Our Self-Image / Our Sense of Worth (Part 2)
……. He has given us all certain talents to develop and ultimately bring glorification to His kingdom as we live out our lives. But, a person’s self-image and self-esteem is something the evil one and evil people in this world take pleasure in damaging and wanting to completely destroy. When they break down a person by convincing them that he or she can do nothing good, then they are rejoicing with another victory. So how do we fight back and what do we possess that can bring restoration?
The damage that has been inflected by others or self-inflicted can be repaired. It starts when we take the initial steps to walk with our God who wants us and loves us. It begins when we realize that our hearts and minds need to be transformed by the teaching of God’s word with the power of the Holy Spirit. We can easily walk away from God or put God on the shelf because we do not see His help or have lost trust in Him. Even if we have been a long time away from God and from trusting Him, we can still ask for help. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning;” Lamentations 3:22-23
We hopefully learn early in life what talents we have been given by God and then take the time to develop them. We must trust our God and believe we are a child of His. Then we can use these talents to help others in the body of Christ. Also,we can then show others what God has given us to ultimately be used to glorify Him.
God’s relationship with us is not like any human relationship. It is not like our relationships with our mother, father, sibling, close friend, teacher, coach, pastor or even our spouse. All of these people can certainly influence us and can be crucial in the development (good or bad) of our self-esteem. God wants us to be the best we can be with whatever He provides. To use the talents and the skills that are unique to each person. God will not give up on us unless we walk away or alienate ourselves and choose the darkness that can draw even the strongest. Certainly we are all born with a sinful nature. “For we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. That nature makes it easy to walk away, especially when we believe we are worthless……and just want to crawl in a hole of despair.
So can we accept the help and love that God offers us? Can we trust in the grace and mercy that is the gift of forgiveness for our sins bought by the blood sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ? Or do we refuse and walk away to remain “dead in our trespasses and sins in which we all formerly walked according to the prince of power of the air and the spirit that is still working in the sons of disobedience.” Ephesians 2:1-2.
When you don’t believe you are good or smart enough. When you don’t think you are able to be productive and helpful to yourself and others, then you will not even want to get out of the bed in the morning. You will have no desire to do what you should be doing each and every day. There is a constant fear of making mistakes and a belief that you are not living up to the expectations of others. Always being paralyzed from even making simple decisions much less making difficult choices. We must listen and take hold of the words of the prophet Isaiah….”So do not fear, for I (the Lord) am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 Our Lord will never give up on us. He will lift you up from the ashes. Take you from the darkness and into His eternal light. Amen
I had too many songs to choose from, but I found these since they are contemporary but I hope they are good for this subject.
Afterword from Preacher Ray:
Thanks as always for your wonderful reflections, but I have to issue one challenge this week. In the statement in the third paragraph that God will not give up on us unless we walk away. God gives us free will and allows us to walk away. It breaks God’s heart, but my life experience and understanding of God is that he never gives up on us. In fact it seems to me that when we walk away, God tries even harder to show us grace, bring us back. He puts more people in our lives and uses every avenue to show us a better path. I say this because I have been with too many people who thought because they had walked away that God could not and would not forgive or accept them back.
Ray