O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appears and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!

Dear God, I was listening to this Christmas hymn yesterday and the part about Jesus appearing and our soul knowing it’s worth is struck me. It all gets wrapped up in this hope of Christmas that I’ll be speaking about next week at our town’s church-to-church Christmas service. Without you, we have zero idea about our worth.

I read an article this morning about declining teen mental health in our country—the world, really. Especially developed countries. Our technology is leading us into this toxic environment of engagement through social media. Interaction by remote.

So what is our worth? Without you, without understanding how you see us, it’s just a vapor. That’s our worth. But you created us. You know us. You love us. You need us. We have our worth in you, and we didn’t realize how much we were worth until you came and did what you did through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Father, thank you for making my soul worth something. Thank you for showing me my worth through Jesus. Help me to know how to share it with others—especially youth and young adults.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen