Quote

"Never waste your time trying to explain who you are to people who are committed to misunderstanding you."

- Dream Hampton
 

Real Life

Madison de Rozario is an Australian Paralympian who has competed at five Paralympics, winning eight medals, two of them gold. Rozario competes in the T53 (wheelchair) events of 800m, 1500m, relays and marathon.

Rozario has said that when she attended her first Paralympics in 2008 the athletes were seen primarily as people with disabilities rather than as athletes. The journalists’ questions would focus on their disabilities and medical conditions rather than their sport.

By 2015 Rozario was winning medals at the World Para Athletics Championships, Commonwealth Games and Paralympics. She has continued to do so, winning medals in the marathon and 5000m in the recent Paris Paralympics. There has also been a change in perceptions with para-athletes now being seen as the athletes that they are.

Rozario took her sport seriously and understood the demands of her sport long before the vast majority of those watching did. To be misunderstood is deeply discouraging. When we feel that people are not seeing us as we want to be seen or are missing what we are trying to do, it is disheartening. However, that doesn’t mean we need to keep seeking their approval or understanding, we can still do what we want to do and be what we want to be whether the people around us get it or not.

Jesus was misunderstood by many. Some thought He couldn’t be the Messiah because He didn’t fit their expectations, some thought He was misguided because He didn’t teach the way they thought He should and some thought He was a fool for allowing Himself to be arrested, beaten and crucified. But Jesus knew who He was and the mission He wanted to complete.

When we feel misunderstood we have a God who truly knows how that feels. He can comfort us, guide us and strengthen us to keep pushing on, knowing that even if no one else understands, He does.

Bible Verse

He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognise Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. 

John 1:10-11

Prayer

Lord thank You that You know me and You empathise with me. Please help me to remember that even if those around me don’t understand me, You do.

Author: Sarah Auld   |   Content Editor: Phil Pawley