Jen’s Gem: You are who God says you are.

I recently received a “Top Fan” badge from Lidia Bastianich’s Facebook page. While I think this should be renamed “Top Stalker,” nonetheless, I am a proud recipient. I secretly wish she would knock on my door with dinner each night or even better, invite me to live in her house in Italy.

This ‘honor’ was received because I spend a fair amount of time reading her posts, drooling over the photos of her culinary masterpieces. Even though it is well-deserved, I probably could be doing something better with my time.

Time. If you’re like me, you are scratching your head right now as to the speed of time. It seems to be flying by faster than ever. I wake up Monday morning and before I know it, I’m writing this blog post on Sunday.

What’s even more peculiar is that we all have the same 24 hours each day. No more. No less. It is our decision how we spend those nearly 1,500 minutes because no matter who you, when the day is done, it’s done.

In next week’s Elevate the Day podcast, Karen and I are discussing time and how we choose to fill our days. Not to give it all away but let’s just say that the term “busy-ness” is going to pop up throughout the show.

Why are we all so busy?

I came across an article that speaks to a new phenomenon called – “productivity dysmorphia.” That’s a mouthful, isn’t it? According to the article, it is described as “feeling down about your productivity, even when it’s clear to everyone else you’re doing a great job.” (So – beating yourself up over earning a top fan badge. Oops!)

The piece goes on to discuss how to overcome this negative state by keeping track of your To-Do list and checking off items as you complete them so that you can “see” what you’ve accomplished and “believe” you are productive. The old “seeing is believing” lie.

Is a to-do list with items crossed off worthy of a badge of honor? 

Are we defining our worth and value by how much we can get done in a day?

Are we worth more because we are busy but if we do nothing, we have no value? Talk about a dysmorphic state of mind!

Call me crazy but I am 100% confident that as we take our last breaths, To-Do lists are not going to be on our minds. We will not be spouting off statements like, “Oh, I wish I would’ve cleaned out those cabinets or why didn’t I organize my photos?” At least I pray we don’t.

Now, as someone who struggles with this “I’m only as good as my last task” mentality, I hold no judgement against my fellow to-do’ers who enjoy scribbling a check mark next to the chores of the day. So to combat this lie, I have to continually seek the truth about who I am and my worth and value. So, where do I go for the truth? God’s Word.

Here is what I’ve learned.

Whatever God says about me is true. Everything else is a lie. Everything. I shared this statement in a Bible study I taught this past week. If a description of you is not in God’s Word, it’s not true. (Tweet This!)

Instead of coming up with more terms that speak negatively about ourselves, how about we begin to use the words that our Creator, our Father in heaven uses to describe us? Perhaps instead of defining ourselves by what we have achieved, what about defining ourselves by who we are, and more importantly, who God says we are?

Whether or not we complete our never-ending To-Do lists, God loves us. If there are tasks left un-checked at the end of the day, God values us. And guess what? If we do nothing, zilch, zero, God loves and cares for us. How do I know this? Because He sent His Son to die for us. That’s how.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)

My worth and value, and I hope yours as well, are not defined by Top Fan badges on a Facebook page or completed To-Do lists, but rather by the scars on the hands and feet of Jesus.