When I think of terms like Self Image, Self esteem of our sense of worth, it usually first takes me back to those early teenage years. Remember when we started worrying about how we looked? Especially when we bought or had our parents buy us some Clearasil or the today’s equivalent to help with the facial breakouts that made us concerned about our looks. Those were such awkward years. Remember when you had those palm sweating times while making those first phone calls to a girl or guy we wanted to ask out to a movie or a school dance. Or even when we went in groups (boys and girls) to a movie or a dance to meet and how nerve racking it was. All those uncomfortable conversations we tried to have when we gathered at that movie or at the mall. It was decades ago for me, but I still recall some of them. The confidence and the way we saw ourselves was evolving in those years. For me, sports helped a lot, but our sense of worth was still fragile when we were younger. But certainly it can be damaged and even crushed at any age?
Our self-worth can be injured to varying degrees during any of the years God has given us. If the trauma in the early years is severe it can cause some lasting issues throughout a lifetime. Even in our later years, a traumatic event or long-lasting abuse can cause us to go into some dark places. Depression, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, constantly angered, withdrawing from basic human contact, even neglecting the self-care activities of daily living, such as showering, eating, and washing one’s clothes. It takes a person into a spiral that seems impossible to recover.
The abuse and evil may be enough to shatter even the most confident and dedicated believer. Sometimes it is self-inflicted and sometimes it is from someone we thought we could trust. We can read about the behavior that takes place in the lives of people we thought had all the advantages and security that this world has to offer. Listen to the true words of advice from Dr. Curt Dodd, Senior pastor in Westside Church of Omaha, NE…. “ With everything that this world tries to offer us on a daily basis, it is easy for us to believe the lie that we can find fulfillment in the things of this world. We think we can find fulfillment in possessions, money, status, relationship, experiences, or a combination of these. We convince ourselves that if we could just get that promotion, find a spouse, look a certain way, buy that house, or earn a higher salary, we would be happy; we will find fulfillment. Nothing could be further from the truth.” So how do we heal from the damage created that has or is inflicted daily? How do we begin to recover and get the help to become the person that God intends for us to be?
Whatever or whoever is the cause that has made us feel useless or even worthless, we must first believe God does not see us that way. In the beginning “God created us in His own image, in the image of God he created us, male and female He created us.” Genesis 1:27. God is not in the business of creating worthless or useless people. At the very start, “God saw all that He made and behold it was very good.” 1:31. Not just fine or Ok, but very good. We all can say, well we sure have screwed it up since Genesis and I have done my share, but God doesn’t want us that way. He has given us all certain talents to develop and ultimately bring glorification to His kingdom as we live out our lives.
I need to continue this writing into next week, but I leave with a song that was written by a person who suffered tremendous physical and emotional trauma, but clung to our God during the trials and has written and performed some great songs.