When we feel unworthy, we may smile and act as if everything is okay, even if we aren’t. I wonder how negative, destructive thoughts tell many that they are not worthy. Sometimes these thoughts of not being worthy go back to childhood when someone close to us said we did not measure up. Unfortunately, words and experiences of the past follow us into adulthood. The good news is that the Lord does not see us how we see ourselves or how others see us. Like a good teacher, the Lord sees our potential and what we can become as we let Him shape and mold us.
When the Lord called Gideon, he was threshing grain in the bottom of a winepress to hide from the Midianites while he worked. Judges 6:12 The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said, “Mighty hero, the Lord is with you!”[1] In Gideon’s mind, he must have wondered to whom the angel of the LORD was speaking. In God’s strength, Gideon eventually became a mighty warrior. Like all of us, we are only worthy because the Lord works in us to draw us to faith and transform us.
The Lord Called Peter
There was nothing people would have observed about Peter the fisherman that would have concluded he would become a disciple of Jesus and do great things in the Kingdom. In His wildest dreams, not even Peter knew his potential and the Lord’s plans for his life. When the Lord draws us to faith and begins to unfold His plans for our lives, I believe we are all surprised by how the Lord involves us in His work. Peter could sense the Lord would ask him to do something significant, but in his mind, he was not remotely qualified.
Luke 5: 8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. [2] Jesus saw beyond how Peter saw himself and called him to be a disciple fishing for people. Jesus also sees beyond how you see yourself to His excellent plans for your life.
Remember, the Lord is For You!
When we spend time in God’s word, He reveals who we are and how much He loves us. Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. [3] In Isaiah 9:6, the Lord is called the Prince of Peace. We live in a broken world with an enemy, but our Lord is a good Father. When you feel unworthy, spend time with the Lord and let His peace wash over you with His word to inspire, transform, and fill you with His truth.
When we feel unworthy, it often inhibits our spiritual growth. To find out more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/follow-called
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.