For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus...

Ephesians 2:10

No one is born with low self-esteem. It is a bad habit that we develop when we forget who God made us to be in Christ. If we suffer from low self-esteem, we often feel unloved and not good enough to be loved. Such a negative feeling sows the seeds of self-loathing and insecurity, and if it is remains unhealed, it may even lead to the path of destructive behaviour.

Low self-esteem has nothing to do with our human flaws or weaknesses. After all, every one of us do have them. Rather, it is seeing ourselves through a distorted tunnel vision which obscures the truth that we are God's perfect workmanship in Christ.

The Greek word for "workmanship" is poiema, which means "poetry, a work of art and a masterpiece". You are God's divine work, supernaturally crafted you in Christ Jesus. This truth will cure you of the curse of low self-esteem.

Low self-esteem lacks the depth of God's perspective.

Gideon almost let the paralysis of low self-esteem and worthlessness robbed him from fulfilling his destiny. (Judges 6) God called Gideon "a mighty man of valour" even though, at that point, he was far from it. In doing so, God wanted Gideon to reassess himself in the way God sees him, and not by how he felt about himself.

Without revelation from God’s Word and understanding it, many of us will maintain a routine way of thinking that isn't healthy and often far from the truth. However, every time you identify yourself through the lens of the gospel, you will experience a sound mind, freedom and peace. As such, it is good to develop an understanding of how much God values you and cultivate the vocabulary of how you value yourself in the light of God's Word.

A healthy awareness of who God made you in Christ offers you the grace to grow beyond your flaws and weaknesses to see your true sense of self. Instead of agonising over a crippling sense of low self-esteem, start recognising your true worth in God’s eyes and live out this revelation in your life's direction and experiences.