Do we matter? An answer...

Naturally, this question comes up to all of us at some point. We wonder whether or not we actually matter. People look at others who have popular talents and obvious skills, compare these to themselves, and then think that there's no way they can be as good as them. And sometimes its the hostile actions of other people that lead to this mindset. In China, the "one child" policy creates a tendency where parents give up blind, mute, deaf, other otherwise disabled children because they we're "born broken" and the kids without such flaws are believed to be to ones who will succeed. All across the world, people tell one another that "I'll never be as good as them/him/her."

This might sound like my popularity game blog, and I'll admit that it's similar. But I have a somewhat different goal.

In any case, the idea that we don't matter pervades the earth. We put ourselves down and withdraw. We fail to make efforts that we otherwise would be able to. We don't get promotion or the jobs we want because we tell ourselves that we can't impress or perform good enough for the boss.

Guess what? That attitude is part of the reason, if not the reason itself, why defeat in life is so common. I'll admit that this life is not always easy, but if people just laid down and gave up every time a difficulty arose, our society would not be where it is today. Thomas Edison failed about 1,000 times in making the light bulb. Imagine a reality where he'd given up after the first several tries. What would life be like without this simple but all too common device? The good news is, we don't have to have an answer, because Edison, however much I disagree with him on religion, did ultimately succeed. He went on to say that the most certain way to succeed is always to try "just one more time." And in the Revolution, the Americans suffered more defeats than victories, and yet the war ended in an American victory. Rome lost about 20% of their male population, according to some calculations, at the battle of Cannae, and yet continued the fight against Hannibal and Carthage, eventually winning the war at Zama 16 years afterward.

The "I can't" mentality breeds defeat. The "I can" mentality breeds victory. You can hardly expect to win if you keep telling yourself that you will lose. The difference is similar to the last words of a Harry Potter book six chapter; it's the contrasting mentalities of being dragged into an arena where one must fight to the death and walking in with your head held high. Who do you think is going to win? (This is just an example; obviously, I'd prefer people weren't put in that kind of situation.)

Now, naturally, some things are literally unattainable, like people flying without a jetpack or some similar form of aid. But regarding professions, college scholarships, and skills and talents, these are attainable with the right attitude. No, victory doesn't always come immediately, but a positive mindset is more willing to put up with temporary defeats, looks to correct what went wrong, and try again when the right time comes to do so.

Again, not always easy. Sometimes we'll face troubles. In the words of Thomas Paine, "Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered." But there is no chance of success if one does not try, and a low chance, if not a zero chance, of victory if one goes into something telling themselves that they can't do it.

As for the "do I matter?" which is the point, God clearly says that everyone, regardless of wealth or class, matters. As Jesus Himself said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? and yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from the Father's will. The very hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not fear, therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows (Matt. 10:29-31)." Hair is hardly glorious, as Max Lucado writes. While it might be beautiful en masse, no one, other than God, plants tiny signs with a number next to each. Key term; "other than God".

God cares for you. He loves you and desires that you know Him. He tells people that they matter. It doesn't matter whether one has a disability, disorder, trauma, or other debilitating problem; He loves you. He loves you, and wants to help you. And while life on this earth is not perfect either before or after conversion, the knowledge that one is loved by a Creator, and is special and individual as a creation of the Same, should fuel us and leave us not only in joyous wonder, but in a position where we tell ourselves, "I can."

"I can defeat this addiction."

"I can defeat my depression."

"I can overcome my circumstances, terrible though they might be, because I am loved by a Father who is with me wherever I go and has a plan for my life."

You can live in victory, or you can live in defeat.

Which one will you choose?

Thank you for taking the time to read this or at least check it out, and I honestly and earnestly hope it helps.

May God go with and bless you all