I once read a study that compared the strength of infants attachment to their mothers with how comfortable they were in exploring the world around them. The strongly attached infants were more confident exploring new situations. Infants who were not strongly attached were much more fearful in new situations.
Our sense of security and self-worth depends on knowing that there is someone who deeply loves and cares for us. We need to be loved, and we need to give love thats just the way we are wired. Its one of those made in the image of God characteristics. We were created to be loved and to love.
We are created to matter to someone.
This world, broken by sin and death, tells us we dont matter. We lose sight of who we were created to be. We wonder if anyone really loves us, or if we are even loveable at all. And just like the infants in the study, if we dont feel loved, we cant explore our world. We cant live up to our potential. Our fear keeps us trapped.
But God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7)
The truth is that we all matter to God. God deeply cares for us. Each of us is Gods good creation, made in Gods image. Psalm 139 talks about the deep love God has for us. God knows each of us where we go, what we do, what we feel, what we think. God knows our hopes and dreams, our thoughts, and fears.
In fact, God knows us better than we know ourselves. God created each one of us fearfully and wonderfully created us body, mind, and spirit, exactly as we are, with all our talents, abilities, and interest. God carefully made you and planned for you to fill a unique place in the world.
God knows the “you” that you could be, the “you” that you were created to be.
We worry that we dont matter
But
We matter to God.
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:2931)
So why are we afraid that we dont matter?
Maybe because in our efforts to matter, we overlook the very one who deeply loves us and cares for us.
If no one has told you this today, know that you matter! God deeply cares for you and calls you beloved.
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