Where I Find My Self-Worth
Where are you actually putting your value?
“I’d say my worth was anchored in Jesus, but if external circumstances could shake my identity, was it truly anchored?”
Finding my worth in Jesus is a profound and sometimes elusive concept. For years, I would confidently declare that my worth came from Him. Yet, when challenges arose in my career, school, or personal life, I often let those setbacks dictate how I felt about myself. I’d say my worth was anchored in Jesus, but if external circumstances could shake my identity, was it truly anchored? It became clear to me that I hadn’t fully explored what that meant. Understanding how to connect my self-worth to things like jobs, money, or achievements was crucial. Once I began to see the patterns, I could start retraining my mind.
When I finally understood how to tie my self-worth to Jesus, I discovered a more tangible way to live that truth. The first step was recognizing what an idol looks like in today’s world. It’s not about golden statues like those in the Old Testament; it’s much more subtle. In our modern lives, idols can be money, careers, possessions, or even our accomplishments. An idol is anything we value more than God or something we give power to that rightfully belongs to Him. For example, when my career takes a downturn or I face financial struggles, I notice how easily I let those things define me. Instead of turning to Jesus, I begin to expect these idols to fulfill me. Take the experience of not landing a desired job. It’s natural to feel disappointed, but the key is to separate that disappointment from my identity. That job does not determine who I am. It’s essential to maintain that separation; I don’t need to derive my worth from external validation. Similarly, when I achieve something significant, like a book deal, it can be tempting to let that success define me. While it’s okay to celebrate, tying my self-worth to that achievement risks turning it into an idol.
“It’s essential to maintain that separation; I don’t need to derive my worth from external validation.”
A healthy relationship with earthly things means I can appreciate them without letting them overshadow my identity. When things go well, I praise Jesus for the gifts He’s given me. When they don’t, I thank Him for guiding me through the tough times and teaching me valuable lessons. Idolizing something leads us to expect it to provide our value, resulting in an unstable sense of self-worth. Earthly things are never constant, and they certainly aren’t fair. When I realize I’ve tied my worth to an idol, I can reassess and restore my value to its rightful place—with Jesus. His love is steadfast, true, and doesn’t require anything from me. Yet, this realization isn’t a one-time event. I need to remind myself daily that my true worth is found in Him.
