COURAGEOUS INNOCENCE
“Do you even drink?”
“Is it okay to cuss in front of you?”
“I bet you weren’t very wild in high school, you seem so innocent.”
All of the above are comments I’ve heard within the past month. Apparently I’ve been giving off this super innocent vibe recently.
When it comes to fashion, my style is very edgy and bold. My personality is very different. No matter how much I try to appear differently, people still comment on my innocence.
My voice is very soft spoken and I am pretty shy when I first meet people so I understand why these comments have been made. The more I think about it the more I started wondering what it even means to be innocent.
When I think of the word innocence, I think of someone who is sheltered, has never done anything to go against the grain, is naive, and is afraid to stand up for themselves in tough situations. None of these characteristics describe me. The real question, is why am I so worried or bothered by being called innocent. Is it because there is automatically a negative connation behind the word?
What I have come to realize is that it takes more courage, strength, and wisdom to be innocent then to not be. Not being innocent is easy, you do whatever you want, when you want without any reprocutions or shame. As humans, and after sin entered the world, it became impossible for us to be perfectly innocent. We’ve all sinned and we’ve all made countless mistakes.
Believe it, or not, there was a span of time in my life when I definitely wasn’t very innocent. This was a time that I am the least proud of, when it comes to the person I was. Not being so innocent brought about a lot of regrets, shame, stress, and concerns.
Where I am now, has taken patience, courage, and strength to say no to what is wrong. Not giving in to peer pressure, and denying temptations of the flesh have been two of the hardest struggles.
From here on out, I am going to start thinking of innocence, in a better light, and take it as a compliment when people call me innocent. Not only is God is looking for innocence, but the man I am going to marry is also looking for that innocence.
God won’t love you any less if you fail to acheive this innocence, but we should want to strive for this goal because we love our heavenly father.
Matthew 10:16
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
Romans 16:19
“For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.”
Philippians 1:14-15
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world”
Proverbs 13:3
“The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”