Jun 24, 2013
Go ahead—you’re worth it!
by Rebecca Olson, Berlin, N.Y.
Have you ever had one of those days where you just can’t do anything right? Every time you turn around it seems like someone else is telling you what you’re doing wrong. You feel like the “entire world” is plotting against you to make sure nothing you do will turn out as planned.
On days like this it’s hard to convince yourself to keep trying. You just want to give up and crawl back in bed, telling yourself that tomorrow maybe you’ll do something right.
I personally have days like this a lot. I get stressed out really easily, especially when it comes to being a leader. A negative comment from one person can make me feel like I’m completely incompetent to do the work.
Once I get the feeling that I’m not capable, I tend to give up a lot quicker than I should. I automatically assume that it would be better to quit while I’m ahead than to try and end up failing. I constantly assume that I’m not good enough.
I think it’s natural for us to tell ourselves that we’re worthless. We are so unbelievably good at comparing ourselves to everyone around us that we forget about our own importance. We look at how much better everybody else seems to be in comparison, and we don’t even stop to consider our own value—the value that comes from God.
He gives us our worth. Psalm 139:13 tells us that He formed our inward parts; that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by Him. God took the time to shape each one of us.
Not only that, but Genesis 1:27 reminds us that we’re made in His image. We’ve been made to look like and act like our Father, Who does everything right and perfect, Who is worth more than anything else in the universe.
So if God took the time to make us, and make us like Him—the one Who is capable of everything—we have to be worth something, right?
That being said, we have to be careful not to go too far on the other end, and not to be overly confident in the gifts that God has given us. After a job is done, it’s easy to take the reward ourselves, isn’t it? When somebody tells us that we aren’t good enough, it’s easy to look to God to remind us of our true value. On the other hand, when we’ve got someone singing our praises, it’s even easier to smile and say thanks, taking credit for something that God did.
While we have to remember that we have worth, we also have to remember where that worth comes from. Ephesians 2:4-10 reminds us that everything we do is able to be done thanks to God. All the glory should go to Him, because He’s the one Who has done the miraculous deeds. If we’re asking Him for help with our struggles, shouldn’t we be giving Him the honor once we’ve overcome them?
So, there are two things to remember here. First, you are worth something to God. And second, your worth comes directly from Him. Next time you’re feeling low and you’re not ready to face whatever task is ahead, turn to God for guidance. (Hint: 2 Corinthians 12:9 is a great verse when you need a reminder that God is big enough even when you’re not.) Just remember—once the job is done, give credit where it’s due.
