How To Overcome Low Self-Esteem
The seeds of a poor self-image were sown in my heart when I was 12 years old. My parents permitted me for the first time to go without supervision and purchase ice cream. I returned in a flood of tears, following an encounter with a group of older teenagers, who seemed to take great pleasure in laughing at me and what I was wearing. The words hurt. For the first time, I remember feeling ugly, stupid, and embarrassed
Most young people I minister to acknowledge they struggle with issues connected to or flowing from a lack of self-worth, including addictions to alcohol or sex, self-harming, bulimia, anorexia, and social anxiety.
God plan is not for us to live with self-hated, feeling insecure, or worthless.
What determines something’s value, e.g., wine, jewels, or artwork, is the price someone pays to purchase it.
We are so precious God was willing to purchase our freedom with the blood of His own Son Jesus(1 Peter 1:18-19).
Our Heavenly Father wants us to love and accept ourselves in a balanced and healthy way(Matthew 22:39).
What does it mean for us to “love ourselves?”
Biblical Self-Love Does Not Mean We Become:
· Self-centered
· Egotistical
· Proud
· Obsessed with ourselves, i.e. our own needs, feelings, etc.
Biblical Self-Love Means We Can:
· Accept God’s love (1 John 4:16).
· Believe He accepts us when we are born again (Ephesians 1:6).
· Celebrate His precious plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11).
How Do We Begin To Overcome Self-Loathing/Hatred/Insecurity?
· Stop focusing on ourselves.
· Start concentrating on God’s unfailing love for us.
· Start focusing on what He says about us.
· Stop comparing ourselves with other people.
Two things occur if we compare ourselves with other people, feelings of pride, or insecurity.
In Psalm 139:13-16 vs.14David declared, “I will praise You; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” He was not saying, “I will praise me, for I am wonderfully made.”
We are merely acknowledging the fact God created us on purpose, for a purpose, and He loves us (Jeremiah 1:5).
Once we are born again, we have direct access to God our heavenly Father and His love because we are now in Christ.
When we truly believe and receive God’s love for us, we can begin loving ourselves. A correct view of our worth grows in the fertile soil of God’s unconditional love, freeing us to be confident and authentic.
God wants us to grow up into strong men and women of God who have kindness, trust, and love to give to the people around us!
If we struggle with issues concerning our self-esteem, here are three simple steps we follow to focus on God’s love for us:
1. Meditating (read and think about) The Following Verses Which Reveal God’s Love For Us, Each Time Asking God To Help Us Grow In Understanding Of His Unconditional Love.
“For God so loved the worldthat He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).“But because of His great love for us,God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”(Jeremiah 29:11).
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3).
“Who can separate us from Christ’s love? For I am persuaded beyond doubt that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, nor the present nor the future, nor any powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35,38-39).
2. Pray This Prayer Paul Wrote Concerning God’s Love For Us Daily:
I come from a long line of “worriers” and was raised to believe worry is “ok,” even worst at times an indication I was responsible and caring.
What a relief to finally discover God does not want us to worry or to carry problems. We don't have to live with anxiety or fear or live weighed down with what the Bible calls “cares.” He lovingly invites us to cast (release the weight off, throw off, let fly) our care troubles, anxieties, problems) over to Him.
Why is it important to have our worries and concerns over to God?
In Mark 4:19, Jesus tells us that cares, or worries chokes the word of God, literally “suffocating” His promises, hindering us receiving from Him.
He wants us to trust Him today (John 14:1), and to roll each care of our load on Him, i.e., anything which is “weighing us down” (Psalm 37:5).
3. Declare Out Loud God’s Love For You Personally.
“God loves me; God loves (your name). Thank you, Heavenly Father, for loving me. I receive your love.”
When we speak God’s promises, faith rises in our heart, as we come to know He truly loves us.
Once we receive God’s love for us and learn to love ourselves in a balanced and biblical way, we are released to love others unconditionally without fear.