Infinite Value

True confession time.

I can be a music reality show junkie.  If I can't catch an episode, I record it or find it in OnDemand.  Quite honestly, I am drawn in weekly less by the talent of it all and more by the human interest of the experience.

There's one overarching characteristic linking the contestants of these shows together.  They're all looking for acceptance.  From the very early stages of the competition, they are praying to be affirmed.

They don't seem to want to be told that they are the most amazing talent to ever grace a stage.

Instead, the longing is to be told simply that they are good.  Good enough.  Valued.  Valued by someone...the judges, the fans, their peers, their parents, their long-lost critics of bygone ages.

Many of the contestants have overcome adversity:  years of being told they aren't worthy of chasing their dreams, physical difficulties and accidents to fight through, family responsibilities that take up the majority of their time, setbacks of all types.

These are the ones we love.  We cry when we hear their stories.  We root for them.  Know them by name.

As long as pride does not overwhelm their story, we take them into our hearts.  We are drawn to the humble strength that comes with suffering for a cause, for a part of oneself.

Isn't that the way we were created?

Created for affirmation, created for relationship, created for caring.

The Fall perverted how we seek to fill this created part of our being.  Instead of seeking fellowship with the One who created us for eternal, holy fellowship, we put our trust in people, in acquisition, in status, in success.

We were created with intrinsic value.  We were created in His image.  He has value, infinite value.  He imparted that valuableness to us.

We sense that we have value, and we wish to have that confirmed in our souls.  When the affirmation is fickle or slow in coming, we are crushed.  This is why we can't entrust our value to other humans.  Our ability to esteem each other is tarnished and circumscribed by selfishness and pride.

Yet, we long to let others know that we value them.  We were created for this as well.  We are relational and were made to give back to Him...to others.  We don't know how to do this perfectly or even well.  We struggle and stumble in our small attempts to express that which is too big for us to grasp:  Love.  Charity.  Goodness.  Kindness.  Sacrifice.

I watch the contestants explain why they are driven to do what they do.  Why they are willing to stand in front of thousands with their rare gift and be completely vulnerable with the thing they care about most:  their dreams.

So often, it comes down to finding positive recognition for their giftings.

They need Jesus.  Sometimes, I tell my television this.  They need the perfect affirmation that comes only from knowing Him.

I remember the day it became clear to me that I am never out of His mind.  He thinks of me constantly.  Prays for me.  Remembers me before the Father.  Loves me.  Calls me His beloved.

For a girl with many dreams and a few disappointments, this was astounding.  I've known Him for many years, but I still forget these precious bits and bobs in the midst of just living.

Do you wonder if you are precious?  If you are remembered?  If you and your dreams and your giftings are valuable despite your failures and adversity and loneliness?

Beloved, He spent His life on you.  That's the value He places on your life.  He took the value you already had and increased it infinitely.