The year begins with fireworks and bells clanging. People shouting. Confetti falling. I join the celebration. My face smiles, but there is a nagging gnawing within. ”In this chaos and the sea of faces, does anyone really see me? Does my life matter to anyone or am I just a dot in the middle of a thousand other dots? Who sees me? God, do You see me?”

Isn’t that the gnawing question we all ask? “Does anyone really see me? Does my life matter?” Dear Friend, here at the start of 2020, I want to offer you an answer to that question that could help anchor you through whatever lies ahead in this new year. You can know that you matter because God loves you. Simple? Yes, but profound. How deeply have you assimilated that truth? Has it moved beyond knowledge to experience? What if you and I made a resolution to live out that truth in 2020? Let’s think about it together.

God loved you before you knew Him. Before the world began, God saw you. Does that sound like a cliche? It originated somewhere, didn’t it? Psalm 139 describes how God saw you before you were born.  He saw you and He wanted you. Before even one day of your life had completed, God saw your whole story, all your joys and sorrows, all your failures and successes, and loved you. (Psalm 139:16) He wants you, therefore,  you exist. If you feel like no one else really wants you, let that permeate the fiber of your identity. God saw you, loved you and wanted you before you ever thought of Him.

God loves you regardless of what you do. That may be the hardest thing for you and I to fully absorb. God’s acceptance and love for us is rooted in His own character and His own action. God demonstrated His love for you and I when we didn’t deserve it. (Romans 5:8) You and I can’t do a thing to earn or deserve His love. (Ephesians 2:8-9) We may have been taught this truth. We may even speak it to others. Yet, our actions often belie it. We do what we believe will please God because deep down we are afraid of His anger and rejection when what God is looking for is a grateful response to His love. 

God doesn’t turn His face away when you mess up. He keeps His eyes on you and reaches out His hand to pull you back. Why? Because you belong to Him. He doesn’t disown you when you sin. He never did. He never will. While we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) Dear Friend, let that sit with you a for a few minutes. Do you really believe that God’s love for you won’t fluctuate based on your behavior? 

God loves you through people. There are people who see you. God placed you in relationships to help you experience His love. I know that not all your relationships reflect that, but there are people who love you. Perhaps the people whom you expected to love you have disappointed you and do not love you the way they should. But there are people who love you. They see you. the real you. He has placed those people around you. Don’t focus on the ones who don’t see you. Notice the ones who do. You matter to them. Don’t forget that. Our human relationships at their best are a reflection of God’s love for us. Which of your relationships most reflect His love for you?

Dear Friend, God loved you when you were unaware of Him, continues to love you regardless of your actions and has placed people around you who reflect His love for you. How would you live differently if you really believed that?  What would your life look like if you lived from the place of absolutely knowing that God loves you? 

You are deeply loved and valued. Consider that as you walk into your place of business. Take it with you as you enter into that difficult relationship with a family member. Carry it with you into church when it seems like every one else has found their sweet spot in service and you are still trying to figure out what you are good at. Your life matters because God loves you. 

Dear One, you are deeply loved and valued by the God who made the heavens and the earth.  Make a resolution to live this year from the position of accepting that you really are deeply loved by God.  What if you spent 2020 learning to live that reality? How might you be different when the chaos commences to welcome 2021?

Your life matters because God loves you. Now, go live it!

Key thought: Your life matters because God loves you. 

A Scripture to consider: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A YES challenge: Choose a Scripture that speaks of God’s great love for you, write it on an index card and place it where you will see it regularly or add it as a recurring reminder on your phone. Pray it back to God when you see it and ask Him to make it part of your identity.

Prayer: Father, the knowledge that You love me regardless of my actions is hard to absorb. I know it, but it doesn't always inform how I behave. Help me to live from a place of knowing without a doubt that You love me. Let it become part of me in an unshakeable, transforming way. Help me to live Your love to others.  Amen.