Feeling Worthless

Occasionally, we have times where we feel as though we’re totally useless and just wasting our time going through the motions of everyday life. We don’t feel like we’re accomplishing anything, not reaching any goals we’ve set for ourselves and not really doing anyone else any good either.

Even as Children of God, we start to feel un-loved, un-appreciated and really not worthy of any type of praise at all. We’re simply lethargic and un-motivated.

These feelings can be brought on by any number of reasons, both physical and mental:

• Physical illness or pain
• Challenges at home or work
• Emotional exhaustion
• Employment or lack thereof
• Weather

The first thing we need to understand is we’re not alone in our feelings. Many people go through these mindsets every day. We need to remember that we are children of God and he will never abandon us as he told us in…

Isaiah 49:15 – “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”

It may seem to you that others are abandoning you making you feel lost and hopeless but we need to remember this verse… we are NEVER alone in our endeavors. Always keep God in your heart and on your mind and you will never feel abandoned.

Take Charge of Your Life

I am constantly comparing myself to other people. Peers, friends, family, strangers…you name it. I always size myself up in comparison to someone. Did somebody get a promotion? Or win the scholarship I wanted? Or do anything remotely amazing? My first instinct is to be happy, to congratulate them.

But some deeper part of me, the insecure part of me, cowers. Jealousy is not the problem. Sure, it would be nice if I won the thousand dollars or if I got a prestigious award or landed a promotion. But it’s not that big of a deal, not in the grand scheme of things. Logically I know that my life isn’t bad. I have what I need, and I have friends and family who love me. I am not worthless.

But I still cower. Because there’s a child inside of me, a child that says they achieved something you didn’t. You are worthless because you didn’t achieve this. You are less than. And above all, you are not worthy of being their friend.

My deepest fear is that my best friends are going to look at me one day and think I’m a loser. That they’re going to start ignoring me and decide I’m not worthy of talking to. Not worthy of loving. But that is not true and that type of mindset is not the path to happiness.

Follow Your Passion

Psalm 32:8 – “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

Do you have a passion for cooking but your parents insist you have to go into finance or business? Happiness in oneself may not be the direct result of doing what you love to do, but it is certainly not the direct result of pursuing something that is meaningless to you, simply because others approve. If you can find meaning in your life, you have a greater likelihood of seeing yourself as significant.

Claim Yourself

Isaiah 14:14 – “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

It is your life to succeed, and it is your life to fail. If you don’t live your life to measure up to other people, then you can live your life to measure up to yourself. Be proud to be you. So, you’re not where you want to be in life. But you’re headed somewhere. So what if you make bad choices? You are always learning.

You are Good Enough

Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

The person you are in the inside is good enough. YOU are beautiful and you CAN do whatever you put your mind to as God will give you the strength!

People Have Issues

John 16:33 – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Nobody’s life is sunshine and rainbows. We all struggle. It may not seem like it sometimes, but we do. We are all fragile and often lost in life. But we’re lost together. People may love you even more because of who you are. My younger sister recently discovered that a girl she thought was practically perfect hated herself and landed up in the hospital for a suicide attempt. We are in this together; we are struggling together. And loving people, not despite their flaws but for them can be a beautiful thing.

Your Happiness is Important

1 Peter 4:13 – “But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

YOU DESERVE BETTER. People are not going to abandon you because you are different. There are people out there who will embrace that, and will love you all the more for it. Find people who care about you and make you happy because you deserve it and have earned your place!

I finally realized something. At the end of the day, I need to be proud of myself and where I’m going in life. Because even if I’m not the best at everything or even anything, I am not the bane of society; and no matter what the monster inside of me claims, I am not a terrible person. And it is time for me to accept myself. I hope you can do the same. Because, in the end, you’re the only one who can live your life. And the only one who can make you proud is you.

You are Valuable for Who You Are, not for What You Do

Genesis 1:27 – “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

You were created exclusively by God and for God. And because of that, you are valuable. There were no flaws in your design and no errors in your construction. You are hand-made, custom-designed, and fully loaded by God; and because of that, you have immeasurable worth.

You Have Gifts, Embrace Them

Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Every person has gifts or strengths. If you don’t know yours, I’d encourage you to ask five family members and friends this question, “In one or two words, what do you think is my single greatest strength?” They’ll all probably give you similar answers. Those answers identifying your area of giftedness will help you understand the truth that you are valuable and have a lot to offer your family and the world.

…and again, you are not alone!

You Weren’t Meant to do this Alone

Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

If you’re constantly putting on a front that you have it all together, other people will start to believe that you really do have it all together.  So, I challenge you to be honest with trusted friends and family.  Share your struggles with them and let them help carry your burdens and encourage you.  Because the truth is: you were never meant to do this alone and our Lord will always be by your side.