Sometimes on the road to loving ourselves, we encounter negative thoughts that tell us that we’re unworthy of God’s affection, that we aren’t smart enough, that we aren’t good enough, or just that we aren’t enough.
Several years ago, I went through a life-altering circumstance that made me question my value. Before that hardship, I was confident in who God created me to be, but afterwards, the pain of what happened left me feeling inadequate and void of hope. My life had been shattered in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I was unable to forgive or figure out how life could ever be good again.
Perhaps you too have experienced a life-altering event that has made you question your worth, or made you wonder if you could ever live an abundant life again. In Mark 12: 31 the Word of God admonishes us to love ourselves and offer love to our neighbors,
“The second is this: love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”
This verse in Mark 12: 31 points out that we should love our neighbor, but I believe it’s important that we look at Mark 12:30 and consider what our first commandment is…
It says that we should first love the Lord.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (NIV)
Here, in Scripture, the Lord says,
- Love God with all your heart. When our love for Him is uninhibited by other distractions, it rules our heart and mind to love ourselves and others in the right way.
- Love God with all your soul. Our soul can tie us to hurtful experiences that can pull our heart into a state of unforgiveness. The more we feel good enough to accept God’s forgiveness, the better we can offer it to others.
- Love God with all your mind. God didn’t create anyone outside of His image. He is love and He thinks good thoughts towards us. When we replace our negative thoughts with God’s perception of us we will have renewed hope about our future.
- Love God with all your strength. Every day that we journey through life, we will face challenges that weaken our hope about the times ahead, but as we take heart to God’s directives, we realize that we can rise above our deepest hurts and keep going. Our strength doesn’t come from a place of unrealized goodness, but our strength is obtained from a powerful God who is always good.
The way we view God’s goodness is closely related to our affection for ourselves and others. So today, if you’re questioning your value and wonder if you’re good enough, practice loving God and His love will flow to you and others.
Dear God, thank You for Your affection that pursues us even when we feel unworthy of Your love. Help us receive Your love in a way that makes us feel renewed in hope daily—despite our circumstances. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
About the Author:
Jackie Smith-Bell , is a Christ follower and a genuine friend, who loves to encourage others to trust God. She firmly believes in the promise found in Deuteronomy 31:6, “God will never abandon you,” and she shares this truth with everyone she meets. She’s a writer, speaker, and Bible teacher and has been a guest writer for several blogs, and podcasts. Jackie lives in Georgia, with her loving husband of 30 years. She and her husband have three adult children and three grandchildren whom she affectionately calls her grandgifts, because they are treasured gifts from God.
Connect with Jackie:
https://www.jackiesmithbell.com
https://www.instagram.com/jackiesmithbell
https://www.facebook.com/jackie.smithbell
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