We Are Not Defined by Our Failures — Morning Devotions

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Transcript

Most of us have heard of the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, the humble genius among the most famous and influential artists of Western art in the 1800s. He produced more than 2000 works of art, and most of his famous works were created during his final two years. At the time, Van Gogh was ignored by his contemporaries, and yet he had a passion and drive within him to keep going. Sadly, he ended his life by committing suicide.

Vincent van Gogh, however, believed he was a failure, and he only ever sold one painting in his lifetime that was purchased for 400 francs by a Belgian artist and a collector. Imagine what it’s worth today. Vincent van Gogh did not know that his paintings would be worth millions of dollars in today’s money, nor did he realise how famous he would become.

We can easily feel that we’re a nobody with not much to offer the world. Is what I’m doing making any difference at all? Van Gogh was deeply depressed. He was unsettled by his life, not realising what was coming many years later. Did he ever pray for God’s help? I don’t know the answer to that, but we may not know where God will take our lives if we learn to trust Him. Life will never seem to be a failure.

It is amazing to read the Bible and see the message of God’s great love and care for each of us. You are very important to Him in a world filled with noise, competition, and comparison. It’s easy to feel small, to feel worthless, but the truth of Scripture cuts through the lies and says to us very clearly, you are important.

And this is affirmation that comes not from human applause or achievement but from the Creator of the universe who sees you, He knows you, and calls you by name. And what could be better than that? You are not an accident. You matter to Him. Even before the universe was created, God had you in mind, and He planned you for His purposes, and these purposes will extend far beyond a few years that you spend on Earth.

You were made to last forever.

The search for the purpose of life has puzzled people for thousands of years, and that’s because we typically begin at the wrong starting point, and that is ourselves. We ask self-centered questions. What do I want to be? What should I do with my life? What are my goals, my dreams? But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life’s purpose.

Because the Bible says in Job, it is God who directs the lives of his creatures. Everyone’s life is in his power. God loves you so much that he’s interested in the smallest details of your life. You don’t have to overcome any problem on your own. So no matter what problems you might be facing today, you can rest in His love for you.

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There is no problem too big or too small for him to handle. He has a vast love for you and wants to help you in every aspect of your life. To find your purpose, you must begin with God, who is your Creator, and His reasons for creating you. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that life will never make sense.

It’s only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, and our purpose, or our destiny. Your life will be full of many surprises from the moment you ask God into your life through the person of Jesus Christ. And once you realise that you’re valuable to Him, your perspective of yourself and others change. Not only do you have value, but everyone you encounter also has value.

They are God’s image bearers. When you know and understand that you’re valuable to God, you can walk through life confident in your worth and purpose. You can truthfully share with others how they are valuable to God as well, and who knows, God might be counting on you to share His love with someone who’s going through a dark time. It’s no accident that He’s placed you where you are right now.

Our lives, our problems, our situations are those that He is willing to tend to. If we ask Him.

It was Jesus who said, Are not 5 sparrows sold for 2 pennies, and not one of them is forgotten before God. Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, you are of more value than many sparrows.

Let’s Pray

Thank you, Heavenly Father, that we’re never really a failure. We might face insurmountable problems or issues that get us down. We thank you for gifted people like Vincent van Gogh, and yet how sad to see that he never realised how truly valued he was by you. Help us today to see the bigger picture of your love and your care for me. Amen.

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