Dear friends, this post goes out to everyone who may feel like a failure right now, who may not know how they’re going to take care of themselves–or anyone else–in the future, who do not receive the respect and human dignity they deserve. God ESPECIALLY loves you.
God doesn’t have favorites (Romans 2:11). But He does have a special message for the least of the world. He scorns the worship of wealth, status, and success in favor of humility, broken heartedness, and mercy. He loves to use the low things of the world to shame the proud.
Whenever you feel shamed by others who don’t think you’re good enough, who treat you as less than, who disregard your humanity, and scoff at your value, feel the favor of the Lord. Though they are against you, God is for you.
I felt this message on my heart recently as God kept repeating the following verses in prayer. If you are feeling any of the previous emotions and experiencing any of the treatment that I mentioned, I’ve put these verses here for you to meditate on. In addition to silencing the voices who speak against who God has made you, it’s always best to replace them with the truth. God sees things differently. Lord, help us see as You do.
Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
James 1:9-11
Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.
Psalm 62:9
Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Luke 6:20-26
I am honored to be on the journey of those who seek the Lord before the treasures of earth. It is difficult, and it takes a lot of courage to embrace what God says over what people say, but it’s also lifegiving. Be brave! Or at least that’s what I tell myself. I can think of a few times when Jesus says something really similar: “Do not be afraid”. God is advocating for you right now. Thank You, Jesus!
Michelle E. Chin 