Unwanted. Unloved. Unworthy. Not good enough.
There are days when these words float through my head on repeat.
We’ve all experienced this. Something happens in our lives and these negative images of ourselves circle our minds.
You’ve lost your job, so you feel as though you’re not good enough.
Your friends ditched you so you feel unwanted.
Your partner left you so you feel unloved.
Someone yelled at you so you feel small and unworthy.
These negative depictions of ourselves can spin like a broken record, repeated over and over and over.
I found myself allowing some of these words in my mind recently. I got my feelings hurt and instead of placing the blame on the one who hurt me, I placed it on myself.
Because it must be my fault when someone treats me poorly, right?
WRONG!
Oh so very wrong.
Unwanted. Unloved. Unworthy. Small. Not good enough. These words that we too often give power to are from the devil.
And the devil is WRONG!
When I realized I was allowing these negative thoughts to affect how I feel about myself, I worked to put an end to them.
How did I do that?
I turned to Jesus.
Jesus, am I loved?
“More than you can imagine” He said.
Jesus, am I wanted?
“So much,” He said.
Jesus, am I worthy?
“You’re so worthy that I died to save you,” He said.
Jesus, am I good enough?
“You were made in the image of God,” He said. “So, what do you think?”
It is so easy for us to doubt ourselves when someone does us wrong. Even for those of us who are confident, self-aware and self-accepting, it can puncture our hearts when we’re hurt or betrayed. And that puncture, no matter how small, can lead us to question our value. In those moments of uncertainty, when our usually strong resilience falters, the devil sneaks in quickly and silently. He takes hold of that uncertainty and pummels it with bullets.
When that happens to you, do what I did. Turn to Jesus. Let Him show you how much you are loved, how much you are wanted and how much you are worth.
You are made in the image of our Heavenly Father and that makes you so precious and so valuable.
I look back on the many years of misery I spent seeking acceptance in this world. I sought my worth in what others thought of me. I judged my value by how others judged me. And I never felt good enough. There were days I couldn’t even look in the mirror because I deeply hated the image that stared back at me.
Then I turned to Jesus and sought my value in Him. I prayed and asked God that I would see myself as He saw me.
And suddenly I was free.
I realized I didn’t need acceptance in this world because this is not where I belong. I belong with Jesus.
Does this mean that I can’t get my feelings hurt? Of course not.
Does this mean that I don’t doubt my own worth? Of course not.
Does this mean I am always confident and able to love myself? Of course not.
But in those moments when I falter and the devil tries to sneak in, I can stand up to him because I have the shield of Jesus.
When someone hurts me or betrays me, I am able to realize that it has nothing to do with my value. I can have compassion on that person because often those who cause hurt are orchestrating out of their own pain.
Remember always, no matter what happens in life, that you are a beautiful child of God, made in His own image.
Remember that you are loved and valued so much that He sent His son to die so you can be saved.
Find your worth in Jesus.
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Experience Each Day 