The words introvert and extrovert are two words that the majority of us are most likely familiar with. In fact, most of us would be quick to say that we fall in one of these categories. For me, it would most definitely be introvert. Truly, I tell you that this has been an issue off and on my entire life. As a child I had no idea why I behaved a particular way around people and I’m not saying now that my ways can so easily be summed up with a single word. That would be grossly over-simplified.

Recently, I read a blog titled, “The Christian Introvert”. As soon as I read the title I was intrigued. So I quickly followed the link and what I read had an interesting impact on me.

First of all, I realized I was not alone in some of the specific ways that I feel and think most of the time. You see, I am acquainted with many extroverts who thrive in the crowd – literally. More often than not it is difficult at best to garner much sympathy from them about my apparent disdain for speaking publicly or being in crowds, and rightly so. For them to pander to my preference would not be what’s and would/could give me permission to stay in my comfort zone and thus, be guilty of not serving well, the people whom the Lord has brought me to. I could easily fade to gray and be content to exist in the shadows.

Secondly, I was encouraged and thus challenged to see the bigger picture. How I am is part of God’s design. So I can stop a lot of negative talking that goes on in my head and embrace the temperament He has given and implanted in this flesh of mine. Lest I lead you to misunderstand, let me share with you some of what I read:

“…There is no doubt that I am an introvert. If we place introversion and extroversion on opposite sides of a line and say that each one of us falls somewhere between the two extremes, I would be pretty far from center along the introvert side of the scale. I may not be as far along as some people, and I still enjoy some exposure to crowds of people, but at heart I gain energy and perspective in solitude and then expend it in a crowd. My default reaction to a crowd is to run away to find a place of quiet. I love and enjoy people, but do better with small groups than large ones. Even after several years of public speaking, it still takes a lot of effort and self-denial to stand in front of a crowd. I walk to the front of a room slowly and, when finished, sprint to the back.

I believe that God made me introverted. It seems clear that some of us are naturally more outgoing while others are naturally inclined to be quiet. I am naturally quiet and this is part of God’s good design. Neither one is inherently wrong and neither one is intrinsically better than the other…we inhabit a world of sin where any trait or quality can be used for God-glorifying ends or for self-glorifying ends. Not only that, but God calls us to be always willing to deny our desires in order to serve others. Both introverts and extroverts will face particular temptations to sin. My temptation as an introvert is to run away from people instead of serve people. It is to be selfish instead of giving.
The Christian life is a life of self-denial. It is a life of saying, ‘Even though this may be what I want, duty compels me to do something different.’ There are many times when I am to deny my own desires in order to serve others. Even the desire to be alone…, the Gospel compels me to deny even that trait (introvert) and all its desires in order to serve other people.

What I had to face…is that introversion is what I am, not who I am. And this is where the discussion of introversion and extroversion often seems to go wrong. We elevate these traits too high and use them to justify selfishness instead of selflessness. I have to be slow to define myself in a-biblical categories. This is not to say that it is wrong to say that I am an introvert, but that this is a distinction the Bible does not make. With this being the case, I don’t want to allow introversion to define me or to dictate my behavior. Introversion is a useful description, but a poor definition.”1

So dear ones, the short of it is this: whichever you are; no matter what character trait you profess or possess, let it be in you to the glory of the One who called, saved, equipped and empowered you to be to the glory of Him who sits on the Throne. Amen.

Stephanie

Stephanie Paul, wife and mother of two grown children. An “instrument of change” in the Redeemer’s Hand, in the lives of wounded and hurting women. Currently serving as a part of the Addiction Recovery Team at America’s Keswick as Woman of Character Program Director.
1 http://www.challies.com/christian-living/the-christian-introvert