You feel bad about yourself. You have low self-esteem, self-worth, self-image. “I’m a loser, I’m stupid, no one loves me.” Relationships don’t help you; she cheats on you and he dumps you, and they are just speed bumps and roadblocks as you try to feel good about yourself. You can’t get out from under this rock. You’ve tried eating your way out of this with comfort foods, you’ve tried drowning your sorrows with alcohol and escaping through drugs. You’ve thought of suicide. It is desperate. Where can you turn?
I want to turn you to God’s glory. He is big and wonderful and amazing. He is the God who created the universe, the God of the Grand Canyon and Aurora Borealis and South Dakota stars and sunsets, the God of galaxies and He knows every star by name. The angels cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory! (Isaiah 6:3)” He is the God of miracles and the God of “blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to Him forever and ever! Amen. (Revelation 7:12)” “Consider the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable (deep and complex) are His ways (Romans 11:33)!” Do you have that picture of God yet?
And this is the God who created you in His image (Genesis 1:26-27) and you are of great value to Him, more than the sparrows of the air or lilies of the field (Matthew 6:28-29 and 10:31). He knit you together in your mother’s womb and you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14). You are made a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned with glory and honor; you have dominion over the works of your hands (Psalm 8:5-6). God is the father who waits for you, the prodigal son, to return to Him (Luke 15:11-32). He is the God who saves you through Jesus, who died for your sins, and as a child of God, you are adopted into His kingdom as a son or daughter (Galatians 4:5-6, Romans 8:15-17). He is your Father and He has given you His Spirit; He loves you abundantly! He has created you to do good works (Ephesians 2:10) and calls you for HIs glory (Isaiah 43:6-7) and to be part of His body, His building, His nation (1 Peter 2:9). God says you belong to Him and you are valuable.
In all things you do, whether you eat, drink, or sleep, give glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31); you’re not just eating a hot dog, but eating a hot dog to the glory of God. All of your life in Christ is for Christ and has meaning, purpose, and value. You are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). As a Christian, a believer and follower of Jesus, in relationship with Jesus, you can have confidence. Think highly of yourself, as God thinks of you, and love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love and minister to others. You have low self-esteem and poor self-image? You’re missing God. You are hungry for spiritual satisfaction, and the answer is God. Good self-esteem, self-worth, and self-image begin with God. And God says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).” God says, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price (Isaiah 55:1).” And He will fill you up.