4:280 – Don’t Belittle Yourself.

#faithbites #faithjourney belittle

Setting

As you know, I am getting deep into 3D printing and learning how to paint. I look at my work and often say it’s crap. I hate the way it looks. In a meeting today, someone called themselves stupid for making a small mistake. A good friend of mine reminder her to be kind to herself. We are far from perfect. God doesn’t expect perfection neither should we. We need to learn how to see our mistakes as learning opportunities and not as places to keep tearing ourselves down.

Today’s Questions: What do you do when you are feeling down about yourself? How do you move from belittling yourself to loving yourself?

Scripture

• Isaiah 55:8-9 – For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
• 1 Timothy 4:12 – Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Reflection

God made us in his image. He gave us gifts and abilities to succeed. Yes, we all mess up, but we can’t belittle ourselves. We need to be strong and courageous. We know our thoughts and ways are lowers than God’s, but through Christ, we are made clean and forgiven. Don’t let your past mistakes make you treat yourself poorly. Also, don’t let others belittle you. You are a growing, learning, and forgiving child of God. Give yourself some slack!

As we close, remember that you are always changing. The person who made the mistakes yesterday is gone. Christ has forgiven you and is giving you tools to grow. Look at that as a learning experience, not to tear yourself down. Through Christ, we are redeemed.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we are often our own worst critics. Help us to see our mistakes as growth opportunities. We pray that you show us how our mistakes help us learn and prepare us for what you have planned next. We pray this in your name, Amen.