Cookie Cutter Christians

Recently, I attended a women’s conference where a well-known speaker challenged us to be bold and loud in our faith—to march into each day ready for battle, leaving behind meekness and gentleness. While her passion was inspiring, something about that message didn’t sit right with me. Not because I consider myself shy or meek, but because some of the most Christlike women I know are quiet warriors of faith. They fight battles on their knees in prayer. They show the love of Jesus in their gentle words and steady presence. Their lives remind me that God’s kingdom is not built by one kind of personality.

The truth is, we are not meant to all look the same. God, in His wisdom, created each of us with unique gifts, personalities, and callings. Scripture tells us, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Some are the mouth, some the hands, some the feet. Each role is essential. Our God is too personal and too creative to want cookie-cutter Christians.

I’ve met people in ministry whose testimonies are full of dramatic transformation. Some were rescued out of deep rebellion, addiction, or sin—stories that echo the conversion of Saul to Paul (Acts 9). Others, like my own mother, have walked with Jesus faithfully for as long as they can remember. Their testimonies may not sound “dramatic,” but they are just as powerful. What could be sweeter than a life preserved by grace from the very beginning? Psalm 71:17 says, “Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.”

Unfortunately, many Christians who have walked in steady obedience feel as if they don’t even have a testimony worth sharing. But nothing could be further from the truth. The very fact that they have remained faithful through the ups and downs of life is a living witness to God’s keeping power.

We see this throughout Scripture. God used people with all kinds of stories. Some were drawn out of sin—like Rahab the prostitute (Joshua 2), Mary Magdalene who was delivered from seven demons (Luke 8:2), and of course Paul, who once persecuted the church. Others walked in righteousness from their youth, like Mary the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:38), Job who was called “blameless and upright” (Job 1:1), and Noah who “walked faithfully with God” (Genesis 6:9).

Not only are our stories diverse, but our personalities are too. Some followers of Jesus were bold and outspoken, like Peter at Pentecost (Acts 2). Others were gentle and quiet, like Barnabas, whose encouragement earned him the nickname “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36). Both mattered. Both glorified God.

The enemy would love to silence us—convincing some that their story is “too simple” to make an impact, or others that their past is “too shameful” to bring glory to God. But Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Nothing in your life is wasted when surrendered to Him.

So, if like me, you carry a dark past—use your story to shine light on Jesus’ redemption. If your life is a steady testimony of lifelong obedience—declare His faithfulness in every season. If your personality is loud and bold—let that boldness point to Christ. If you are quiet and gentle—let your gentleness reflect the heart of Jesus.

Even amongst the four of us that lead the Ardently His team, there are differences in personalities and testimonies. We have shy introverts, opinionated extroverts and a mix of both. Some of us have stories of rebellion and lives of sin, and some of us have lived steady lives of obedience. The commonality is that all of us have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and all of us have been saved by the sovereign grace of God (Ephesians 2:8–9). All of us love Jesus ardently. And all of us are ardently loved by Jesus.

Ardently His,

Jenifer

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