This question is often asked when something happens for which we are unprepared. We feel undeserving of such pain and/or grief. Why, if we’ve done all we could to live well, with kindness and generosity?

We’ve taken care of our body by watching what we eat, perhaps even exercised. Yet still we get sick, perhaps we find ourselves even facing death. We may have acted economically responsible, but we still lose our job, our retirement, our home.

It’s not fair, so it’s only natural to ask, “Why me?”

I recently asked myself the same question. Not because I’m sick or injured. Not because I’ve lost my job or am in financial straits. I’m not faced with either of those things.

I wonder why God would choose me, of all people, to do his will, however small or large (depending on your point of view). Who am I, old, lazy, selfish, and prideful, to deign to think I have anything to offer?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” ~ Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)

“Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth, He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” ~ Isaiah 40:28-31 (NLT)

I once saw a meme that said, “‘When God put a calling on your life, He already factored in your stupidity.’ Most comforting thing I’ve ever heard.”

God knows me better than I know myself. He knows just how weak, and yes, even stupid, I am. Yet, in spite of all that, I am his and he has work for me to do. Work designed for me and no one else.

So if you’re feeling useless or worthless, remember God never once thought that. For you are his, and he has work designed just for you and no one else.

As long as you surrender to it, and, above all, to him.