•Friday, October 15, 2010
"So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:31 NIV
Have you ever had that sinking feeling as the terrible awareness hit that you weren't good enough? That you were unwanted? Or unloved? That you failed again at something important. You feel sick and want to curl up in a ball and cry yourself to sleep. We've all had them. And the memory remains even after we think we've moved on.
Somewhere in the human psyche lingers the question of worth. Maybe we failed because we don't deserve to succeed. Maybe no one loves us because we aren't worthy to be loved. We just aren't good enough. Perhaps no other issue has the ability to incapacitate us as effectively. Given full reign, the demon of worthlessness can deprive us of every joy we desire.
How do we combat these debilitating feelings? First of all, we need to confront the truth. The things that have been done to us by others, or the things that just happened in life, sent us an untrue message. We interpreted these negative experiences as reflections of our value. But our worth is not defined by the external events that shape our lives. Our worth is given to us by the Creator of Life, and nothing can take it away from us.
Jesus warned his disciples that they would face persecution, betrayal, and want. But he also told them that there was no need for fear. They were loved.
God sees the little sparrow when it falls; and you are worth more to him than many sparrows.
Have you ever had that sinking feeling as the terrible awareness hit that you weren't good enough? That you were unwanted? Or unloved? That you failed again at something important. You feel sick and want to curl up in a ball and cry yourself to sleep. We've all had them. And the memory remains even after we think we've moved on.
Somewhere in the human psyche lingers the question of worth. Maybe we failed because we don't deserve to succeed. Maybe no one loves us because we aren't worthy to be loved. We just aren't good enough. Perhaps no other issue has the ability to incapacitate us as effectively. Given full reign, the demon of worthlessness can deprive us of every joy we desire.
How do we combat these debilitating feelings? First of all, we need to confront the truth. The things that have been done to us by others, or the things that just happened in life, sent us an untrue message. We interpreted these negative experiences as reflections of our value. But our worth is not defined by the external events that shape our lives. Our worth is given to us by the Creator of Life, and nothing can take it away from us.
Jesus warned his disciples that they would face persecution, betrayal, and want. But he also told them that there was no need for fear. They were loved.
God sees the little sparrow when it falls; and you are worth more to him than many sparrows.
|
0 comments: