Listen to Nancy’s answer recorded live on Moody radio, here:
This question is one that we all have wondered about at times. With all of the extraordinary people in this world, where do I fit in? Does God care about those of us who are considered just ‘ordinary’? A teenager wrote, “I am not the smartest or best-looking person. I have no reason, in my mind, why people would remember or care about me. Many in my life have made it clear that I am a complete loser. I tend to agree with them.” The sentiments of this teen are echoed daily by millions of young people who are trying to make sense of a broken and dark culture that has consumed them.
God does not see those he created as anything but remarkable!
Psalm 139:13-16, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
Luke 12:7 says, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
God looks on our hearts, not on our outward appearance or how the world might see us.
“God instructed Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or the height of his stature because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
I love the stories in the Scripture where God chooses people to do amazing things. Like you and me, these people are just common, ordinary people.
Moses, who was a prince of Egypt, murdered an Egyptian, escaped into the desert region, and lived as a shepherd for 40 years. God had not forgotten him. He had a plan for him. He told him to go to the Pharaoh told him to free the Israelites from Egypt. Moses replied, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue” (Exodus 4:10), to which God replied, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak” (Exodus 4:11-12). Moses obeyed and saved the Jewish nation.
When Goliath was taunting the Israelites, everyone discounted David, a teenage shepherd boy. Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” David told the giant, “I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head” (Samuel 17:45). Then he took his slingshot and a few stones and killed the giant Philistine, Goliath.
Mary was a 14-year-old girl living in Nazareth when God sent an angel to her with a message that would change the course of this world. Mary’s reply, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”
A group of girls went to lunch and one of the gals at their table noticed a friend who was sitting by herself. She asked if it would be ok to include her friend for lunch. Her friend was thankful for the invite. She enjoyed herself and when leaving said her mom and dad were getting a divorce and in the process she had convinced herself that she was unlovable. For the first time in months, the girl felt like she mattered. We have no idea of what small acts of kindness can do for a person!
A guy at work noticed a friend of his who worked with him was unusually down. He couldn’t get his friend off of his mind, so he stopped by his house later that day to check on him. By God’s grace, he interrupted his buddy’s plan to kill himself that afternoon. Life saved.
We all feel ordinary, believing we have nothing of our own to offer. God sees it differently. He sees us as extraordinary because of what we can do with a heart that loves Him and is willing and ready to do or go wherever God calls us. Being in communication with God throughout each day makes us aware when the Holy Spirit nudges us to encourage someone, visit a friend, or pray for someone who is hurting. Giving our Lord the bare minimum is not how we achieve victory in this life. Giving God our all and asking Him to use us for His glory and not our own is the key to living a full and meaningful life.
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27).
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another” (John 13:34).
“Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 514-18).