The Accolades That Matter: What God Says About You

I have always loved sports—both watching and playing. Growing up, I delusionally believed I was athletically gifted (I admire that confidence!). While I wasn’t uncoordinated, I was probably chosen for teams more because of my personality than my abilities. Still, I often ended up on winning teams and proudly displayed my trophies—until one day, they didn’t seem so important. Eventually, they found their way into a closet, never to be seen again.

As I stepped into motherhood, I began collecting new "trophies"—the fullest schedule, the ability to juggle it all, the mom who never stops. Humility? Nowhere to be seen.

Why do we wear our busyness like a badge of honor?

Why did I believe my self-worth was measured by how much I could handle?

The truth is, my worth isn’t found in how many balls I can keep in the air. And neither is yours. Our worth is found in what God says about us. Consider the accolades He has already given us:

Forgiven

"You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you." – Psalm 86:5

Loved

"For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies." – Psalm 57:10

Redeemed

"He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." – Galatians 3:14

Known

"Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." – Matthew 10:30-31

Valuable

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." – Romans 8:38-39

I encourage you to meditate on one (or more!) of these verses. Try replacing the third-person pronouns ("us," "we") with "me" or "I" and let God’s truth speak directly to your heart.

If you (or someone you know) is in a season of feeling stretched thin or overwhelmed remember that you don’t have to do it all. You are already deeply loved, just as you are.