The pandemic highlighted something that I’ve struggled with for years. Significant hearing loss.

I’ve had a ringing in my ears for a while. But with all the masks covering people’s mouths over the past year, I realized that my hearing is worse than I thought. I went to a specialist in Memphis and my thoughts were confirmed. I needed hearing aids.

Call it pride, but it was hard to put the hearing aids on that first day. The worst fear was realized in a meeting last week. We were in a large room with an echo and I was struggling to adjust my hearing aids to a new setting. When I asked someone to please repeat themselves, they loudly responded with “you need to crank up the volume on those hearing aids, man!”

And at that very moment- I felt imperfect, different and ashamed.

Fortunately, I was studying 1 John this week and got a great reminder: God calls us to be different. And as a child of God we never have to be ashamed.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions- is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2

God uses “imperfect” people throughout history to carry out His will. Abraham. Moses. Paul. Rahab. David. Jonah. Naomi.

And you know what? My hearing aids have also provided me with an opportunity to interact with others. Students have approached me to talk about my devices and shared their stories about hearing loss with me. Another person asked if he could take a photo of my hearing aids to share with his father- a fellow that needs to get them but is hesitant to wear them.

We can’t judge perfection through the world’s eyes, but through God’s eyes. We are created in His image. We are made whole through a life with Jesus.

I’ve had two new revelations. First, I can hear so much better! I’m so glad I got them as my quality of life has improved. Second, I realized that probably won’t need these things in Heaven.

Let’s celebrate differences this week. We have completeness in Jesus Christ.

Please let me know how I may specifically pray for you this week.

God bless you.