“Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so…”
Many of us have sung this song since we learned to talk. We’ve heard it so much that it sounds trite. But sometimes it can be hard to actually accept, to truly believe in the depths of your soul.
Maybe you struggle with really believing that God loves you.
Maybe you accept it in your head, but it doesn’t actually seem real in your
life. Or maybe feeling unloved or unwanted is so ingrained in who you are that
you don’t believe that even God could love you. You’d like to believe it, but
you just can’t. Not really.
The world will tell you that you have to be thin, beautiful and successful to be worth loving. But even the most successful and glamorous often struggle with feeling unloved and worthless.
God tells you something different. He wants you to
understand that your value is based on four absolute truths.
Know who you are: you are created in God’s image. You are literally a small picture of God. And just like the image on a $100 bill is what gives it value, so God’s image on you gives you value. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, or what’s been done to you. You have enormous value.
Remember what Christ did: He was tortured to death for you. Jesus knows you. He knows every sin you commit, every secret you hide, every weakness you cover. And He still thinks you are worth dying for.
Find where you fit: you are a member of God’s family. Find people that show that God’s acceptance and love. Develop those friendships that build you up, that draw you toward God. Cut those relationships that tear you down and pull you away from God. God already accepted you and received you into His family. This is where you belong.
Learn what you have: God gave you talents and gifts. It’s easy to look at others and think that you don’t have anything to offer compared to them, but God has given you a way to make a difference. Maybe you can sing, or you can make people laugh, or you are a good organizer or a great listener. Everyone wants to be significant, to make a difference, and God has given you your own way to do just that.
Everyone feels unloved or rejected sometimes. When you find yourself there, hold on to these four truths:
You are valuable.
You are loved.
You belong.
You contribute.
