By Dr. Dan Coflin, Pastor
River of Life Church
“Oh, I’m not important, no, I am just a ……” You can fill in the blank with almost any position people deem to be insignificant, ordinary, or disposable by those who make such statements. We have all heard people say such things. Their self-worth is directly related to what they do, their job title, or their daily activities. But God has a very different opinion about those who lack confidence about themselves.
“You made my whole being; you formed me in my mother’s body. I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well. You saw my bones being formed as I took shape in my mother’s body. When I was put together there, you saw my body as it was formed. All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one day old. God, your thoughts are precious to me. They are so many! If I could count them, they would be more than all the grains of sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.” (Psalms 139:13-18 NCV)
Not only did God know you before you were born, but He also had a wonderful plan for your entire life, “…all the days ordained for me were written in your book…” God has a dream for your life, and it is a good dream, not a nightmare. “Every good a perfect gift comes down from above from the Father of lights in whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning”
(James 1:17). God is not the author of sickness, sin, stress, or trouble.
Contrary to popular opinion, God is not this total sovereign who governs everything that comes into your life. A matter of fact, it says in the Book of James, “Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does he tempt anyone.” (James 1:13) The word “tempted” means to scrutinize, test, try, or discipline. In this world, there are plenty of troubles, tests, and trials but none of those evil works are of God.
Instead, God’s plan for you is only good. He delights in you. He delights in your blessing, peace, prosperity, and success just like any parent would for their child. Can you imagine how often God thinks about you? And His thoughts toward you are not disgust or disapproval but of hope and expectation, for God is the God of hope (Romans 15:13).
God does not ignore your sin, but He has already transferred the judgment for your sin to the cross of Jesus. So, God does not look at you with scorn and judgment but with delight and anticipation that you will follow His plan for your life. Your purpose is not insignificant or valueless. You are not just a _________ whatever. Your importance and value go way beyond your job title. Your very life touches many more people than you can ever imagine.
God has not left you without help in this divine assignment. The Word of God, the Spirit of God, the angels of God, and the people of God are all available for the discovery and fulfillment of your purpose God ordained even before you took your first breath.
So, what stands in your way? You do. You see, your own agenda may circumvent God’s design because you can’t see yourself beyond the limitations of your own making. It is true that without God you can do nothing, but with God all things are possible. Today would be a good day to call upon God and seek His purpose for your future. God said, “For I know what I have planned for you…I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).