This weekend I was reading a couple different books that
used the same phrase. The first was a novel by Marianne Evans, in which a character said that her infertility made her feel “less
than.” In comparing herself to others, she felt she came up short every time.
Mary DeMuth reflected the same feelings in Live Uncaged as she evaluated herself after a history of sexual abuse. Perhaps
you’ve felt that way as well. I know I have. It may not be infertility or abuse
that color our self-perception. Things that make us feel less can include:
- Lack of education or experience
- Being unmarried or separated
- Children who have strayed
- Loss of a job or home
- Health concerns
- Criticism from others
- Body size or shape
- Lack of skills (social, artistic, sports, etc.)
- Not matching cultural stereotypes
…and the list goes on. Any area in which we judge others is
an area in which we can feel “less than.” Sometimes other people try to label
us as inferior, but we often do it to ourselves as well.
God wants to remind us “You are more!” More than the sum of
our abilities or lack thereof; more than our education and skills; more than
the roles we take on as spouses, parents, employees, ministers; more than our
accomplishments or our failures. The song “You Are More” by Tenth
Avenue North is a great reminder that our value is not determined by what we
do, but by the One who chose us as His own.
As our church was reminded in Sunday’s sermon on 1
Corinthians 4:1-13, human judgment is superficial. While it is easy to say we
shouldn’t judge others (and in fact we get judgmental about judgmentalism),
it’s not always so easy to deflect the judgment we heap on ourselves for our
perceived inadequacies and failures. Most of our supposed shortcomings probably
aren’t even known to anyone else, but we berate ourselves anyway. Mary DeMuth
shared what her husband told her, “Mary, I would never treat you that way, and
you wouldn’t treat others that way. Why in the world would you treat yourself
like that?”
Even as I was planning to write this post I found myself
thinking, “Why am I such an idiot?! I deserve ___!” God had to remind me once
again “You are more than the sum of your past or present mistakes.” Mary put it
this way:
- “You are not the person devalued by others’ casual opinions.
- You are not the sum of your righteous (or unrighteous) acts.
- You are not a thing to be consumed or used.
- You are not small and unworthy.
- You are not insignificant.
- You are not deserving of deceit.
- You are not the words spoken over you.
- You are not what they say you are.
You are who He says you are:
Beloved.
Welcomed.
Cherished.
Powerfully weak.
Beautifully rejuvenated.
Whole.”
The music video of Jason Gray’s song “Remind Me Who I Am” is a
testimony to the power of God’s truth in our lives. No matter what label we
think we deserve, God reminds us we are His beloved children. Even if He has to
remind us every day, He is delighted to do so to keep us from being overwhelmed
by the lies.
“I am my beloved’s and
His desire is for me” (Song of Solomon 7:10 ESV).
© 2016 Dawn Rutan.
