You Matter

One of my favorite Bible verses is Ecclesiastes 4:12, which says,

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

I am part of a triple-braided cord with a couple of my girlfriends. A few years ago we met almost once a week at one of our houses. Sometimes we’d have supper. Sometimes we just visited while our children played. However, it was during our time together that we discovered each of us was having spiritual dreams. I don’t know if we were more surprised by receiving the dreams or learning that each of us was receiving dreams. The situation seemed really odd to us as we discussed what we experienced and tried to interpret what it all meant. That is, until we were led to a prophecy in Joel. The passage reads:

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Joel 2:28

As we sought our Lord and discussed our findings from Scripture, prayer, and listening to sermons, the three of us came to the conclusion that the dreams were from God. We weren’t sure what to do with this new experience, though. In fact, we are still learning and seeking God’s wisdom. Honestly, my brain has been working overtime wondering why me, Lord? I’ve never been to Bible College. I didn’t even really surrender to you until I was 29. I definitely haven’t lived a holy life. Why now when I have children and very little time or resources?

In a sermon I listened to once, given by Pastor Robert Morris, I learned the Bible has several layers of depth and meaning. So the best way to find an answer is to read the Bible. Not just read it, though. Delve into it like life depends on it…because it does. I noticed many of the famous names in Scripture like Aaron, Deborah, Esther, Mordecai, Andrew, and others were only mentioned a few times. For example, we know Aaron helped Moses confront Pharaoh and free the Hebrew slaves. However, we are not told about Aaron’s young years or his life after the desert exodus. We know Deborah served as one of the greatest judges of Israel, but we aren’t told much about her life before or after that time. Esther was pivotal in helping the king become aware of the attack against her Jewish people. After that event, though, Esther falls off the Biblical radar. Mordecai raised Esther and saved the king’s life. Andrew was a disciple of Jesus. That has to be significant! Still, there is no Book of Andrew in the Bible. In light of the dreams I was receiving and what I was learning, I had a crisis of identity. What happens after a season of spiritual enlightenment? What happens after our perceived purpose is over? Do we get put on a cosmic shelf in our king’s heavenly office? I honestly worried over these questions. Maybe it was because I had been divorced twice. What my heart was really saying was Lord, do I matter anymore?

As with many of his answers, my Lord responded by using the love letter he wrote to us, his Word:

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.

They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.“ Psalm 92:12-15

Although he is a mighty king, intelligent, holy, and very fierce when he needs to be, my heavenly Father loves me dearly. He loves each and every one of us dearly. We are in a whole new season of life with him now. Our Lord is going to have to show why he is aptly named the Lion of Judah. Still, I matter to him. You matter to him. We all matter greatly to him, and when we have completed whatever he asks us to do, we will still matter; not like a photo on an office shelf, but like a precious family member that he’s looking forward to seeing someday soon!

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:17