Chosen, Not Chasing: The Gift of Belonging
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9 NIV
“Do I belong?”
We might not say it out loud, but we feel it. We feel it in our friendships, our families, our church communities, and even in our own relationship with the Lord. Throw in our tendency to compare our lives to the perfectly curated friend groups and social calendars of others (looking at you, Instagram), and it can be easy to start wondering who we are, where we fit in, and whether or not we belong.
Ironically, we’re not alone.
Belongingness
We all long to feel understood and included. To know that who we are matters. To be part of something bigger than ourselves. So powerful is this built-in drive for acceptance that there is even a name for it: belongingness.
Belongingness, psychologists say, serves as a vital psychological anchor. With it comes health, happiness, and a sense of purpose. Without it, everything from intellectual achievement to immune function to mental well-being can be compromised, opening the door to things like anxiety, fear, and depression.
We might not know all the psychological nuances and side effects, but we understand them, instinctively. We know we need an anchor, a place where we feel held and secure. And we look for that in relationships, accomplishments, possessions—anywhere we might find acceptance and approval. But Scripture reminds us that belonging isn’t something we earn or achieve. It’s something God gives.
Sought, Treasured, and Lavishly Loved
Luke puts it plainly: The fact that we belong has nothing to do with our desire or performance; God sought us before we sought him (Luke 19:10 NIV). Peter adds that we are God’s chosen people, and that he doesn’t simply accept us—he treasures us (1 Peter 2:9 NIV). And John emphasizes our place in God’s family with not one but two exclamation marks: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 NIV).
Sought, treasured, and lavishly loved. Three different voices in Scripture, united around one powerful reality: We don’t have to keep chasing because we’re already chosen. We belong.
We belong. It seems so straightforward and simple—and yet we still struggle. We wonder where we fit in, who our people are, and whether or not we measure up. And honestly? It’s not just our anxiety-and-Instagram-riddled generation that can feel the ache; even the earliest Christians needed some reassurance.
Rooted
Which may be why Paul wrote what has become one of the most beloved prayers in Scripture:
“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV)
God roots us, establishes us, and provides the security we want. Being counted together with all God’s people offers the community we crave. And being filled with all the fullness of God—with his wide and long and high and deep love—is what lets us know that we do measure up. Not because of anything we’ve earned or achieved, but simply because we’ve been chosen.
Because we belong.
In His Word
“You also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus.” (Romans 1:6)
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” (Deuteronomy 7:6)
In Your Life
Where do you find yourself wanting to fit in or belong? Spend a few minutes reflecting on your status as one of God’s chosen people—one of his lavishly loved children!—and then personalize Paul’s prayer as you trust God to satisfy your unmet longings: Let my roots grow down deep in your love; remind me of my place among your people; and make me complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:17-19 NLT)
We Recommend
Discover more about belonging in Jodie Berndt’s bestselling book, Praying the Scriptures for Your Life, and find out how to access more of God’s gifts for your family in Praying the Scriptures for Your Children, Praying the Scriptures for Your Teens, and Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children.
Let’s Connect
Connect with Jodie on Instagram and via her email newsletter, and please visit jodieberndt.com to access free resources like printable prayer cards and calendars, encouraging videos, and study guides for group or individual use.