yeah well you're a punk too!"...probably so).

Having been handed plenty of experiences that fall into any and all of the above scenarios (and more not listed), I can testify that it sucks. Not being chosen. Not being good enough. Not being fought for. Not being loved unconditionally. Not having "the right name" or "the right status." Not being invited. Not getting a seat at the table.

Not being invited, not being chosen, not being important enough, not getting to always be the friend, not being loved and not always getting to sit at the table DOES NOT determine your true value or worth. It DOES NOT mean you aren’t enough.

What they say, what they do, who they say you are and whether or not they choose you DOES NOT define you!!

There is only One who has that power!!

And let me tell you this….you will ALWAYS be welcome at His table. He is always there inviting you to come. He wants to fellowship with you and walk beside you daily in friendship. He loves you unconditionally. He always fights for you and proved it by dying for you! It doesn’t matter to Him what your name is or where you come from, because He knows your name and calls you His own!

This is a lesson I’ve learned my entire life. Still experience it as an adult. It’s something I’m having to teach my children. Not everyone will want you. Not everyone will like you. Not everyone will choose you.

But….He will.

Our Heavenly Father has called us not to be of this world. While we must be in it, we can remember that we are His and live accordingly. We can know that we are loved beyond this world by the One who created it. We are chosen and accepted.

It sucks knowing we didn’t get to go.

It hurts when we get rejected.

It is heartbreaking to not be chosen and feel like we aren’t enough as “just us.”

My friend, lift up your head. Look up and feel the Father’s arms lovingly open wide welcoming you and inviting you to come to the table with Him. Take a seat. He wants you there.

Don’t worry about the other times. In His eyes, those times don’t matter anyway. You do.

Next time you don't get invited, you aren't chosen, you don't get a seat at the table, or you're the last man standing on the sideline...and all that other rubbish...remember.....it is okay.