Did you catch it? I used the word insignificance above. Some people think too highly of themselves while others struggle with self-condemnation. Where's the right balance?
I've chatted with individuals online who beat themselves up over past mistakes, character flaws, or the echoes from voices of people who were supposed to love and cherish them but instead berated them - or worse. The victim's self-hate is further fed by an enemy that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. Such thinking can only lead to grim places with grave consequences unless someone or something points them in another direction.
For some, the self-condemnation could be the Holy Spirit convicting them of their sin and their need to make peace with God. A profession of faith in Jesus Christ transforms one's sense of self. Often, it's palpable even during an anonymous Internet chat.
To encourage people who are shrouded in darkness and convinced they're worthless, I try to help them see themselves as God does. Yes, He sees their sin, but all of us have that, and He offered to cancel it when He came to Earth and shed His blood for us.
Beyond sin, all He sees with His overflowing love is His own wonderful creation, each person unique, No one has the same appearance or combination of interests, aptitudes, and skills. That's mind-boggling.
With those special attributes, each of us has a role to play in His kingdom - something that no one else can fulfill with the same touch and effect. And how can we hope to fulfill His plan for us until we belong to Him? Once a person understands that they may be a missing piece to an important puzzle in someone else's life and shifts their focus to God's love and His plan, the fuel for self-hate has been extinguished.
Your life is precious, dear friend. You are one of a kind.
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