I may be grasping at straws here, and I may be way off the mark, but I think we as people, many of us at least, spend way too much time and effort trying to prove our worth. No matter how it shakes out, we very often are consumed-to the point of going way beyond normal-trying to prove to ourselves and others that we have got what it takes. We are driven by the desire to feel important or to show our importance to ourselves and to others.
We will even go so far as to act humble or to drop our head as if to say, “Awww shucks” while all the while straining our shoulder muscles to pat ourselves on the back or to hear more of how helpful/indispensable/worthwhile we are.
Something we should really grasp is that looking to others (or ever deep inside ourselves) for our sense of well-being is pointless. That’s right…pointless. Honestly? We will never be good enough or consistent enough to garner the regular praise of people, many of whom are in the same boat as us.
And let’s face it: we may succeed in one moment and then face-plant in the next. That’s a fact of life. Life is a series of ups and downs. Praise. Disappointment. Accolades. Removal. Cancel culture is real good at that. Agree and all is good. Disagree and bye-bye.
Our worth, my worth, is not found in what I do or what others think of me. No, it is found in Jesus Christ. My unrighteousness is replaced with His righteousness. That’s why when I look in the mirror I don’t see “Wreck,.” “Misfit.” or “Loser.” I see “Loved one.” “Special.” “Redeemed.” “His.”
“Father, help me realize and remember my self-worth is not tied to how I feel about me or what others think about me. It is based on what You think.”
It may be the Pharisee in all of us – trying to show how worthy we are. And that’s a blind alley.
That is well put Glynn. I hadn’t thought of that. But yeah, it is a blind alley.
I think you have very valid points here.
I think if we strive so hard to “get noticed” we miss the opportunities to simply do. God has already proved our worth to Him, there is very little else we can do to improve upon that.
And what the culture thinks… I have chosen not to participate in that game.
Thanks for the encouragement Ryan. Like you I have chosen not to participate in that culture game.