Overcoming Poor Self EsteemHello, preachingwoman.com family! Again, I joyously greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we continue discussing factors that can keep us from embracing our destiny, I thought I'd share an excerpt from my forthcoming book, The Pursuit of Happiness: Making, "Yes, I Can" a Personal Reality. Take a look at this:
Ever since I was a little girl, I knew there was something special about me. This something stretched further than the fact that my daddy has always told me that I was the prettiest baby he'd ever laid his eyes on. It extended itself much further than the fact that I was a fast learner who found herself easily bored. It even reached deeper than the fact that I'm a friendly and outgoing person. And, it extended past the fact that I consider myself to have been blessed to have a mother and father who loved (and still love) me unconditionally; they've bestowed their love upon me during my whole life. Yes, it's much deeper than any of these things.
Just as there are a number of factors that can help boost a person's self esteem, there are just as many that can help destroy or decelerate it, too. Abuse, in particular, is one such factor, and it comes in many different forms: verbal, mental, physical and emotional are just a few.
How does one overcome abuse and poor self esteem? First, as children of God, we must understand that regardless of what others think of us, we are very precious in the sight of God. We understand that He loved us enough to give up the greatest sacrifice by sending His son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. But He also loves us so much that He already has a blueprint for His children. We know this from His Word as shown in Jeremiah 29:11. He has plans for us to have a hope and a future. He thinks good thoughts toward of us; thoughts of peace, not thoughts of evil.
Just knowing these two facts is a great way to understand that regardless of how inadequate or inferior we may feel in and of ourselves, God sees us differently, and He expects us to move on the power within that He has already equipped us with. He wants us to keep in mind that we were created with quality materials when he reminds us in Psalm 139:14 that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
But not everyone sees things this way. That's why we must understand that misery loves company. So if there are people around you who never have anything positive to say to you, who are always finding fault with you, who never see the good in you, perhaps those are the ones with whom you should seriously consider changing your relationship status. I believe it was Mike Murdock who stated (paraphrased) that either people add value to your life, or they take value away. When people inflict abuse upon you, regardless of its form, they are certainly not adding value to your life. And if you are vulnerable, their actions could prove quite detrimental, ultimately having an adverse affect on your self esteem.
Another way to overcome poor self esteem is to love yourself enough to the point where others' opinions do not dictate the direction in which you are choosing to go. Have confidence in the power that God has already instilled within you. Hold fast to Philippians 4:13, which says, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." If we really believe that, that's a major self esteem booster within itself. The problem is that, in many instances, we will say these things without really and truly believing them.
In essence, one of the best ways to overcome poor self esteem is to begin to see yourself the way God --- not man --- sees us. Ask yourself, "What does God say about me?" In addition to the scriptures referenced above, here are a few others that should be helpful in the effort to overcome poor self esteem and embrace destiny:
· When you feel like no one loves you, remember John 3:16
· When you feel like success is not a part of your future, remember Joshua 1:8
· When you feel like you just can't go on any more, remember Galatians 6:9
· When you feel like bad outcomes are all you're capable of, remember your past victories then look to Psalm 27:13
· When you feel all hope is gone and that you cannot face tomorrow because of past failures, look to Jesus and let Him come in and do what He does. Remember 24:7
· When you feel like you're unable to fight a battle, remember the battle just may not be yours to fight as we are told in 2 Chronicles 20:15
Keep in mind, my dear friends, that with God, there is absolutely nothing you cannot do. Stay in constant communication with Him so that you will not only recognize His voice, but also have the courage to do as He instructs you to do. You will find that His plan is much better than you could have ever dreamed. And when you learn to overcome poor self esteem, you will have the confidence to walk in the true authority that He has given you. That's a great place to be!