You’re gonna see the pictures. You already know it. This Fourth of July weekend, your feed is about to be full of red, white, and blue – grills fired up, drinks poured, fireworks, smiling faces, the whole highlight reel. And right in the middle of scrolling, you’re going to have that moment. That little ache. That realization, that you didn’t get invited. 

But before you let that sting settle in too deep, I need to tell you something that might change the way you see that “missed” invitation. Maybe they didn’t invite you because they know they can’t act up around you. Maybe they know their recklessness does not fly when you’re in the room. Maybe, just maybe, they didn’t invite you because your presence brings conviction, and they don’t want to feel that tug on their conscience when they’re trying to be wild for the weekend. 

That’s not rejection. That’s respect in disguise. See, the world will tell you, “You’re no fun anymore.” They’ll laugh and say, “You changed,” as if that’s a bad thing. But when the party ends and the crisis begins, guess who they are going to call? It’s not going to be the one who bought another round or snapped the most aesthetic photo. It’s going to be the one they know walks with wisdom. The one who carries peace. The one who they once said was “no fun,” but they’ll call you when the bottom falls out. 

We go through seasons where the temptation to go back is real. There’s that part of you that still remembers how to clap back, how to turn up, and how to blend right in. But the truth is, you can’t go back. Not after you’ve tasted the goodness of God. Not after you’ve sat at the feet of Jesus and realized what real peace, real joy, real fulfillment feels like. The fake stuff doesn’t hit the same anymore. The parties feel hollow. The noise doesn’t draw out the emptiness like it used to. 

Do you know what’s really behind that temptation? Distraction. Delay. A watered down version of you that God never called. Trust me the enemy is watching too. He’s hoping you’ll get tired. He’s hoping you’ll fold. He’s hoping you’ll feel just lonely enough, just bored enough, just unseen enough to slide back into rooms you don’t belong in anymore. He’ll send people to irritate you. To try and pull the old you out. He dresses up as a red solo cup full of destruction. 

So it’s okay to miss out on some things. Not being invited isn’t the loss it seems to be. In fact. It might just be evidence that you’re walking differently now. You’re glowing in the ways the world can’t replicate. They’ll say you’re doing too much. They’ll try to pull you back to the version of you that made them comfortable. Let them talk, stay quiet, and give it to God. 

This journey isn’t about proving anything to anyone. It’s about staying close to the One who called you out of that life for a reason. And when you feel like you’re missing out, remind yourself, it’s better to walk with God than run with the crowd. It’s better to be aligned with Heaven than to be accepted by people who only love the version of you that was hurting, hiding, and blending in. The enemy wants you to be alone. But the enemy is a loser and we don’t waste our time on losers. He doesn’t get your presence at his party. You don’t owe him your peace, your identity, or your compromise. 

You might not be invited to the cookout. But you’re invited into purpose. You’re invited into peace. You’re invited into power. So light your own fireworks. Grill your own burgers. Thank God for the distance, for the clarity, and for the calling. You’re not missing out. You’re moving up. And that’s more than okay. 

• S.W.