Different Personalities, Same Savior
Have you ever given much thought to the personalities you surround yourself with? Are they people who are a lot like you or quite a bit different? Maybe a good mix of the two?
My husband is an extrovert. I’m an introvert. We are very different people who complement each other very well. Even when it comes to sharing about Jesus, he’s the one talking to random people wherever we are. However, when the conversation starts to get deep, he’s like…let me get my wife over here to answer your questions.
I tend to make friends with extroverts mostly. That’s probably because if you put me with someone exactly like me, we would never start talking to each other…unless there was an extrovert around to start the conversation.
I have a good friend who is completely opposite of me personality-wise. We share many common interests and values, but our opposite personalities cause us to butt heads frequently. Although we make each other crazy sometimes, I’d like to think he pushes me to be a bit more outgoing and get outside of my own head, and I cause him to be a bit more grounded and see things from a different perspective.
I have another good friend who is a lot like me. We even share the same rare Myers-Briggs personality type. I’m unsure how two introverts struck a conversation, but we did. We are both writers. We both struggle with mental health. We share such similar experiences with so many things that I’m amazed sometimes. However, even with all these similarities, we are very different in many ways too. In this relationship, she’s the more grounded one, while I’m a bit more...unconventional. This can be seen right down to the colors we are drawn to. I have hot pink all over the place, and she uses more earthy tones. She’s more neat and organized. I’m somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between my organized friend and fly by the seat of my pants husband.
Of all the personalities in my life, none are better, and none are worse. It just is. This is how God made us. We all complement and challenge each other in different ways, whether we are very alike or very different. There are none of us who are exactly the same. God did that on purpose.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” -Proverbs 27:17
When I take time to examine and contemplate my relationships, putting aside all minor grievances, I realize how beautiful it is that we are all connected, fitting like a puzzle that only God could piece together. You see, we all have different personalities but the same savior, who makes all things work for our good. That includes our strengths, weaknesses, and quirks.
I am thankful for each of my friends as the blessings that they are. When we rub each other wrong, I try to remember, “as iron sharpens iron.” This can be easy to remember when having a friendly debate with another believer, but it is hard to remember when difficult feelings are triggered that need to be worked through. Friendship can be challenging, but it’s also worth it. God made us to live in relationship with others. In this fallen world, we will have to work for it. Remember, someday, as long as we trust in Jesus for our salvation, we will live in harmony together. There will be no more bickering, just peace and joy.
Meet the Author
Megan grew up in rural Wisconsin where she was always known as the quiet girl with a book in her hands. Now Megan is working on her lifelong dream of becoming the author of her very own book. Out of her own struggle with trauma and mental health, she created the Jordan Crossings Blog to empower those who are healing from trauma and educate Christians on how to minister to those who are hurting.
