Self Worth (June Hunt Hope for the Heart) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the orphanage considering which child they would choose—which child they would cherish—as “well-dressed and carefully manicured. We could hear their muffled conversations, ‘She’s cute, isn’t she?’ or, ‘There’s one we might want to talk about.’ My heart beat faster. ‘Try me,’ I screamed within, hoping that someone would look at me and want me. But my day never came. I soon got the message—only cute children are chosen.”
    Dorie lost out every time she was compared to the other children. She was never chosen—never—not once. 20 How could she not compare herself to others under those circumstances?
    However, God had a plan for Dorie, and He would work out His purpose, His will for her life. The Bible makes this clear:
    “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” (Ephesians 1:11)
    Has comparing yourself to others become so automatic that you hardly notice you’re doing it? People often compare themselves to others in appearance, abilities, affluence, and accomplishments. Read the statements below to see whether they have become part of your self-talk.
A PPEARANCE
Physical features: “I am not as attractive as ...”
Clothes: “I cannot dress as nicely as ...”
Mannerisms: “I am not as graceful or suave as ...”
A BILITIES
Physical abilities: “I am not as athletic as ...”
Mental abilities: “I am not as smart as ...”
Social abilities: “I am not as popular as ...”
A FFLUENCE
Financial/job status: “I am not as financially secure as ...”
Family status: “I don’t have a home as nice as ...”
Social status: “I am not as influential as ...”
A CCOMPLISHMENTS
Education: “I don’t have as many degrees as ...”
Talent: “I am not as gifted as ...”
Recognition: “I am not as accomplished as ...”
    MYTH: “I’ll never be able to stop comparing myself to others.”
    TRUTH: Life is a series of choices, and while you may feel that you cannot change, God would not instruct you to do something without giving you the power to do it. God says if you compare yourself to others, you are not wise.
    “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12)
WHY IS Wrong Thinking So Wrong?
    Dorie had every reason to develop wrong thinking and form faulty perceptions of herself. From her earliest memories, all she was told was that she didn’t do anything right, that everything was her fault, that she wasn’t good enough, that no one loved her or found value in her. Besides all that, she knew she was ugly. She thought, “I must be the ugliest child that ever walked. I felt so ugly on the inside that I believed I was ugly on the outside ... maybe it’s my curly hair or my nose!” 21
    Do you go through life fearing what others think? Some people look in the mirror and see only an ugly duckling—a sad little bird with no self-worth. In her early years, Dorie considered herself the “ugly duckling”—ugly, unadoptable Dorie. Not only was she called ugly, but she also felt ugly because of the repeated pain of rejection.
    In Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale “The Ugly Duckling,” the title character felt rejected and rebuffed by all the barnyard birds because they didn’t like his looks or his awkward waddle. He didn’t see the beautiful swan that was within, although the beauty was there all along.
    In truth, many people suffer from self-rejection, thinking they possess no personal value. Yet like this young little duckling, they look only to their outer image to determine their inner worth.
    If they could see what God sees, what a difference that would make! The Bible says ...
    “From heaven the L ORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth—he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.” (Psalm 33:13–15)
    Low