How many times have you lost your car keys or glasses? While I have good intentions of putting my keys in the same place, that doesn’t always happen. Sometimes my keys get misplaced and I have to search the house for them. While I do have to search for my keys from time to time, even more, I find myself searching for my worth.

Value. Importance. Useful. These are all words that define worth. Many of us, if not all, want to be valued, feel important, and be useful while on this earth. Worth gives us meaning in our lives so it’s natural to want to feel worthy. We want to belong.

Have you ever searched for your worth? I know I have embarked on many journeys of worth-searching throughout the years. The constant searching doesn’t get me very far, though. I see others around me and before I know it, I create my own worth based on comparison. We know that comparison only hinders the truth and beauty of who God created us to be. I’ve looked in the wrong places for my worth many times.

You are a person of great worth. Not because of your family heritage or life successes. You are a person of great value because of Jesus. Jesus loved you so much that He gave His life for you. He has great compassion for you. And His grace far outweighs the planet-based worth of the world. We can’t find our worth in other people or anything man-made. Our worthiness comes from God, our Creator and Maker.

We don’t have to search for our worth. When we sit down with Jesus, we find it. We find worth within ourselves because He is worthy. And that worth is living in the very depths of our beings.

So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:31

You are worth more. Those are the beautiful words of Jesus. You are worth more than many sparrows. He takes great delight in you. You are worth more than a career, home, affirmation from a friend, or answers to life’s biggest questions. You are worth more because of the Spirit within you.

When I hear a bird sing, I can’t help but to think of Jesus reminding us how much we are valued and cared for, even more than the innocent bird singing her song. I also smile as I think of what a friend shared about pure freedom of the sparrow. The sparrow knows that the Father will have food for them. And there is beauty in the simplicity of a bird, coming to a bird feeder, without any expectations, no performance. No thank you’s expected.

Jesus reminds us that we are worth more than the sparrows, and He tells us to not be afraid. We can trust that God will make a way even when there seems to be no way. When we grasp the truth that we are worth so much more, we will release our grip from performance.

Culture teaches us that we’ll be worth more if we do more. But sometimes, we have to unlearn what the world teaches.

Here’s what I am unlearning:

I do not determine my worth based on my calendar. I cannot measure my value by the number of friends in my circle. A bad day does not define my worth. My emotions and feelings do not have the final say regarding my value. The opinions of others do not determine who I am. My worth is not rooted in my past, nor is it about doing or relying solely on my own strength.

Here’s what I am learning, which we can all hold onto: Our worth is found in redemption. Jesus takes our sin, guilt, and shame. He also lifts the burden of striving and performance when we surrender everything and listen intentionally to the Holy Spirit. When I can’t find my keys, I realize I am looking in all the wrong places. Similarly, when I seek validation of my worth from my surroundings, I also look in the wrong places. Our true worth can only be found in Jesus, which is enough. Seek the truth of the Holy Spirit, and you will discover your worth in the right place.