When you hate your life and yourself, you often feel worthless. But you’re not alone. The reality is, that every one of us questions our value at some point.
We all base our worth on how others view us. If someone else finds me worthy of their love, I must be worth something, right? But if I don’t feel like I am receiving approval from anyone, if no one else is noticing my worth, then maybe I’m not worth anything.
We base our value on praise from others either for something we’ve done or bought or the way we look…because essentially, if someone else thinks I’m O.K., then I must be O.K.
While I would like to say, don’t worry about what others think, I don’t think that is realistic.
I think all of us are wired this way….we are wired to be loved and accepted.
The problem is people never love perfectly. Their views and opinions are constantly changing. They can never completely fill us up. And quite honestly, some people love horribly.
Let me just say to the child who has never been unconditionally loved or accepted by a parent, I am truly sorry, but it is NOT your fault, and it does NOT mean you are worthless.
I believe the only way to gain deep-rooted self-worth is to understand how God, your creator, views you. Even if you struggle with something as dark as depression and suicidal thoughts, God can and will help you, because His love is perfect, unconditional, and pure. He thinks you are worthy. Once you understand this in the core of your being, in your soul, you will no longer depend on the fleeting approval of others, but your worth will be built on the solid foundation of an unchanging God.
It is absolutely possible with God’s help to stop hating yourself. If you will start looking at yourself the way God sees you, you can change your self-loathing to self-assurance. You can change from hating yourself to knowing you are made in God’s image. God says you are: awesome, special, loved, cherished, beautiful, chosen, and so much more.
God talks to us through His Word, the Bible. It is His love letter to you. The Bible is full of the truth about how God feels about you.
Do you ever wonder “Am I worthy of God’s love?”
Below are some of my favorite verses from the Bible that describe who you are in God’s eyes.
Let these words soak in. You can even try inserting your name into any one of these statements from the Bible.
God designed you and thought of you before you were born
Imagine being dreamed about before you were even born – God dreamed about you!
“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalm 139:13-16)
Imagine how it would feel to have someone love you so much they couldn’t stop thinking about you – that’s God!
“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” (Psalm 139:17-18)
Imagine someone singing a love song just for you- God does!!
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
Imagine someone tattooing your name on their hand – God has!!
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” (Psalm 49:15-16)
Imagine never having to worry about being alone – God is always there.
“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)
Imagine someone who finds joy in knowing you – God does!
“He brought me out into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.” (Psalm 18:19)
“The LORD’s delight is in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love.” (Psalm 147:11)
Imagine someone who is willing to take on your burdens – God will!
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Imagine someone who doesn’t care about your past, but will accept you and make you new – that’s God.
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Imagine being thought of as priceless, created with a purpose in mind.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Imagine a love so deep that someone would offer their child’s life to save yours and then make you their child – that’s what God did.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” (Ephesians 1:4)
“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)
Imagine that despite your past mistakes, someone offers you a do-over for free, that will not be taken away – God offers you this!
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.” (Romans 8:1-2)
Are you beginning to understand? You are SO precious. Not because of what people think, not because of what you do, not because you look a certain way or have achieved a certain thing. You are worth so much because God loves you. Even if you struggle with something as overwhelming as self-harm, depression, and suicide, prayer and leaning toward God can change your life. If you want to learn more, here are some more resources for finding self-worth and some additional verses of hope.
