When my daughter, Charity was young she began collecting pennies.
Wherever we’d go, it seemed Charity’s big blue eyes were on the look-out, scanning for her precious pennies. At first, her two older brothers would search for the copper coins with her. But after a while, they lost interest. A penny’s small value wasn’t worth the effort to them. Truth be told, their sister was an expert penny-finder—and older brothers don’t like to lose to younger sisters.
How many times have you seen a penny on the ground and passed it up? In fact, many would pass up a nickel or even a quarter. However, we’d chase a twenty-dollar bill through a windy parking lot, right?
With the 7.7 billion people in the world, it’s easy to picture ourselves like a penny, with little value and passed over.
My friend, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Do you doubt your value?
Look at the price God was willing to pay for you.
“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:6-8
God values every single human life.
Jesus taught us this when He said in Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”
Our Heavenly Father considers us valuable because we are part of His creation. He created us in His likeness and image and said, “It is very good!”
Our value is based not on what we are or can do, but on what God can do with and through us.
God wants to work through us. As crazy as it may seem, the Lord uses dirty, passed over pennies. Isn’t that incredible?
Even on the days when we feel unwanted, the truth is: God wants you.
He took the time to form you in your mother’s womb. He knows every hair on your head.
I’m not sure where you find yourself today. Maybe you were passed up for a promotion at work, or a friend forgot your birthday. Perhaps you are a stay-at-home mom who feels underappreciated. Or maybe you feel your life choices have taken you so far from God that He has forgotten you.
No matter your station in life at the moment, I can promise you this: You are highly valued and loved by God.
God is an expert penny-finder, desiring a personal relationship with each of us.
He doesn’t want anyone to die without knowing Him personally through repentance (2Peter 3:9).
Jesus tells us the value of one lost coin in Luke 15:8-10.
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
Oh yes, God scans the parking lot of “the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)
God wants to strengthen you right where you are.
To this day, I still smile when I see a penny on the ground. I can picture my daughter’s chubby little fingers grasping and tucking it in her pocket for safe-keeping with a dimpled grin on her face.
My friend, this is the way it is with our Heavenly Father.
Beckie -a nice post. If anyone is like me, I struggle with more worth every now and then. Thank you for pointing out God’s reassurance that we are valued.
Del
Thanks, Del!
I believe He chooses to use the least of us; the broken, the forgotten, the passed over, so that the world can see His power in our lives. I pray each day He chooses to use me, in whatever way He deems. Great post ma’am.
Amen, J.D.! And this “penny” will always be grateful 🙂
God bless!
I love picking up pennies, and I rarely pass them by! Just a fun thing my hubby and I like doing. However, because my grandmother – a godly woman – was also oddly superstitious, in her honor, I flip the penny to heads before picking it up! haha! This was my favorite point in your post: “Our value is based not on what we are or can do, but on what God can do with and through us.” Great reminder!
Julie, Thanks for sharing the cute story about your grandmother. My grandma was the same!
Thanks, Beckie for the reminder of how much God values us and all life. When my dog died while we were gone last year, the Lord reminded me of the verse that says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.” Matt. 10:29.
Stephanie, I love that verse! Thanks for sharing it here.
This is so beautiful and powerful, Beckie. I love the imagery and analogy of searching and collecting pennies to how much God values and wants us. This…”Even on the days when we feel unwanted, the truth is: God wants you.” Hallelujah!
Karen, I’m still amazed at the unconditional love or our Heavenly Father.
Thanks for your sweet comment.
Absolutely loved the imagery you used here, Beckie! God does seek after each of us, even when we feel we are as unworthy as a lowly penny. Thanks for reassuring us about how loved and treasured we are in the eyes of our Father.
Blessings!
Martha, I was thinking that perhaps like me, others might need reminding of how valued we are by our Heavenly Father. I’m so glad this post was a blessing to you.
God is relentless in His pursuit of us, isn’t He? Your post reminds me of the beautiful song “Reckless Love.”
[God’s love] chases me down, fights til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine……
Candace, YES! Love that song 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and sharing.
Blessings to you and yours!