There’s a song I’m thinking about today, the chorus is

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of this world will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

Lately I’ve been considering my life and feeling a little disappointed. I homeschooled my children for many years, but truthfully I am not a gifted teacher – their success is a testimony of their own efforts. I worked outside the home for a few years before marriage and after the children moved away, but not long enough to establish much experience. Actually, I find I’m not good at any one thing. I wonder if I have been lazy. I have worked hard at many things, but nothing consistently. I can’t play piano, although I took classes. I studied many languages, but am not fluent in any of them. I’d love to think of myself as a writer, but at a conference recently, an editor asked me why I felt I could write novels.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not fishing for compliments. I’m simply looking at my life and asking myself what I’ve added. I want to make a difference in this world for good and for God. And as I look ahead, I’m afraid my faculties will not improve, but begin to decline.

So, after some soul-searching and perhaps too much introspection, the Lord brought Matthew 6:33 to my mind. Jesus told his disciples not to worry about food or clothing, because God is fully aware of their needs. He tells them they are valuable to God. Then Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Don’t be worried about tomorrow…”

The world looks at ‘value added,’ but Jesus tells me I am valuable simply because I am his. What a relief! To Jesus it doesn’t matter if I ever write a great novel, speak Spanish, or play more than three memorized songs on the piano. The only thing he asks of me is to love him and others in obedience to his Word. He is in the process of transforming my mind, so I will know his perfect and pleasing will (Romans 12:2).

So, once again the Spirit of the living God has turned my sorrow into joy. My hope is in him.

“And all these things will be added to you. Don’t worry about tomorrow…”