SELF-HATRED

A lot of us express self-hatred in the way we look at ourselves and our life experiences. Perhaps we were brought up in an abusive home and the bare necessities of life were not available to us so we lived in anxiety about our future well-being.  We tend to compare our lot with that of others and grumble about how disadvantaged we were.  We blame God and others for our missed opportunities and the way we are today.

I am sick of life!  And from my deep despair, I complain to you, my God.  Do you look at things the way we humans do? Is your life as short as ours? Is that why you are so quick to find fault with me? You know I am innocent, but who can defend me against you?  (Job 10:1, 4-7 CEV)

Many of the people we read about in the Bible lived lonely fruitless lives until God called them out of their darkness and walked with them on the path He had planned for their lives.  Moses was a murderer and unsure of his ability to speak when God called him. Gideon was a coward and hiding from his nation’s oppressors when God called him.  However imperfect or ineffective we see ourselves, God is calling us and empowering us to fulfill the plan He has for our lives.

Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.  (Acts 3:16 NLT)

When we give our will and life over to the care of God, it is faith in Jesus' name that restores us in body, mind and spirit. The sacrifice Jesus made for our sins on the cross and His subsequent resurrection proclaims to demonic oppressors that they are powerless to stand against Jesus. As we repent of our sins and allow Jesus to come into our lives and make us new, we will find that self-hatred no longer has power over us.

So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. (Hebrews 10:22-23 MSG)

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are mighty to save, please deliver me from the demonic oppression of self-hatred. I have come to believe that through You, all my sins have been forgiven and I am made perfect both inside and out. Amen