When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.  Psalm 91:15

“What could you do with $20?” asked asked a pastor during children’s time in the church service. The kids jumped with grasping hands as he waved the bill in front of them. Then, to their consternation, he crumpled it up and threatened to deface it or even tear it. Finally, he pointed out to them that no matter what he did to that bill, it would still be worth $20.  And so it is with human life. Terrorist attacks, global economic collapse, natural disasters, accidents, illness, and other losses can threaten to crush us, deface us, and tear us to shreds. But can the worst events that we encounter ever destroy our value? After all, whose are we? The Lord says, “I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isa. 43:1). The apostle Paul stressed that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39).  The Bible tells us that whatever happens, even when the worst has been done, the last word still belongs to God. Nothing that happens can diminish our worth to our God, who holds, sustains, and cherishes us.

Dear God, we praise you for giving us lives of meaning and purpose whose value can never be destroyed by tragic events. Amen.