I often struggle with the temptation of being very merit-through-productivity based.
What I mean is, the amount I can physically accomplish is somehow the measure of how good I am, both in my own eyes and in the eyes of God. In seasons where I can do very little, I tend to slide downhill quickly by my own silly measurement of me and my worth. It's such a mistrusting and prideful temptation, isn't it? I know (on paper) that the reality is I accomplish nothing, ever, and that it's only always by God's grace anything gets done (and through the abilities He has given to me).
Yet, I'm so attached to these false metrics of worth; I cling so tightly to what I can do . . . when, really, what do I ever do? My attempts are all so tiny, so feeble, so weak.
But God is so good to remind us of our own reality, which is: we can do nothing, and, somehow simultaneously, do everything though Him Who makes all things new, over and over again. The Gospel reminds us that He has not only called us to participate in the Kingdom of Heaven, but to be an essential component (Luke 13:18-21). In His great love, He requires our little seed, our gift of self, to be the impetus of the great blossoming of His Kingdom here on Earth. He uses our weakness and all our human limitations, and most importantly, our love.
It is precisely why our little efforts, and our sacrifices, and our prayers, matter so much. In our letting go, He can build us up. In our emptying out, He can fill.
What God can do with the little we give!
What God can do with the little we give!Click to tweet
If you feel you have nothing to give, and no great accomplishments to show your worth, take a second and remember that He has given you your worth and it's not a gift you can return. Pray for a deeper sense of worth as a child of God today.
Blythe Fike is the wife of Kirby and mother of 8 smallish kids. She loves the quiet life in small town SoCal. You can find out more about her here.
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