How should I respond to feelings of uselessness?

Genesis 1:26-27, 31Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. . . . Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

Psalm 8:3-5When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.

Psalm 139:17-18How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

Matthew 10:29-31“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.”

We need to recognize how much God values us. He loved us enough to send his Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so we can live forever with him.

Psalm 113:5-9Who can be compared with the Lord our God, who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people! He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother. Praise the Lord!

Luke 1:28, 30, 38Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” . . . “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! . . .” Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

Ephesians 3:8Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.

God has a special purpose for all of us, a gift of his love and grace.

Romans 12:2-3Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Ephesians 5:10-11Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

We are to search for and pursue what pleases the Lord. We please him when we discover his purpose for our lives and seek to fulfill it.

Psalm 22:9-11You brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast. I was thrust into your arms at my birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born. Do not stay so far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me.

Psalm 57:2I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.

Isaiah 49:4I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”

1 Corinthians 15:58So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Galatians 6:9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

2 Thessalonians 1:11So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

We need to trust God to fulfill his purpose for us. When we discover why God made us, we become eternally useful to him.