“I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well.”

Psalm 139:14 (NASB)

I sometimes struggle with the need for validation.  I want to know that what I do matters.  As I have been talking with friends, a common theme expressed has been the need to feel valued.  While feelings of validation is different from feelings of having value, the impact is quite similar.  As I have reflected on these needs within us, I have contemplated Psalm 139:14 and wondered if our souls know that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” very well.

As I read Paul’s letters to the Corinthians, I encounter an Apostle that was not valued or validated by this church and yet was secure in his worth to God.  He actually supports this knowledge of his worth with the amount of persecution he has received (2 Corinthians 11:23-27).  I do not know about you, but I had not considered the trials through which He has brought me as evidence of my value to Him.  Yet, Paul did.  I find that rather profound.

The scars, literally, he bore of God’s power working in him and through him, was Paul’s basis for his value and validated his ministry.  God’s power in Him was the only evidence he gave to the Corinthian church to address the criticism he was receiving.  I am praying for such evidence in my life (without the persecution, of course).

I believe it is okay to desire validation and a sense of value from others.  I believe it is natural to want.  However, the lack of it does not diminish, in any way, our value to God nor does the receipt of it add to it.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made and our souls can know that very well, just like Paul, simply through our relationship with Him.  Nevertheless, it may mean enduring trials and tribulations.  And maybe, that is the problem.  We want it another way.

My prayer for each of us is that we will know in the depths of our hearts how valuable we are to Him.  I pray that we will understand that God validates us and our works, simply because of our desire to please Him.  The results are in His hands.  Neither our value nor our validation is from the outcome of our actions.  Our value and validation is because of Whom we serve through His power.

Nevertheless, may we seek to value and validate one another in Him (our goal is to help others realize their value to Him).  I believe this is one way we can stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:23-25).  Moreover, let us appreciate that His power in us through trials and tribulations as a testimony of our value to Him.  Jesus died for us so we could know the love of God.