More than just

Sometimes life can make you feel like you're in a giant gum ball machine.

And you're just another gum ball in the mix.

Every once in a while, it's easy to feel insignificant in this world. I could throw some stats at you about approximately how many individuals there are, but those are just numbers. And people shouldn't be numbers. But I will tell you this: there are a lot of people on this earth.

And each and every single person matters.

I think that's something we often forget, even about ourselves. Last week I was in a meeting, and someone introduced me as just followed by what my role was in that meeting. It took me by a bit of surprise, and it certainly made me think later about how we sometimes look at other individuals as just this or just that.

She's more than just a sister

But we are not just anything.

When you call someone just something, you take away some of his or her significance in this world. That girl who makes your coffee every morning isn't just a barista—she's the person who greets you with a smile and helps you start your day off right; that man talking to his players after the game isn't just a coach—he's a motivating life-changer; that woman at the corner with the stop sign in her hand isn't just a crossing guard—she's a protector of the innocent; that man putting all of those flyers and bills in your mailbox isn't just the postman—he's the ensurer of delivery; that woman at the bank isn't just a teller—she's a trusted financial institution necessity; that kid you saw goofing around in the department store isn't just a teenager—he's a future leader; that woman who was at the park in the middle of the day isn't just a stay-at-home mom—she's a lover and a caretaker who does more in one day than anyone can imagine; that reflection you see staring back at you in the mirror each day isn't just another face in the crowd—you're a beautiful being who deserves to feel loved and valued every single day.

Sometimes work, relationships, or a number of occurrences that happen in your day can make you feel so minuscule. In the grand scheme of things, yes, we are pretty small—but we have a BIG God who cares more for us than we can even fathom. And He certainly doesn't see you as just anything.

God didn't see David as just a young man but used him to defeat Goliath and lead nations; God didn't see Esther as just a helpless woman but used her to risk her life by going before the king to plea for the lives of her people to be spared; God didn't see Paul as just a sinner on the road to nowhere but transformed him and used him to live a life for Christ and tell others about Him; God didn't see Mary as just a young virgin but chose her to carry the Savior of the world; God doesn't see you as just anyone and can use you to do mighty things, too.

You are valued, you are loved, and you matter—and that's so much more than just anything.