Jesus taught to love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:25-37). Let’s not pass over that phrase “as ourselves.” In order to properly love our neighbors, we must properly love ourselves. Low self-esteem is an improper view of self. Following are some ways to prevent and overcome low self-esteem.
Keep the truth that you are made in God’s image close to your heart. God’s image is stamped on every human being. We are unique, and yes, we are useful. We are worth something to God. Jesus approached the reputably poor of society. He realized their value. He realized a tax collector and a harlot could glorify and serve Him. We need to realize that we can serve God, too.
Realize that God has work for you to do, and He believes in you. Upon finding out about Jezebel’s death threat, Elijah became depressed and wanted to die. Read 1 Kings 18 and 19 to soak in this situation. He had a warped view of reality. In that mindset, he did not believe he could be useful, but the reality was that God had work for him to accomplish.
We need to believe this regarding ourselves and develop a passion for carrying out God’s will for us. Elijah lost his passion for that period of time because he had a warped view of the situation. He didn’t see it as God saw it. God sent an angel of the Lord to let Elijah know He had confidence in him. We need to see it as God does, realizing what He has for us to do and develop the passion to accomplish it.
Spend much time with edifiers and encouragers, and not so much with spirit dampeners. The family of Jesus is to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:23-25). Paul’s letters reveal that he was a great encourager. He began the first Corinthian letter with words of high esteem to a problem-laden church (1:1-9), and near the end, he told them their labor was not in vain in the Lord (15:58). We need people to encourage us in our work, not discourage us.
In life, we are going to encounter spirit-dampeners, and we should desire to show them the love of Jesus, but we can choose to properly limit our time around them and surround ourselves instead with those who will build us up as God’s children. Low self-esteem can be crippling. Let’s help one another to keep these things in mind so that we can overcome and prevent low self-esteem.
