Life is hard at times. During down times we tend to look down on ourselves. Some of us begin to hate ourselves and our lives. Discouragement sets in and we stop looking after ourselves. We disregard our diet, our self-care, begin to let things around us lie untouched and gather dust. Our self-loathing begins to reflect in the things we do. At such times it is important to remember that God loves us. God didn’t create us because He had to, instead He created us because He wanted to and He wants us to love ourselves too.
The Importance of Self Care
Ephesians 5:29 says, “For no one has ever hated his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it.” Some people turn to self destructive habits which reveal their hatred for themselves. For example, a person who turns to alcohol, drugs or smoking knows in their mind that they are addictive and harmful to us. Yet they use them disregarding every good advice. Such things may give them minor relief from their problems but don’t really change the situation. When the ‘high’ is over, they return to reality and feel worse than before. The craving to have ‘more’ comes and the vicious cycle goes on till it causes them to lose their health or their life.
Proverbs 19:8 says, “He who gains Wisdom loves his own life; he who keeps understanding shall prosper and find good.”
You are a Gift from God!
What is the first gift God gave you? Every living soul has received it. It is the gift of Life. Besides life God gave you another very unique and special gift. That gift is ‘YOU’ – who you are as a person. Psalm 139:13-15 says, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.”
God made you unique and special – one of a kind. The fact that you have a unique thumb print that is different from every other living human being is proof that you are special. Science can verify this Biblical truth for you. You may have encountered people who hated you and disliked you but that doesn’t in any way mean that you are not special. It only shows that those people who did so were mean in spirit and had a stony-heart.
The Importance of ‘Loving Oneself’
You may wonder “Is it Biblical to love yourself?” Well, it is Biblical. Mark 12:31 says, “The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.” Do you see that the base on which you are to love your neighbor is the way you love yourself. There are some people who love themselves so much that they forget about others. This verse reminds such people to think about others the same way they love themselves.
Unfortunately, there are also people from the other end of the spectrum who have been badly beaten in the race of life who don’t love themselves much. It is especially so if their childhood had been difficult and lonely. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart.“ Jesus has Himself suffered so He knows your suffering. In Psalm 91: 15-16 God promises those who suffer, “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.”
Jesus Gave His Life for You!
You have value! God looks upon you with such great value that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sake – so high is the value He places on you.
In John 15: 9 Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” Jesus wants you to take care of yourself. He wants you to enjoy good and spend your life knowing you are loved and cherished by Him. Let us acknowledge His love for us and let go of all despair and embrace the ‘Joy of the Lord‘ because Nehemiah 8:10 says, “And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold.”
Let us be good stewards – ‘caretakers’ of this person, personality, body, mind and heart that God has entrusted us with. Let us treat our ‘self’ with care because He cares for us! Let us seek to know God’s plan and purpose for our life. Let us find those things that He created us for. We will learn that the things we enjoy are the things that God wired us for. We will find God has dreams for us to fulfill and He wants us to enjoy this journey of life like an adventure and not look at life as a burden.
Celebrate the Life God gave you
The thought of taking one’s life and wanting to commit suicide is the worst insult to God who created us. It is like throwing away the best gift He gave you just because someone else treated you badly or because you didn’t get some ‘thing’ that you wanted. David wrote in Psalm 27:10, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” Don’t focus on those who hate you, focus on the Loving Father Who truly loves you!
Jesus says in John 16:24, “Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.“
Ask Jesus to come into your heart and your life and you will never be lonely again. He has promised in Joshua 1:5, “I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
