Know Your Worth
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” (Titus 3:4-5 NIV)
I exhale audibly as this verse sinks into my mind, and I’m released momentarily from my perfectionist tendencies. I’m reminded that it’s not my striving, success, or failure that determines my worth. It’s only God, who loves me so much he provided a Savior to shoulder the weight of my sin, enabling me to be reconciled to God and receive eternal life. In the moments when I remember this truth, I’m able to jump off of society’s hamster wheel of productivity and accomplishment that is never satisfied and step into the peace, rest, and acceptance that’s always available if I’ll simply choose it.
A song that speaks deeply and intimately to my restless and sometimes anxiety-ridden heart is “In Christ Alone.” The words remind me that everything I need is found only and always in Christ. My favorite lyrics are, “What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease.” I know that more often than not, I’m either striving toward something positive—love, validation, acceptance, accolade—or away from undesirable things—failure, judgment, rejection, ridicule.
The Bible consistently reminds me that I’m loved and complete in Jesus. My striving is not necessary to count myself worthy of God’s love or to find peace. I already have those things. I can’t lose them, nor can I earn more of them. I have all I’ll ever need in an abundant supply. All I have to do is receive it.
[Tweet “The Bible consistently reminds me that I’m loved and complete in Jesus.”]
God’s approval is implicit in my status as his child. There’s no way to earn something that’s freely given. My worth is found in God, who has purposed me to share the gospel and use the gifts he’s given me to bless others and show his love and mercy. God has filled me to the full with value, grace, and love. I can stop struggling with anxiety or worry that I won’t measure up or that I don’t have what it takes to succeed. I’m already a success. My heavenly Father is proud of me. There’s nothing to earn; it’s already mine.
There are times when I really struggle to believe all of this. Often it’s when I feel that my roles as wife, stay-at-home mom, and aspiring writer are not enough. It’s the awkwardness I feel when someone asks what I do and then dismisses my response because there’s no salary attached to any of it. In the deepest places of my heart, I know that having a “real” job or being a published author won’t make me any more complete or worthy. God sees me, knows me, and calls me good right now in my anonymity and amateur status. Being publicly known will not change my level of worth or value. God has already perfectly and completely approved of me and declared me enough just as I am through the love and sacrifice of Jesus.
When days come wherein I feel that can do nothing right, that no one finds anything I do valuable, or when my attempts to forge a writing career are rejected, I must try to remember that none of those things change my worth. When I’m experiencing a low point, God still loves me. He still has good plans for me which he will help me accomplish. My bad days don’t disqualify me from God’s grace or his purposes for me. They just provide me with a new opportunity to turn to Jesus and declare, “In Christ alone my hope is found, he is my light, my strength, my song.”
Father, we are so grateful that our worth and value are not dependent upon anything that we do but only on your love for us through Jesus Christ. Help us to tune out the lies the world tries to feed us that we must produce in order to be loved and accepted. May we find our true selves and our value in the only place it matters, at your feet. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
“On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.” (1 Thess. 2:4 NIV)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9 NIV)
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Ps. 139:13-14 NIV)
Reach for More
Have you struggled to know your worth? Has God shown you just how valuable you are to him apart from what you do? Share it with us on social media using the hashtag #tgtreachformore.
is a mother of two who loves reading, writing, traveling, and introverting. When she’s not at a class at the gym, she can either be found perusing used book stores for great deals or exploring her new town of Asheville, NC. She is the author of Between Us Girls and can be found chronicling her reading journey @meganbyrdreads on Instagram or writing about life at meganbyrd.net.
Photograph © Idara Ekpoh, used with permission
Megan, thank you for sharing this, It is so true,….”everything we need is found always and only in Christ.”
I’m reminded of another song by Keith and Kristyn Getty, “My Worth Is Not in What I Own.” The lyrics and music are beautiful. It begins like this:
“My worth is not in what I own,
Not in the strength of flesh and bone,
But in the costly wounds of love.
At the cross.
My worth is not in skill or fame
In win or lose, in pride or shame,
But in the blood of Christ that flowed,
At the cross.”
Well said; “In Him indeed!” God’s blessings ma’am.
Megan, Thank you so much for writing this post. As an aspiring author myself, I can totally related to feeling like I need to be striving, having a passion that doesn’t pay well, and wondering when I’ll actually be a published other. This was a great reminder that my worth isn’t in anything that I strive for. Jesus Christ just loves us.
Thank you!