Lesson 4: Unworthiness
Unworthiness is another area of bondage that takes root in our hearts and minds when self-love and a sense of identity is absent. Unworthiness has to do with the way we feel about ourselves. Those who carry unworthiness have a poor view of themselves (low self-worth) and hold a lot of unresolved shame. Breaking free from unworthiness means healing our shame and accepting and loving all the parts of who we are despite whether or not anyone else does. Only God can transform us from the inside out and place in us a self-worth that is based on how he defines us. A God-centered self-worth is rooted in what the word of God says about us. Even though the world bases self-worth on what is seen on the outside (e.g., physical appearance, wealth, status, achievements, career, etc.), we serve a God who bases our worth on the identity we have "in Christ". When we allow ourselves to agree with the lie of unworthiness, we cut ourselves off from our God-given destiny. In order for God to use us at our full potential, we need to overcome feelings of unworthiness and KNOW who we are in Christ.
The enemy loves to attack our self-worth. He will use anything to get us to hold onto past sins, disappointments, failures, and unforgiveness. Such thoughts and feelings arise when we don’t accept the forgiveness and grace that God offers us in Christ. We need to break agreement with such thoughts and feelings and learn how to receive God the Father’s love and forgiveness. God has wiped the slate clean! He doesn’t want us holding onto our past sins and beating ourselves up for our past mistakes.
Hurtful and abusive words spoken to us as children can affect our self-worth. Believers who struggle with unworthiness often times have a difficult time accepting Father God's love. This can be because of a damaged relationship with their earthy father because the way we relate to our earthly father often times is the same way we relate to our heavenly Father. For this reason, it's important that we keep in mind "hurt people hurt people". Those who hurt others do so because they themselves need inner healing and haven't learned how to process through their own difficult emotions and wounds. As a result, they tend to put others down or speak abusively to them. It is these hurtful words and lies that people speak over us that can affect our own sense of self-worth. As believers, we need to pray for those who offend us, extend them forgiveness, and hold them accountable when necessary.
Ways unworthiness may show up:
Tips for overcoming unworthiness:
The enemy loves to attack our self-worth. He will use anything to get us to hold onto past sins, disappointments, failures, and unforgiveness. Such thoughts and feelings arise when we don’t accept the forgiveness and grace that God offers us in Christ. We need to break agreement with such thoughts and feelings and learn how to receive God the Father’s love and forgiveness. God has wiped the slate clean! He doesn’t want us holding onto our past sins and beating ourselves up for our past mistakes.
Hurtful and abusive words spoken to us as children can affect our self-worth. Believers who struggle with unworthiness often times have a difficult time accepting Father God's love. This can be because of a damaged relationship with their earthy father because the way we relate to our earthly father often times is the same way we relate to our heavenly Father. For this reason, it's important that we keep in mind "hurt people hurt people". Those who hurt others do so because they themselves need inner healing and haven't learned how to process through their own difficult emotions and wounds. As a result, they tend to put others down or speak abusively to them. It is these hurtful words and lies that people speak over us that can affect our own sense of self-worth. As believers, we need to pray for those who offend us, extend them forgiveness, and hold them accountable when necessary.
Ways unworthiness may show up:
- An inability to receive from others (a receiving problem)
- Victim mentality
- Pauper mentality
- Difficulty saying, “I love you” in the mirror
- Focusing too much on the negative
- Not letting go of the past (e.g., sins, disappointments, abuse, mistakes, etc.)
- Placing more importance on the outward person (e.g., appearance, possessions, status, etc.) rather than the inward person
Tips for overcoming unworthiness:
- Allow yourself to receive joyfully and understand that it is God doing the giving!
- Learn to love yourself for who Christ made you to be
- Understand that your self-worth is based on who you are "in Christ"
- Focus on how you want to be now rather than the failures of your past
- Allow yourself to be forgiven of past sins
- Renew your mind with the scriptures
- Know you are loved and wanted by Jesus!
Assignment
- Download, print, and read the Unworthiness chapter below.
| Unworthiness Chapter |