Fear of Not Mattering

Wonderful sermon this morning about God's promise to Sarah and Abraham that He would make them ancestors of many. Abraham was almost 100 years old at the time and so was Sarah; yet, Abraham had complete faith in God that he would create life in Sarah's womb where there was none. Having complete trust in God means giving up our own ideas of control over our lives:

"Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Mark 8:31-38.

Our pastor discussed that perhaps the section about denying ourselves really deals with denying ourselves the illusion of control. How many times have we thought or said, "I can handle everything myself?" Denying ourselves and asking God for what we need and desire.

After the sermon, my mom and I stayed after for Lenten Study where we're discussing Max Lucado's book Fearless:

Today we talked about Chapter 2 about our fear of not mattering in this life and the actions we take sometimes in the hopes it will prove we matter:

"For that reason we crave the attention of our spouse or the affirmation of our boss, drop names of important people in conversations, wear college rings on our fingers, and put silicone in our breasts, flashy hubcaps on our cars, grids on our teeth, and silk ties around our necks." Lucado, p. 21.

How many high school or college girls out there have had this happen: they've been asked out on a date by a good looking guy - so good looking the girl wonders what he sees in her since he's out of her league. Once he gets to know her, she figures he'll drop her; in fact, she might not even be able to hold his interest for the whole evening. So what does she do? Her insecurity drives her to use the one tool she trusts, her body. She sleeps with him on the first date because she's afraid there won't be a second. "She ends up feeling like the disposable woman she didn't want to become." Lucado, p. 25.

The wonderful thing we need to remember is that we matter simply because God made us - we're His idea! And God only had good ideas:

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of  your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31.

The Challenge for this week: Reflect on the ways you make others feel significant or insignificant. What is one specific way you can enhance a good relationship or correct a bad one? Do it!