Worthy

What do we do when we begin to find our worth in things other than God? Personally, I’ve sought my worth in many places over the years, none of which were God. Like many others, I have allowed the words of others, the world’s views, and overall negativity to dictate my self-perception. Yet, God has so much more in store for us.

Let’s get personal.

For most of my life, I’ve been on some sort of diet—keto, intermittent fasting, the Daniel fast, vegan, Weight Watchers, and the list goes on. I can’t recall a time in my childhood, after the age of ten, when I wasn’t following some kind of eating plan. From a very young age, my worth was made painfully clear: I was only valued as much as I weighed. If I lost weight, I received praise and felt loved; if I gained, it felt like a personal failure. I never wanted to gain. Most weekends, I was made to weigh myself to see how much I had gained or lost, often drinking as much water as I could beforehand in hopes of tipping the scales in my favor. I felt as though my worth was tied to that number. It didn’t always work, and I never felt good enough.

As I grew older, that feeling of worthlessness intensified, especially as the years went by without a boyfriend. I know this may seem trivial, but all I ever wanted was to feel enough, and I believed having a boyfriend would validate me. I thought that even if my weight was a struggle, I might still be enough for someone.

However, in college, I found God and began to understand that my weight didn’t define my value; instead, it was God’s love for me that truly mattered. Psalm 139:14 says, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” I learned, as I hope you do, that my worth is not found in my weight, whether or not I have a boyfriend, or anything other than the fact that I am created in the image of God. YOU are perfectly made in His image, and He loves you deeply.

You may not struggle with the same issues I do (yes, I still need reminders daily), but chances are there’s something in your life that makes you feel less valuable than gold. Let me tell you, that is the work of the enemy. He does not want to see you succeed and has no good plan for you. He wants you to focus on your flaws, while your Creator—who loves you immensely—wants you to see what He sees: that you are HIS. With God, there’s no need to be anyone other than who He has called you to be. God sent His only Son to pay the ultimate price for you—not because we deserved it, because believe me, we don’t—but because He loves us more than death.

I hope you know that you are not alone and that you are incredibly valuable. Don’t let the enemy win the battle in your mind. Don’t allow Satan to control how you view yourself. I pray that God heals any part of your heart that is hurting, so that you, too, can see that your worth comes from Him.

Growth.

When you plant a seed, you don’t expect it to sprout overnight. You must take the time to water, fertilize, and nurture that seed until it sprouts and grows into a fully developed plant. This process requires time, persistence, and patience. While it’s common knowledge that growing plants demands effort and patience, we often forget to extend the same grace to ourselves as we grow into who God has called and created us to be.

As we evolve, we encounter challenges that can slow, redirect, or even halt our growth. If you’re like me and struggle with impatience, grasping this concept can be particularly difficult.

This year has been a season of profound growth for me—a painful one. I’ve had to sever ties with some people I never imagined parting ways with to continue growing. I’ve also watched someone I deeply love face a diagnosis that threatens her growth. It would be easy to retreat to a comfortable and safe space, but growth doesn’t happen there. Like a seed, we must move from the safety of the dark underground to reach toward the light and continue growing upward.

At church today, the pastor spoke about how sometimes the darkest valleys are where we experience the most growth, especially in drawing closer to God. For me, it’s in these dark times that I see God most clearly. It’s also when I’m pushed out of my comfort zone, forcing me to grow, despite my hesitation and anxiety.

Romans 5:2-6 says, “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

In moments when all hope seems lost, cling to the truth that God is with you and fighting alongside you. Growth can be painful, heartbreaking, and strenuous, but it can also be filled with joy, hope, and love when we go through it with God as He intended.

He longs for a relationship with you, where you bring your burdens to Him and allow Him to nurture your soul.

You don’t have to navigate life alone. I promise that if you invite Him into your life, while you may not be free from trials, your life will be profoundly better.

#KeepGrowing :)