A Christian quote on self-esteem:
“You are not mature if you have a high esteem of yourself. He who boasts in himself is but a babe in Christ, if indeed he be in Christ at all. Young Christians may think much of themselves. Growing Christians think themselves nothing. Mature Christians know that they are less than nothing. The more holy we are, the more we mourn our infirmities, and the humbler is our estimate of ourselves.”
– By Charles Spurgeon
People with Low Self-Esteem in the Bible
- Gideon doubted his abilities despite God’s call. (Judges 6:1-15).
- He believed the lie that, he could not do what God had called him to accomplish.
In Judges 6:15 (ESV) – “And he said to him, ‘Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.'”
Our self-perception is often false, it is only when we focus and depend on the Holy Spirit for direction that we will be able to step out to do whatever is needed. With God’s help we are stronger and more capable.
God saw something in Gideon; “mighty warrior” that he does not see in himself, strength.
Judges 6:16 – “The LORD turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?’ … The LORD answered, ‘I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.”
People with Excessive Self-Esteem and Pitfalls:
- Nebuchadnezzar’s pride led to his downfall.
Daniel 4:30 (NLT) – “As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.'”
- The opinions that other people hold concerning us
Sometimes, low self-esteem can come from others who might make comments about us. We might not always realise how the people around us are making us feel.
Low self-esteem can also come from the way people in our lives treat us, for example if we are experiencing bullying. But the way we talk to ourselves – or about ourselves – can also affect our self-esteem. If you find you often talk about yourself negatively around others, even if it is as a joke, sometimes this can have a negative impact on the way you feel about yourself.
There are lots of different things that can cause low self-esteem, including things that have happened to us in the past, our mental health, or difficult situations at home. It can also be affected by things like:
- Problems at school
- Bullying
- A traumatic experience
- Abuse or neglect
- Friendships or relationships
- School or exam stress
- Mental health problems
- Physical health problems
- Feeling under pressure from social media to look or act a certain way
- Experiencing discrimination
Overcoming Low Self-Esteem Biblically
- Trusting in God’s promises and seeking His approval.
Psalm 139:14 (ESV) – “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Psalm 71: 5 NIV says, “For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth.”
- Recognizing that God’s love defines our worth – 1 John 3:1 “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” (NLT)
- Depending totally on the Holy Spirit – Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Holy Spirit helps us where we are weak. We do not know how to pray or what we should pray for, but the Holy Spirit prays to God for us with sounds that cannot be put into words.” NLV
- Prayer – praying to God through the leading of the Holy Spirit releases spiritual energy that overcomes the power of low self-esteem. Romans 8:26
- Embracing our identity as children of God – our self-esteem is rooted in our identity in Christ: Romans 8:16 – “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” (NLT)
In summary, understanding and cultivating self-esteem from a biblical perspective involves recognising our identity in Christ, relying on God’s approval, and avoiding the pitfalls of excessive pride or unwarranted self-doubt. God bless you
Altar call: For anyone reading this article who is not saved and wants to be part of the family of God or you want to re-dedicate your life back to Jesus, please repeat this out loud. “Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I have sinned against you. Lord Jesus forgive me of my sins. I repent of my sins. Lord Jesus come into my life and be my Lord now and forever in Jesus Name“
Prayer: Father help me to see myself the way You see me and not allow the negative thoughts of people’s perception about me pull my life and destiny down, in Jesus Name
Feast of Light Word Ministry
Useful Resources:
Overcoming Low Self-Esteem: Biblical Perspective (1) – Feast of light
Dealing with Mental Torment and Harassment(2) – Feast of light
Prayer against mental attacks and infirmity of the mind – Feast of light
