Psalms 139:13-16, For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Living in a world that often labels and criticizes us, it can be challenging to recognize who we are and live securely and confidently. When we don’t know who we are as God’s creation and as His children, we risk settling for being a copy of someone else or a false version of our true selves, and never live up to our true value and worth. Years ago, I remember feeling inadequate. I felt I wasn’t enough and didn’t measure up to the world’s standards in people’s eyes. Standards of a certain status, appearance, and success. Insecurity caused me to compromise my worth by making wrong decisions, some bad choices, which led me into some wilderness experiences that only God could lead me out of. God used those wilderness times to teach me my true value and worth. Thank the Lord Jesus, those times were not in vain. When I began to understand my worth, I stopped comparing myself to others, striving for approval and acceptance, and instead believed what God has said about me in His Word. I ceased from my own labor of trying to measure up, and I entered into the rest of God. (Hebrews 4:9-10) Glory to God, that faith is the victory that overcomes the world, and we can rise above it all. (1John 5:4)
Oxford Dictionary:
*Worth– the value equivalent to that of someone or something under consideration; the level at which someone or something deserves to be valued or rated. High Value and Merit
I like the part where it says “ the value equivalent to that someone or something under consideration.” That someone is you and me in Christ Jesus! 1John 4:17 tells us that as Jesus is, so are we in this world. This scripture proves that your worth comes from God alone.
*Inherent– existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute. Vested in someone as a right or privilege
Inherent, by definition, solidifies the permanence of your value and worth. No circumstance or situation can change what God has already set in motion. This unchangeable nature of your worth should bring you a sense of security and confidence in your identity as a beloved child of God.
Halleluja!!
Worth is our God-given identity, inherited from God Himself. You carry it simply because He made you in His Image and likeness. Worth was built into your core when you were conceived in your mother’s womb. It’s a part of you, unchanging and unshakeable. You are loved and chosen, no mistake, no rejection, or label can take your worth away. We often confuse our net worth with our self-worth. We measure our value and worth based on how people treat us, good and bad, or whether they accept us or reject us. This creates insecurity and anxiety. God wants us to live in His PEACE.
I often use a one-hundred-dollar bill as an illustration of the value it holds. See, money passes through the hands of all kinds of people, the hands of drug dealers, traffickers, abusers, schemers, and thieves, and is often called dirty money. Yet, that same one-hundred-dollar bill, after being handled by its user, no matter how messy, torn, or tattered it may be, and despite having gone through some scrupulous and scandalous paths, it never loses its value and remains worthy of use to provide things we need or bless someone else. Similarly, as God’s creation, our worth is not diminished by the circumstances or experiences we go through. We remain valuable and worthy in His eyes, regardless of the ‘stains’ or ‘tears’ we may accumulate in life.
Now, indeed, we are more valuable than money, and our worth is permanent and not contingent on our humanity. We have been made in the image of our Father God through Jesus Christ. Yes, you may have passed through the hands of different people who mishandled you, perhaps family members, employers, friends, or foes; you fill in the blank. But remember, God “El Roi”, the God who sees– He knows all about it and is greater than the pain it caused. He is more than able and is willing to heal and restore you to wholeness, bringing back the worth that may have seemed to be lost.
A Key Takeaway: Beloved, your worth is not measured by what you do or who people say you are; God measures it! The price Jesus paid with His blood on the cross of Calvary is the ultimate testament to your value. You are not just a number or a statistic; you are a cherished creation of the Almighty, and that is where your true worth lies. You are deeply valued and loved by God, and this should fill you with a sense of worth and significance.
Love & Grace