“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!”
Psalm 139:17

When I think of Psalm 139, verse 17 isn’t the first truth that comes to my mind. I think about how God knows me so very well (verses 1-6). Or I think about how God personally created me (verses 13-16).

Those are wonderful truths. And I need to trust them.

But I will only trust them, if indeed they are precious to me!

I am a no-longer!
or
Accessing my belonging-ness based on my opportunities.

When I checked my email that morning, I read of the ministry of others asking for my prayers. It was the perfect set-up. Satan whispered, sue, you are a no-longer. You are no longer needed in the kingdom except to support others in their very important kingdom work. Ouch! The lie was confirmed.

A few hours later the text arrived with a question. Sue, what topics do you feel are important for me to cover with the staff women I’m leading this summer? Affirmed! I’m still needed. Perhaps I’m not a no-longer.

Truth, however, is not based on circumstances. Truth is based on truth.

The email paragraph led me to a lie. My conclusion from the text paragraph did not lead to truth. It only confirmed where I was placing my value. The see-saw of reactions to the email and the text could easily be repeated. My value was in jeopardy!

Thankfully God reminded me of how precious I was to him. Isaiah 43:4 is true. I am precious to him and because of that he has plans to use me in kingdom work.

The question remains, how precious to me is God’s word?

The answer is in where I place my trust.

I needed to take that reminder from God, and pray … God, what does it look like for me today to trust, to really believe, that I am precious in your eyes and you have a plan for me? And that your word is providing precious food for me today?

God brought another familiar verse to mind …

“For we are his workmanship, (my identity)
created in Christ Jesus for good works, (my purpose)
which God prepared before hand, (my security)
that we should walk in them.” (my pace)
Ephesians 2:10

The truth! I am not a no-longer. Big exhale.

“These feelings, strong as they may be, are not telling me the truth about myself. The truth, even though I cannot feel it right now, is that I am the chosen child of God, precious in God’s eyes, called the beloved from all eternity, and held safe in an everlasting embrace.” Henri J.M. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved. (Italics within the quote, mine.)

Copyright: Sue Tell, June 2024