Word For You is no longer available in print or digital format although the archive of previous readings will remain available on this page for some time yet. If you'd like to continue with Word For You, you can listen to each day's devotional on the UCB Player app.
Self-worth
Ever found yourself thinking ‘When I ________, I’ll be good enough.’? We might fill that blank with things like getting good exam results or a degree, getting married, having children, getting fit and healthy, getting promoted, making more money, or spending more time with God. But the Bible says, ‘Be satisfied with what you have’. Many of us base our self-worth on what we own or achieve. We only feel good about ourselves when we’re involved in certain relationships or live in certain areas or reach certain goals. It is both scriptural and wise to have goals for our lives, but we shouldn’t undermine ourselves by believing that we’re ‘less than’ because we’ve achieved or acquired less than someone else. The Scriptures teach that when we make God’s purposes our number one priority, ‘all your other needs will be met as well…your Father wants to give you the kingdom’ (Luke 12:31-32 NCV). Our self-worth should be founded in God. He’s the One who loves us, accepts us, and values us – no matter what. We don’t have to earn His love. We don’t have to reach a certain standard for Him to accept us as His children. In fact, in Romans we’re told: ‘God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (5:8 NIV). Even though we make mistakes, God loves us enough to die for us. He didn’t die when humans were good enough to have eternal life – He died because we could never reach that standard. So we need to stop trying to earn His love, and the love of others, and live from a place of accepting what He has done for us.
What Now?
Next time you find yourself thinking ‘When I _______, I’ll be good enough’, change your thought to ‘Even though I _______, I’m loved by God.’
The UCB Word For You
Read More