worthless

Worship the Worthy One and you will know your worth.

Have you ever felt worthless? Or maybe you don't have a flare for the dramatic and you rationalized it back to a more "reasonable" question of your value in a context? A project. A conversation. A room. A relationship.

Insecurities swell so willingly, even in the unwilling, and can simultaneously keep us trapped and yet compel us into situations we never would have chosen.

Chasing after feeling worth, feeling all the more worthless. At least in the moments after.

A little light was shed on this for me when I recently read Jonah 2:8...

"Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them." (NIV) Or...

"Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love." (ESV)

In clinging to what's worthless, we forfeit the grace that could be ours to receive the hope of steadfast love.

And because of the truth that is clear in Scripture, we actually become like what we worship.

"Those who make them will become like them..." (Psalm 115:8, and very similarly in Psalm 135:18)

When I cling to anything in my heart that isn't the Mighty Creator of the Universe in all of His glory, it's an idol. When I look to anyone but Him to meet the cravings of my heart, they are an idol. When I walk into a room looking for worth from others, I will eventually end up feeling worthless. Because anything less than Jesus, is an idol. Coming to anyone but Him with my cup asking to be filled, makes them an idol. Anything other than the Lord (even if it is a good thing!) is worthless as an object of my worship. And when my worship isn't rightly placed, I feel worthless too.

Because we become what we worship, we feel worthless too!

You can't escape it. You will become like what you worship in your heart. Not what you say you worship, but what you actually devote your attention and affections towards.

Anything less than the One who longs to shower His mercy on you and give you hope in His steadfast love, is worthless as an object of worship. Worshiping a worthless object of worship, will leave you feeling worthless.

And worth is what you were longing for all along, right? There is One Who longs to lavish you, if you'll receive it... receive Him.

And when you walk into that project, that room, that relationship full of the hope of steadfast love and mercy, you walk in knowing your worth. Not looking for your worth. If you walk in looking for your worth, you will end up eventually feeling worthless... at least if you're honest. At least eventually... we all know it's true.

Choose to rest today in mercy, in the hope steadfast love brings. You are loved. You are valued. You have a place. You have worth.

Worship the Worthy One and you will know your worth. (Revelation 4:11; 5:12)