Useful or useless?
Every week, we encounter people who believe they are no longer valuable. ‘What do people have to gain from me? I can do nothing; I am worthless.’ And although your feelings may convey that message, it does not mean it is true. There can be a significant difference between what you think and what the truth is. Here are a few examples of people who were highly valuable despite everything!
Abraham was too old? No.
Therefore even from one man, and one who was as good as dead at that, there were born descendants who were just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore. (Hebrews 11:12)
Moses did not see himself as a great speaker:
Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue. (Exodus 4:10)
Gideon was afraid, but…
But the Lord said to him, “Peace to you, do not be afraid; you shall not die. (Judges 6:23)
Jeremiah considered himself too young:
Then I said, “Oh, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” But the Lord said to me,
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to save you,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 1:6-8)
Elijah did not want to live anymore:
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked for himself to die, and said, “Enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers. (1 Kings 19:4)
John the Baptist was dressed quite ‘alternatively’ and ate locusts?!
John (The Baptist) was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. (Mark 1:6)
The disciples fell asleep while praying…
And He *came to the disciples and *found them sleeping, and He *said to Peter, “So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? (Matthew 26:40)
Martha was worried:
But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; (Luke 10:41)
Timothy was often sick:
Do not go on drinking only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. (1 Timothy 5:23)
And so there are many, many more great figures from Biblical history who, from a human perspective, perhaps did not think very highly of themselves… But God truly thought differently about them, and together with God, they were very valuable for His glory.
So if you think today, ‘I am worthless, I can do nothing,’ remember Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Martha, the disciples, John the Baptist, Timothy, and, for example, Jeremiah and Elijah… What you think about yourself does not matter. God has a plan, and He has the final (wonderful) word. Keep going, trust in God. You are valuable.
The mind of a person plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
