God Loved You Enough to Send His Best

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NIV) Some people believe that calling someone spiritually lost is a put-down. But it’s not. It’s actually a great compliment to be called spiritually lost. There’s a difference between losing something and misplacing something. If I misplace something, it means it wasn’t important to me. But if I lose it, it’s valuable enough for me to try to find it. I misplace my pen; I lose my glasses. People are only lost if they’re worth finding. Think of it this way: The value of a masterpiece doesn’t go down when it’s lost; it goes up. Human beings lose a lot when they aren’t connected to God. When I'm disconnected from God, I lose my direction, potential, joy, and future home in heaven—just to name a few. But there’s one thing I don’t lose: my value. God loved me enough to send his very best: Jesus. The most famous verse in the Bible says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV). I matter so much to God that he underwent a rescue mission to come get me. He came to earth as a little baby so that one day he could die on a wooden cross for my sin. Jesus came to earth because I needed him. God sent his Son to do something I could never do on my own: pay for my sins. If I didn’t need it, God wouldn’t have done it. My sins have made having a relationship with God impossible on my own. That’s why Jesus came to earth—to save me from everything I’ve done wrong, so that I could be forgiven and restored into a right relationship with God. Why would God give up his divine privileges, his glory and honor, to come for my rescue? Because he loves me. He loves me more than I will ever understand. Trying to understand God’s love is like an ant trying to understand the internet—ants just don’t have the capacity. And I don’t have the capacity to fully grasp God’s love. But I don’t have to understand God’s love. I just have to accept it and believe that I'm infinitely valued by the God of the universe, who gave his very best for me. In summary: John 3:16 reveals that being spiritually “lost” is not an insult but a declaration of value, because only what is precious is worth searching for and rescuing. When we are disconnected from God, we lose direction, joy, purpose, and hope—but we never lose our worth. Like a masterpiece whose value increases when it is lost, humanity’s value is proven by the extraordinary lengths God went to in order to save us. God loved the world so deeply that He sent His Son, Jesus, to do what we could never do for ourselves—pay for our sin, restore our relationship with Him, and offer eternal life. Jesus’ life, death, and sacrifice are the ultimate rescue mission, demonstrating a love beyond human understanding. We don’t have to fully comprehend that love; we are simply invited to accept it and believe that we are infinitely valued by the God who gave His very best for us. Bottom Line: I am never worthless—even when I'm lost—because my value is proven by God’s love and His willingness to give Jesus to rescue and restore me. Next Steps: Intentionally help others re-frame their worth before I try to help them change their behavior. Value comes before performance. When people grasp that they are deeply valued—even when they’re lost—they become open to growth, surrender, and transformation. Practically, that means this week: Anchor your own leadership and coaching conversations in identity, not achievement. Ask people, “What do you believe about your worth right now?” before asking what they want to improve. Teach and model that growth flows from being loved, not from trying to earn love. As you do this, you’ll help people move from shame to clarity, from striving to surrender, and from potential to purpose—which is exactly the space you’re called to lead in. Practically, that means this week: Anchor your own leadership and coaching conversations in identity, not achievement. Ask people, “What do you believe about your worth right now?” before asking what they want to improve. Teach and model that growth flows from being loved, not from trying to earn love. As you do this, you’ll help people move from shame to clarity, from striving to surrender, and from potential to purpose—which is exactly the space you’re called to lead in. Practically, that means this week: Anchor your own leadership and coaching conversations in identity, not achievement. Ask people, “What do you believe about your worth right now?” before asking what they want to improve. Teach and model that growth flows from being loved, not from trying to earn love. As you do this, you’ll help people move from shame to clarity, from striving to surrender, and from potential to purpose—which is exactly the space you’re called to lead in. Practically, that means this week: Anchor your own leadership and coaching conversations in identity, not achievement. Ask people, “What do you believe about your worth right now?” before asking what they want to improve. Teach and model that growth flows from being loved, not from trying to earn love. As you do this, you’ll help people move from shame to clarity, from striving to surrender, and from potential to purpose—which is exactly the space you’re called to lead in.Practically, that means this week: Anchor your own leadership and coaching conversations in identity, not achievement. Ask people, “What do you believe about your worth right now?” before asking what they want to improve. Teach and model that growth flows from being loved, not from trying to earn love. As you do this, you’ll help people move from shame to clarity, from striving to surrender, and from potential to purpose—which is exactly the space you’re called to lead in. Practically, that means this week: Anchor your own leadership and coaching conversations in identity, not achievement. Ask people, “What do you believe about your worth right now?” before asking what they want to improve. Teach and model that growth flows from being loved, not from trying to earn love. As you do this, you’ll help people move from shame to clarity, from striving to surrender, and from potential to purpose—which is exactly the space you’re called to lead in. Practically, that means this week: Anchor your own leadership and coaching conversations in identity, not achievement. Ask people, “What do you believe about your worth right now?” before asking what they want to improve. Teach and model that growth flows from being loved, not from trying to earn love. As you do this, you’ll help people move from shame to clarity, from striving to surrender, and from potential to purpose—which is exactly the space you’re called to lead in. Practically, that means this week: Anchor your own leadership and coaching conversations in identity, not achievement. Ask people, “What do you believe about your worth right now?” before asking what they want to improve. Teach and model that growth flows from being loved, not from trying to earn love. As you do this, you’ll help people move from shame to clarity, from striving to surrender, and from potential to purpose—which is exactly the space you’re called to lead in. value comes before performance. When people grasp that they are deeply valued—even when they’re lost—they become open to growth, surrender, and transformation. value comes before performance. When people grasp that they are deeply valued—even when they’re lost—they become open to growth, surrender, and transformation. value comes before performance. When people grasp that they are deeply valued—even when they’re lost—they become open to growth, surrender, and transformation.value comes before performance. When people grasp that they are deeply valued—even when they’re lost—they become open to growth, surrender, and transformation.

