Longing to Belong

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Galatians 3:26-29

REFLECTION

by Mary Alice McGinnis

Do you ever find yourself wondering if you truly have a place where you belong? Are you searching for a place where you feel completely accepted? Do you hope to connect with people who understand, appreciate, and share your interests or values? As you reflect on these questions, consider what it means to be seen and known, and how your journey might lead you to a deeper sense of belonging.

During my teenage years, I remember standing in the school hallway, watching groups of friends laugh together while I lingered at the edge, wishing I could blend in. I tried so hard to “fit in” with the popular crowd—even spending hours picking out clothes that matched what I saw my classmates wearing, hoping it might help me belong. But I didn’t act like them, talk like them, or dress quite right. The effort left me feeling even more isolated and alone, especially when my attempts went unnoticed or felt inauthentic.

In my adult life, this sense of not fitting in carried over; I found myself trying to project an image I thought would be accepted. Yet, behind that facade, I only felt more isolated. There was always this tension between wanting to be seen and yet being fearful of being seen. I often wondered—if people really saw who I am, what would they think of me?

In the early church, there were those who said, “If you truly want to be one of us, you need to ….” This created a dynamic of those who belonged and those who did not.

Paul, the writer of Galatians, reminds us of these things.

We belong to God’s family. Friends, we must first and foremost ground ourselves here: the God of the universe desires for us to be with Him and belong to Him as His children. He sent His Son, Jesus, to tear down the wall between us and God. When we trust in Jesus, we are adopted as God’s children, a relationship that is not temporary, but enduring—now and through all eternity. If we truly grasp this, it has the power to change everything about our understanding of belonging.

We have been clothed with Christ. How would your life be different if you truly understood and embraced the reality that your identity is shaped by Jesus? Not like a costume you put on or a mask you hide behind, but as a deep transformation that influences your thoughts, actions, and relationships. YOU ARE fully adorned with Jesus and “baptized into Christ.” As a result, we are called to live each day aligned with this truth. His character—kindness, forgiveness, humility—becomes visible through how you treat others and respond to everyday situations.

We are all one. We are all on a level playing field. It makes no difference who we are or where we have come from, or what we have done. Our nationality, social status, or gender do not negate this fact. Romans 3:23-24 states it clearly:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

We have a place in history with God’s chosen children. God gave Abraham a promise, that all the world would be blessed through his offspring. His offspring, Jesus, made a place for us to be counted among the children of Abraham. As heirs of the promise to Abraham, we are invited to be part of God’s plan: the rescuing of all who have fallen short and need His grace through Christ Jesus.

By embracing our role in God’s plan, we discover a sense of purpose and belonging that not only guides us through life’s challenges and joys but also surpasses anything we could have imagined—like finally finding a home we never realized we were missing.

Prayer –Lord, help me remember to seek to belong solely to You. Let my life reflect You, remembering that each person I encounter each day is just like me, in need of grace and forgiveness. Thank You for counting me among Your chosen people. Use me in Your plan to rescue others in need of Your grace for the rest of my days.