One of the biggest questions I think everyone has asked themselves at some point is, do I even matter? It’s kind of a frightening question to ask oneself. Do we actually matter to the landscape of the world we find ourselves in? The answer, in our own eyes, varies all over the place. Success is subjective in the eyes of the person trying to obtain it. Success in the world may be fame, fortune, and glory; but if this is the standard for if we matter, most of us will fail. I know for me I’m a broke college student who is trying to figure out how I get to the place God has called me to. I don’t exactly meet the fame, fortune, and glory type of success. There has to be something more, right? I believe that God’s idea of success is so much more powerful than we could ever imagine, and it is so much greater than our worldly desires. Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither- whatever they do prospers.” This verse I believe answers that question of why we matter.

I think this is a vital question to address. I believe it, because I know that the enemy will try to get into our heads, make us think that we don’t matter to anyone or anything. The truth is, we matter the most to the God of the universe. For me, the enemy has used this lie to try and stop me time and time again. In high school, I used to envy my sister because she was always academically successful, and I struggled to pass a lot of my classes. My family was involved in the church and found their sweet spot, and I tried my hand at anything I could, many times missing the mark. It’s easy to get discouraged when it seems like everyone around you has their life together. They have the perfect job, the raddest house, and the relationships of many surrounding them. Maybe they do have an awesome life, but you have something that no lie can ever stop you from knowing, you are a unique creation. Even if you have an identical twin, everyone is different. Just because you don’t match perfectly with the people around doesn’t mean that you are not as valuable. God will use each of us, and when we trust him, no matter what we do, we will prosper.

You have special abilities.

Anytime I get to look at how God used the X-men comics to impact my life makes me happy. The X-men are mutants, meaning that they have been born with mutations in their DNA, giving them special abilities. Society sees them as freaks, people that are different from them, so they are outcast and turned away by the world and their loved ones. Professor Charles Xavier decides that mutants need a place where they are accepted and can be trained to use their powers to help others. He gathers these mutants and creates a school for them, he teaches them that their mutation doesn’t make them a freak, it makes them uniquely equipped to save others. What a beautiful picture of how God uses us. While we may not be telepathic or have the ability to manipulate ice, you have gifts that can be used to impact the lives of the people around you. I love the church because it is a group of believers who are building each other up and learning about their own faith. Much like the school in the comics, the church body has a church building where we can serve and try our “abilities” to help others. Maybe you can sing really well, maybe you are a tech wiz, or maybe you have a passion for special needs children. The church is a place for you to use your abilities, because your abilities make a greater impact than you can ever imagine.

Your story speaks volumes.

We all have a past. Maybe you’ve made mistakes, I mean let’s be real, we have all made really dumb mistakes. Our past is often filled with hurt and deep heartache. We fail and fall, but God has used our pain to mold us into who we are today. I know it’s hard to comprehend this, often I look back at the pain in my life and wish it could have all been easy. What I realize when I look at all the pain, God used every part of it to make me into the man I am today. Your past may be filled with addictions, depression, guilt, or anger. There is always hope, because as you learn to pick yourself out of the mud, you are mindful that everyone deals with issues. Your pain turns into a voice, one that speaks volumes to the people around you. I am able to speak life into the students of mine that struggle in school with their grades and self-image. I am able to speak into my high school guys group, because I was there, and I still fight those fears every day. I’ve dealt with the loss of a friend and loved ones, but now I am able to speak into those who are fighting the same demons. No matter what you’ve done in the past, all the mistakes have led to who you are today. God is making you new, and your story will speak volumes to everyone you meet.

God made you.

This is the simplest fact about why you matter, God made you. A God that designed the world and everything in it, decided to create you. Not by accident or chance occurrence, he specifically looked at the world and decided it needed you. He made you with the freedom to choose him or not, he gives you the ability to direct where your life is headed. He sent his son to die for you, taking on your sins and forgiving you for all that you have and will do. He designed you and knows everything about you, and he wants to have a relationship with you. He designed you for a purpose and wants to direct you there, but the choice is yours. We can choose to follow the one who made us and gave us a vision, or we can choose to go our own way. When we choose to live with a relationship with God, we answer the question of if we matter. When we follow him, everything we do matters for the kingdom.

   

That verse is Psalms is such a beautiful promise. We all ask ourselves if we really matter in the grand scheme of things, and it’s easy to get caught up in what our success is. We can get lost in dwelling over that, but life is so much simpler than that. When we follow the path that God has laid out for us, ignoring the shortcuts and earthly pleasures, we will have success. You have been given incredible abilities, a story to share, and a promise that God uniquely designed you. You matter because God says you do. Your life has value, and nothing can take that away from you. God promised us that when we follow him, whatever we do, we will prosper. We can try and fail, but when we keep our eyes focused on God, we can impact the world. I believe that because it is something that I have experienced and seen others experience. Don’t focus on whether you matter or not, because God has already answered that when he named you a son and daughter of the king. You matter and God will use you to do great things. You are royalty to the greatest king, keep that promise and follow his ways.

When you have an intimate relationship with the creator, your life will prosper.

-Joshua Thomas