You Are God's Priority

Unlocked: Daily Devotions for Teens

READ: PSALM 139:13-16; ISAIAH 49:15; ROMANS 5:1-11

Have you ever felt undervalued? You try to speak and state your views, but people disregard them, ignoring your ideas or even ridiculing them. Perhaps you have been overlooked in the planning or details of an event. In situations like these, it would be easy, and only human, to believe we are insignificant.

Negative comments, not being included, or breakups in friendships can leave anyone feeling despondent and miserable. We may be left with a sense of being second place or even completely overlooked. We feel hurt and disappointed. What can we do in times like these?

Remember that this world is imperfect and broken. People don’t always realize they have excluded you or ignored you. You can accept the emotions you experience, and process them with Jesus and with people you trust, but you don’t have to dwell on them too long. Instead, you can find hope in remembering the truths of God’s kingdom.

God is a loving Father. He deeply cares for each one of His children. You are His unique creation. You are adored and cherished. Whatever situation you are currently dealing with matters greatly to God. You are a priority to Him. He wants you—and all of us—to enjoy relationship and eternal life with Him (1 Timothy 2:4). He loves you so much that He gave His Son, Jesus, to save you. Jesus’s sacrifice was enough to cover your sins, and the sins of others who have hurt you. And through His death and resurrection, He is working to restore the brokenness inherited since humans first sinned at the fall. Jesus sees your pain, and He weeps with you. But He also says, it will not always be this way. He wants to draw you into community with other believers who will extend His love to you. Your laughter, trials, dreams, and ideas are important. Even if everyone else abandons you, God’s love for you is constant. Whenever you feel insignificant, you can reach out to Him. • Cindy Lee

• When have you felt marginalized, forgotten, or last on someone else’s agenda? You can offer this hurt and sadness up to God. Take heart, you are a priority to Him, and He loves you deeply. (If you want to know more about God’s love and how to have a relationship with Him, see our "Know Jesus" page.)

• Who is someone in your life you can build up, reassure, and remind that they are valued? Kind words, sincere compliments, listening, a phone call, a thoughtful email, text, or message in a card are all ways of reminding people that they are valued and they matter. What could you do today?

See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1 (WEB)