What if you were ignored as a child? Or, left alone a lot? Neglected? How confusing would it be for a child to try to figure out life? My heart is heavy, thinking about the children of the parents who have trauma, addictions, and emotional woundedness.

A young man once told me, “Bad things always happen to me because that’s just who I am.” He continued, “I’ve always been on my own. Life has been a challenge. No one has been there for me. So, I’ve made a lot of mistakes trying to figure out life. I just tell myself, ‘Bad things happen to me because that’s just who I am.’”

I wanted to say, Jesus loves you. But he already knew about Jesus’ love. He just couldn’t get that love to live down in his soul.

So, the question is this: What will you tell yourself today? What view of self do you repeat? Does it build you up and encourage you or does it break you down and leave you lonely and unworthy?

Prayer

Father, forgive me. I am better at calling myself names, trashing myself, and looking down on myself. My view of me is not your view of me. Help me today to run on love and Jesus. Help me Holy Spirit. And bless me Father. Amen.

Bible

Because we are his children, God has sent his Son’s Spirit to live inside us. His Spirit causes us to call God, ‘Father, my Father’. So you are not slaves any more, but you are God’s children. And because of that, you will receive all the good things that God has promised. – Galatians 4:6-7 (EASY)