Last Wednesday, I felt insignificant. Cue the “oh whoa is me” Eeyore type of background music.
There’s been countless times in my life when I’ve felt so insignificant. Sometimes it’s been in relationship to nature. For instance, I’ve felt particularly insignificant standing in front of Niagara Falls, staring up the trunk of the Redwoods, or at the edge of the Grand Canyon. There are other times it’s been in relationship to others. For instance, I distinctly remember being overlooked for selection on a team in 7th grade gym class or the feeling of insignificance while working at Labor & Delivery while struggling with my own infertility journey.
Part of my reaction in feeling insignificant comes from not being grounded in the truth of just how significant I am to our God. Our loving Father did not create us to have a feeling of insignificance when standing near His creation. Nor did he intend for us to have negative feelings about ourselves through comparing ourselves to others.
As I contemplated insignificance this week, I read Chapter 40 of the book of Job. Interestingly enough, I’m really struggling with reading Job for my one-year Bible reading plan because it seems so “Debbie-Downer” in its wording.
However, the Job reading today caught my attention pretty quickly. Job actually tells God exactly what I was feeling on Wednesday!
“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I say in response to You? I put my hand on my mouth.” ~Job 40:4 (NASB)
God’s response made me giggle, especially because I was reading a Christian Standard Bible at the time. “Get ready to answer me like a man; When I question you, you will inform me.” Job 40:7 (CSB) For comparison, here is the NASB version of the same verse. “Now tighten the belt on your waist like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me.” Job 40:7 (NASB)
Answer me like a man? Tighten your belt like a man? That’s God’s response to saying “I feel insignificant”?!?!?! This simple phrase, which did make me laugh, is a strong reminder that expressing to God my feeling of insignificant could be seen as a child-like response. He wants us to be mature in our relationship to Him and with that maturity comes acknowledgment and embracing the significance He has on His children.
Further down in verses 10-12, we see God go one step further in instructing us about that significance. “Adorn yourself with pride and dignity, and clothe yourself with honor and majesty. Let out your outbursts of anger, and look at everyone who is arrogant, and humble him. Look at everyone who is arrogant and humble him, and trample down the wicked where they stand.” Job 40:10-12 (NASB)
Ladies, let’s take off the cloak of insignificance this week and remember that God has such plans for our lives. He’s told us to adorn ourselves as significant with pride, dignity, honor, and majesty. Now we just have to do it…
I’m praying for a week of significance for each of us!
~Emily
Iron Porch 
I enjoyed reading this blog. Thanks for sharing!
Feel free to read some of my blogs 🙂
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Hi Emily. I’d never seen you mention L&D work before. I worked with L&D/nursery for about 17 years and though insignificance was not what I felt, it was close. As the window of time slowly closed on my children becoming parents, I realized I’d never experience with them what I did best. What I loved. What I had celebrated with so many families, would not be for our family. Left behind was my “label” and often still is. I’d love to see yours and Erin’s biblical perspective to the subject of “left behind”. Maybe someday I can open my heart enough to add the subject to my own writing. Meanwhile, I’ll be watching the porch for your input. Thanks, Trisha
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Trisha, We’re kindred spirits over our L&D experiences (along with plenty of others, I’m sure!). Isn’t it strange how insignificance creeps up on us even in the midst of doing what we love most (or in regards to what we love most)? I love that you are being transparent with your thoughts about your children and your labels. I’ll be praying that when the time is right, you’ll feel lead to share in your own writing. Please know that you can always write us privately if you want to get thoughts on “paper” but don’t want to publically post them! And as a reminder to us both…God sees us all as significant…even when those around us may not. Hugs to you! ~Emily
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