The Lowly, Chosen of God; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-- that, as it is written, 'He who glories, let him glory in the LORD'"
The New Internation Version phrases verse 26 this way: "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called." Where were you in life when you were called? What were you? The Lord, in His infinite wisdom, chose to bring down those things which are mighty in their own strenght, those things which stand against Him in pride and arrogance, by choosing before the foundations of the world ordinary, every day people like ourselves to carry out His glorious and awesome plans.
You may be thinking of yourself today, even, though you have already come to know the Lord, that you are not worth very much. You may be doubting your usefulness, that God could do anything with you or through you. It seems as you look around, you see people filled with the Spirit sharing God's word, bringing those around them to come to know the Lord. You see ministry in motion, lives being changed. It seems like everyone around you is full of joy and happiness. Though they have problems, they seem unphased by them, as though they had faith fashioned of steel to get through anything.
But you... You are an emotional mess. You are sad on the inside, and though you know that Jesus came and died for your sins, and that He will one day come again and rule on the earth in peace and righteousness, you still can't shake the overpowering feeling of sorrow and sadness in your heart. "Is there something wrong with me? Am I not trusting in the Lord?" you think to yourself. "What is wrong with me that I can't shake this feeling? I just feel like the Lord can't use me. How could He use me when I'm feeling like this?"
But think of what you were when you were called. Were you in any better a condition as you are now? No, rather you were in a far worse state, not having attained the salvation of your soul and the hope of heaven. You did not know the love of God, and you did not have God's word to cling to in times of worry, doubt, and sorrow. And God chose you then. God chose you to be His bride, His body, His church when you had nothing to offer Him. You had no joy or beauty that He might look upon you and smile, yet He did look upon you and smile. You had no love to offer Him, no praise and adoration to give. Yet He gave all He had for you; though you were nothing and had nothing, He gave all to purchase you, to redeem you, to have you and keep you with Him forever.
We needn't be concerned with not having anything to offer the Lord, He does not need anything we can offer. We needn't be concerned that He cannot use us because we aren't as good as others, because He chooses to use those things that have not, those things that are not, so that glory may be given to His name, not to man.
And it is not by your own worthiness that we have become children of God, beloved and adored beyond all comprehension, but it is because of Him that we are in Christ Jesus. He chose us before the foundations of the world to become children of God, though He knew all our shortcomings, all our doubts, all our sins. If God chose you then, and loved you enough to give His life for you then, why would you worry about not being worthy now? You're not worthy; you never were and you never will be. But He loves you anyway.
It is important too, not to compare yourself to others. God made you for His purposes, not for others' purposes. God made you to fit into His plan, and you are unique and different from everyone else on earth, and for His good plan. Comparing yourself to others and what God is doing in their lives is unconstructive, and only brings you down. Focus on what God is doing in your own life and what He wants to teach you.