People often put themselves down. What passes as humility is often born out of a false belief of inadequacy. 

You pay someone a compliment, and they reply, “You are too kind, but I’m not that special.”

You tell a co-worker or friend how proud you are of their accomplishments, and they say, “It’s really no big deal.”

Then, when you or a friend fail, and we all do, we humans are quick to dismiss and disqualify ourselves. “Oh, I’m not qualified or suitable because I’m _________.” (You fill in the blank.)

Here’s something I want you to consider.

God has a very different view of the small, weak, fractured, and broken.

I love how the author and pastor Scott Sauls put it: “God shows his power, and verifies his reign, chiefly through the weak things.”

The Apostle Paul said it this way:

“Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

More than most of us realize or tend to remember, God delights in using the weak, the low, and the despised by this world’s standards for His purposes.

Why is this important to understand?

Because most of us fall into the “average” category at best and are often in the “broken” group as well.

Few of us (me included) will ever be rock stars, best-selling authors, world-class athletes, or nationally-recognized politicians.

As mentioned, we all have a past riddled with regrets. 

But it’s okay. Better than okay. Seriously.

Why? How is that possible? It’s okay because God loves and treasures you.

You.

Not the perfect you.

Not the future you.

Not the you you think you should be but aren’t.

Not a version of you that you sometimes try to project or pretend to be.

Just you.

And what you might view as insignificant about yourself, God values.

He cherishes moms, single or not.

He values dads, accomplished or not.

He adores the young, the not-so-young, and the ancient.

All parents, natural, foster, or adoptive parents, are heroes to the Father.

UPS drivers matter to God.

Les Schwab employees are awesome to Jesus.

Nurses, doctors, teachers, and lawyers all matter too.

And average pastors in an average church in an average town are priceless to Him.

For some of you, the more secure ones, I suppose, the idea that God values you isn’t earth-shattering news. I applaud your mental and spiritual health.

But for the rest of us, people like me, we must regularly be reminded that we matter.

To Jesus.

To others.

To the world.

So, please repeat after me: Jesus says I matter. The Father says I am precious. And therefore, I do not need to compare myself to others or despair about my past, present, or future. (Go ahead, say it out loud, I’ll wait for you.)

Tomorrow, when someone compliments you, simply say, “Thank you. God is good, isn’t He?”

Later this week, when you start to doubt because of your past or present failures, say to yourself, “I am loved and forgiven.”

Do you get it?

You matter.

Always have.

Always will.

So, live in peace as the pleasure of our Father.

“God was pleased with me, so he rescued me.

He took me to a safe place.”

Psalm 18:19 (ERV)