Loving After Hurt

“You’re not good enough and nothing is ever going to change that.” The words rang through his head over and over again. “Forget trying out for the team.” He turned and dashed out of the school.

The things others say about us can stick with us and cause us to have doubts about our abilities— or even our worth. We are quick to believe the hurtful comments others make about us, and those comments can affect the way we live.

But your value has nothing to do with the way other humans see you and everything to do with the One who created you. No matter how talented you are—or how lacking in talent you are—your worth is based on what God thinks of you, and nothing else.

You are valuable because God has said so. He made you in His image, and He loves you. In fact, you are so valuable to God that He was willing to suffer immensely for you. Jesus knows what it feels like to endure people’s hurtful comments. When Jesus went to the cross, people mocked and insulted Him. But Jesus, in His great love, forgave them. It was worth it to Him to die for these people—and for us. But nothing could keep Jesus in the grave. God raised Him back to life, and He will also raise Jesus’s forgiven followers back to life someday.

If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, He has given you a new identity. Not only are you made in the image of God, but you are also forgiven, justified, and a child of God—because Jesus has called you His own. And you get to look forward to eternity with Him, where hurtful comments will be no more. When people mistreat you, come to Jesus. Let Him remind you how He feels about you. When you can’t get the words of other humans out of your head and you feel like giving up, take some time to remember who made you and what He thinks of you. He knows your true value. • Emily Acker

• Who is a trusted Christian in your life who can remind you of your worth in God’s eyes, even when you have a hard time remembering for yourself?

Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7b (CSB)

Read Verses:

Matt.5.43-Matt.5.45|John.15.9-John.15.17