Overcoming Self Hate
Overcomers Week #3
Overcoming Self Hate
Luke 5:8-10; Romans7:24
When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus. Luke 5:8-10
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Romans 7:24
Reasons for Self-Hate:
1. Comparison
Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct. Galatians 6:4-5
2. Criticism
We get so hyper focused on what other people say that we lose sight of what God says
Correction is done out of love, criticism is done out of the desire to be right
Because of the criticism of others, we’ll take their word about us over God’s word about us
3. Blame
If we don’t stop blaming ourselves we will eventually hate ourselves
4. Shame
Blame is what we say, shame is what we feel
Shame shackles us to our past and doesn’t allow us to walk in the freedom that Jesus actually called us to live in
How do we overcome self hatred?
1. Embrace Community
2. Accept Empathy
When we go through seasons of self-hate and shame, we tend to want to run away from God, when in actuality, that should be what draws us to God
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:14-16
3. Understand Value
The value of something is determined by the price that somebody’s willing to pay
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
The real reason we wrestle with self-hate is because we know who we really are
Jesus, help me not to hate what you deeply love and what deeply matters to you, starting with me