Never have I seen the desire to belong more intense than in the lives of teenagers. We currently have three teenage daughters, and I can confirm that each of them struggles off and on with a sense of belonging. Teens don’t want to stand out or be different, so they listen to the latest music, follow certain social media accounts, watch specific television series, and keep up with current trends all in an effort to fit in with their peer group.

But if we’re being honest, it’s not just teenagers that struggle with belonging, is it? We as global workers wrestle with this as we learn to live in new cultures and sometimes even throughout our entire global working career. No matter how well we speak the language, cook traditional food, dress like the other women, or adapt to cultural cues, we can often still feel (or be made to feel by our peers) that we don’t quite fit in. 

A sense of not belonging isn’t always a bad thing, though. When our hearts are left with a void, it is an opportunity to run to Jesus. If anyone can identify with not fitting into cultural norms, it is our Saviour. We can turn to His prayer for us in John 17 because He says specifically in verses 9 and 10, “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory.” (NLT) 

When we read over Jesus’ prayer for His followers, it satisfies that longing in our hearts. Our insecurities of not fitting in or falling short of cultural norms seem to melt away into insignificance. Jesus’ love for us wraps us in a warm blanket of belonging and not just to make us feel good but to bring Him glory. We are one with Him and the Father so that others will believe (17:21). Why would we want to belong anywhere else especially since belonging to Jesus draws others to Him?