When You’re Sinking

“But when [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” Matthew 14:30 (NIV)

When I'm going through a storm, God is not distant or uninvolved. He is with me, and he is working in my life for my good. 

When I feel I'm sinking in a storm, here are five things God wants me to do:

Have courage, because Jesus is with me.
Don’t ever argue with a fear. Just send it straight to Jesus! 

Take a risk in faith.
Don’t ask God to bless what I are doing. Instead, do what God is blessing. Ask him what he wants me to do, and then be willing to do it with him.

Stay focused on Jesus.
The moment I take your eyes off the Lord, I'll go under. Matthew 14:30 says, “But when [Peter] saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’”  (NIV). If I focus on the wind and the waves—my circumstances—I'm going to sink, just like Peter.

Don’t doubt.
I don’t need great faith to make it through the storm in my life. I just need faith in the right person—Jesus Christ.

Praise God.
Even in the storm, even when I feel like I'm sinking, even when I'm scared to death—praise him all the time. Thanking God is how I make it through.

What storm is scaring me right now? What storm is sinking me? Why do I think God is letting me go through this storm?

He’s letting me go through this storm for the same reasons he sent the disciples into the storm. He wants me to know: He's all I need. I can handle anything. And I’ll come walking on the very thing that scares me the most. He is not asking me to come to him. He's going to come to me.”

If I feel like I'm sinking today, don’t fear. Just call out to Jesus. I'll find he’s with me.

In summary:

Matthew 14:30 reminds me that when Peter took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the wind, fear took over and he began to sink—just like I do in life’s storms. But storms aren’t signs that God is distant; they are opportunities to trust Him more deeply. In the middle of fear, uncertainty, or sinking moments, God calls me to take courage, step out in faith, stay focused on Him, silence doubt, and praise Him anyway. He allows storms not to punish me, but to prove that He is all I need. When I cry out, “Lord, save me,” He always comes to me—right on top of the very thing that once scared me.

Bottom Line:

When life’s storms make me feel like I’m sinking, I don’t need to have it all together—I just need to keep my eyes on Jesus and call out to Him, because He is always near and ready to save.

Rescued in the Storm

“About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.” Mark 6:48 (NLT)

I have had storms in life that blew my life off course.

In Mark 6, Jesus sent the disciples ahead of him to Bethsaida while he went off by himself to pray. It wasn’t a long trip by boat, but the disciples were blown off course by a storm. When Jesus saw them struggling against the wind in the middle of the lake, he came to their aid.

Did my life feel like the disciples’ did during that storm?

What does Jesus do when I'm at my moment of desperation? Mark 6:48 says, “About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water” (NLT). Notice that he didn’t tell the disciples to come to him. He knew they couldn’t get to him. So he went to them instead. The same is true for me. When I'm at my point of desperation, Jesus comes to me!

I love the fact that Jesus did not stand on the shore and shout instructions. When I'm in a storm, I don’t need advice. I need a miracle! I need somebody to show up, and that’s what Jesus did. He intervened in the disciples’ storm.

This is the gospel: God doesn’t stand on the shoreline telling me what to do; instead, he comes out and meets me in my own storm—in my pain, fear, depression, and discouragement. He comes to me. What a God!

I may feel abandoned but I'm not. The Living Bible paraphrase says, “I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm—I will come to you” (John 14:18). I can count on it!

In summary:

Mark 6:48 reveals the heart of Jesus in life’s storms—He doesn’t wait for me to find my way to Him; He comes to me. Just as the disciples were blown off course and struggling in the dark, Jesus walked on water to meet them at their point of desperation. When I feel lost, afraid, or overwhelmed, Jesus doesn’t shout instructions from afar—He steps into the storm with me. This is the essence of the gospel: I’m never abandoned, even when it feels like it. Jesus shows up in my pain, fear, and discouragement, bringing the miracle and presence I truly need.

Bottom Line:

Jesus doesn’t wait for me to find Him—He comes to me in the middle of my storm, bringing hope, help, and the miracle I need most.

The Lord is Close to the Brokenhearted

In review of Psalm 34:18 it says, “The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; he rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins.”

Bottom Line:

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirit’s have been crushed.

What this means to me:

The Lord is close to me when my heart is breaking, he will rescue when I am humbly sorry for my sins.

Psalm 34 speaks of how God pays attention to this who call on him. Whether God offers escape from trouble or help in times of trouble, I can be certain that he always hears and acts on my behalf because I love him.

I often wish I could escape troubles, the pain of grief, loss, sorrow, and failure; or even the small daily frustrations that constantly wear on me. God promises to be "close to the brokenhearted," to be my source of power, courage, and wisdom; helping me through my problems. Sometimes he chooses to deliver me, sometimes He doesn’t. Regardless, whenever trouble strikes, I shouldn't get frustrated with God. Instead, I need to learn to admit that I need His help and then thank him for being by my side.

God’s unlimited grace can be applied to any area of my life that needs His healing touch. For He is the type of Friend who sticks closer than any brother. So if my dreams get shattered, He can give me a brand-new dream and supply me with the resources to accomplish every step as He has ordered it. His grace is without end, and available for the asking.