Valuable to God
By Jen Wollner
“…I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalm 139:14
Joan Rivers is a well-known actress and comedian, but she is also famous for another kind of “work” she’s done: plastic surgery. In a recent interview, she said that she has spent at least $80,000 on her nose, eyes, face-lifts, liposuction, breast reduction, chin tucks, botox and collagen injections…just to name a few! When asked why she has had so many surgeries, she replied matter-of-factly, “Plastic surgery makes me feel good about myself.”By Jen Wollner
“…I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalm 139:14
I don’t know of a woman in the world who doesn’t have some kind of insecurity about herself. For some women, it’s a physical characteristic they don’t like. For others, it’s an issue of intelligence or talent. And, if you’re anything like me, it’s a combination of all of these! What we believe about ourselves—the value we think we have—has a profound impact on how we see the world and the choices we make. Do we believe what the world says about our beauty and worth? Or, is there another Source we look to for our identity and confidence?
We are told many times in Scripture how valuable we are to God. He created us in His image. He formed us in an intricate and wonderful way. He made us to have an intimate relationship with Him. In fact, our worth is so great that He sent His Son to die on the cross—to pay the penalty for our sin—so that we could spend eternity with Him. This is God’s great love for us! And, He is the very foundation on which we build our self-esteem. We just simply cannot get an accurate picture of who we really are by looking at the world around us. We must look to the One who gave us breath, who knows us better than we know ourselves, and who sees our potential to be who He created us to be.
At the end of the interview, the reporter asked Joan Rivers how she felt about her appearance after all the surgeries. She responded by saying, “I still don’t think I’m an attractive person.” In spite of spending so much time and money to improve her beauty, she still isn’t happy. Let’s not fall into the same trap! Let’s find our value in the One whose opinion of us is worth far more than anyone else’s. We are beautiful, inside and out, because our Creator says so!
GOING DEEPER:
1. What insecurities do you struggle with most? How are these affecting your life?
2. Do you have trouble believing that you are valuable just simply because God says you are? Ask Him to show you how much you are worth to Him.
FURTHER READING:
Genesis 1:27; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 4:9-10
Jen and her husband are busily parenting three children under the age of 6. Jen heads the Fresh Start ministry and is on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.
