Self-Worth

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The world is full of hurting people. For many, social media has become an outlet to express their pain and disappointment. We are taught in middle school the hierarchy of needs: food, clothing, shelter, and some include love. I think we should include, in this list, the need for self-worth or purpose in life. So many have a low sense of self-worth. This stems first from the sin nature. Satan wants us to feel worthless in order to control us and sling a blow at God because God loves His human creation best. Even those who have been redeemed by Christ will still suffer from low self-worth. People seek feelings of worthiness and importance through careers, education, money, and social status. But most often their feelings of self-worth are based on the acceptance of others. When we depend on others to feel important or loved, we begin to be manipulated by others. We begin to make bad life choices. Women become promiscuous or allow men to mistreat them just to be loved. Men are promiscuous to feel desired; they ignore their families trying to impress or be like other men they revere. Children get sucked into overwhelming competition to impress parents or other friends. Parents get caught in the vicious cycle of providing the best materially or making sure their kids are the best in school and sports in order to be viewed as ideal parents. The examples are endless. I have, in the past, based my self-worth on how some view me. It was not society in general, but some close family members. I also sought the acceptance and love of some church members. The people we love the most will sometimes toss us aside or turn on us when it benefits them. I had to learn to run to Jesus in prayer and let Him change my way of thinking. It is only when we make a choice to, absolutely, refuse to let the opinions of others dictate our thoughts and choices that we can be free to find our true worth. For me, I choose to find my self-worth in God's purpose for my life and the redemption of Jesus my Savior.