THIS PART OF MY LIFE IS CALLED...KNOWING MY WORTH
Micah Smith
Today's Scripture: "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10, ESV
Theme: Your worth comes from who God created you to be, not what others see you as or where you currently find yourself.
THE DOCUMENT-PROCESSING GUY
For the first ten years of my career, I worked in the exact same area of software development—which in the tech world feels like about three lifetimes. While friends and coworkers were getting opportunities to work on the newest, coolest projects like mobile apps and smart home integrations, I was stuck in document processing software. Not exactly the kind of work that gets you invited to speak at conferences or impresses people at networking events.
What started as "just where I landed" slowly became my identity. I wasn't just working in document processing—I was "the document-processing guy." And the longer I stayed, the more that label felt permanent. My trepidation about branching out into new areas, about betting on myself, became a narrative I was forced to live with. I lost sight of the value I had to offer because I'd let myself settle for so long.
The worst part wasn't the boring work—it was watching my definition of myself shrink. "I'm just a document-processing guy" started drowning out any belief that I was capable of learning new things, leading bigger teams, or having a bigger impact. I'd convinced myself that my current situation was the ceiling of my potential, not just a chapter in my story.
DEFINED BY DESIGN, NOT BY CIRCUMSTANCE
In the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, Chris Gardner refuses to let his circumstances define his worth. Even when he's homeless, even when people look at him and see failure, he holds onto the truth that he's capable of more. He doesn't let his temporary situation become his permanent identity.
It took some great friends who could see something in me that I couldn't see in myself to break through my self-imposed limitations. Their encouragement, combined with learning who God created me to be, helped me realize I was more than just "what team I'm on." I was God's handiwork, fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), capable of all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13), even in those moments when I didn't feel like I was enough.
Here's what I learned: worth isn't earned through work. It's established through identity. Your value doesn't come from your current assignment; it comes from your divine design. God didn't create you to be defined by your limitations—He created you to be defined by His limitless love.
Make it Personal: What labels have you accepted about yourself that might be drowning out God's truth about who you are? Are you letting your current situation define your worth, or are you standing in the truth that you're God's handiwork? Remember: you're not stuck—you're being prepared. You're not just surviving your circumstances—you're being shaped for something greater.
Pray: Father, forgive me for the times I've let my circumstances define my worth instead of remembering that my value comes from You. Help me see myself the way You see me—as Your handiwork, created for good works that You've prepared in advance. When I feel stuck or limited, remind me that You're not done with my story yet. Give me courage to believe in who You created me to be. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Read: Psalm 139:13-16, 1 John 3:1-2
Weekly Memory Verse: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9, ESV Tuesday