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Welcome back to episode four of the St. Lorenz, Stephen Ministry, caring for you podcast. Today's episode is all about identity and self-worth. How you view yourself, how you feel important, valuable, how you feel good about yourself. We'll explore all of that in a moment. But if you are new here, this podcast, it's all about you. We aim to bring you Christ healing love during the hard. The crises, the grief, the difficult life challenges you may be facing. And Stephen Ministry. we are all about caring for you when you need it. Most. Stephen Ministry is a confidential, safe space for you to talk through the areas of your life that you are struggling with. We want to be Jesus' hands and feet for you. As we walk alongside you. My name is Lisa Stasik and I am your host. I am also a Stephen minister. Additionally, I author a blog called Hope Persevered, and I am so excited to be here with you today, as we discuss this topic of self-worth and self-esteem together. And it's really important that we cover this topic because as you will learn in this episode, how you view yourself and what you allow to be, that thing, all right. Or that reason if you will, for feeling good about yourself, It can have such a profound impact on so many areas of your life. On your personal life. Professional life on your career and how you approach it and your relationships, and even in your spiritual lives. All right, let's kick this off with a question. What makes you valuable? What makes you valuable when you think about self-worth and the sense of identity. What comes to your mind? Do you think about how you perceive yourself? Maybe you list through some areas of your life that make you feel good about yourself. You know, it could be your family, your career, your home, maybe other possessions or successes that you have had. Before we get too far into it. Let's define self-worth. Self-worth is defined. It's this. Self-esteem. Self-respect. Self-worth is the opinion you have about yourself and the value you place on yourself. The value you place on yourself. What makes you feel valuable or good about yourself? Maybe you have the job you've always wanted. Maybe you, if you're honest with yourself, that's what makes you feel important? Right? I feel like you measure up. Or maybe it's your family or success in an area of your life? I recently came across a quote from the late Timothy Keller and it says this. Here's the quote."An idol is whatever you look at and say in your heart of hearts. If I have that, then I'll feel my life has meaning, then I'll know I have value. Then I'll feel significant secure.". The context of this quote is idols, but it also correlates to our sense of self-worth. If I have that. Then I'll feel my life has meaning. Then I'll know I have value, then I'll feel significant and secure. You know, we often we put our worth and the value we place on ourselves. It's so easily connected to what we have or what we have achieved. We ended up, we play this game that if I have whatever it is in your life that you're waiting to fill, then. My life will have meaning. Or be what I want it to be without realizing it we're after the same thing, this sense of value. this significance, this security in our personal lives relationships. Marriage professionally. but did you catch that sequence? If. Then. If then, you'll find yourself trapped. If I can just get that job. Or if I can just get that house. Or if I can just get that relationship to be different or that group of friends, Then my life will get going, then it'll be right. Be what I envisioned, what I wanted kind of thing. We tie our worth and our value to all these things that were never supposed to hold our worth or our value. We make them be something they were never meant to be. And that is a complete trap. The enemy he wants you trapped in the lie that tells you this isn't good enough, this life, whatever it is that you're facing, that you wanting to be different. That you're waiting on. It's not good enough that you're not good enough. And the life that you envision. The value you place on yourself will be better. If then. Did you see how, when you place yourself worth. How will you feel good about yourself and your life when it's dependent upon certain situations? Circumstances and achievements being met. You'll never get there. Because when we measure our value, When you measure your worth, how you feel good about yourself when it's tied up in your capabilities? And what you have, what you can do, the achievements you've made or the things of this world. You will always come up short. Because there will always be something that you're waiting for. You'll be waiting to fill that if, to meet your, then. Like we talked about a few moments ago and you'll never get there. But remember what we already pointed out. The enemy wants you trapped in the lie that continuously tells you. This isn't good enough. And I can't help, but picture our hamster wheel, you run and run and run and it never ends. There will always be something else. Always something else to achieve. Always something else to gain, always something else that you wish was just different. But what I hope to do in this episode is to help shift your perspective. Help shift your perspective on what makes you truly valuable. And to do that, we are going to look at what it means to have a Christ centered identity and identity and self worth. That is rooted in the truth of Scripture. An identity in Christ. Absolutely transform your life. It'll transform your mind, your relationships and that transformation. It is absolutely freeing. But how do you get there? How do we get this Christ? Centered identity. You can't have a Christ centered identity. This self-worth this value you place on yourself without knowing what God's word says. Without knowing what God's word says about you. And how God sees you. We will explore God's word together and discover some essential truths about your identity and your worth as declared by the Lord Almighty the creator of all things. But what does it mean to have an identity in Christ? It's important. We define it. So there is no question. An identity in Christ. It means this that you view yourself. You value yourself through the lens of who Christ says you are. Through the lens of the cross and the lens of God's Holy Word. You view yourself, you value yourself through the lens of who Christ says you are. Through the lens of the cross. And through the lens of God's Holy Word. Before we dive into the truth of Scripture and where your worth comes from. It's important that we look at where it doesn't come from. We will look at some common traps that you and I can be led to believe that makes us feel valuable, worthy, important. You see the enemy, he wants you trapped in the lies that tell you your worth. Your value. What makes you good enough? All of that, it depends on your career, your success, your family, your marriage, your relationships, your children, your health, your friends, the list can go on. It's that same lie that we talked about in the beginning. If I have that. Then. I'll feel my life has meaning then I'll know I have value. Then I'll feel significant secure. Alright to illustrate this when your self-worth and your value To illustrate where it doesn't come from. We're going to look at some common, subtle lies that are easy to get trapped in. On the surface, they may seem true. they may even feel true. But we're going to contrast those with the truth of Scripture. Alright, here we go. Lie number one. Your career makes you important. It's your success and your job that make you valuable. No. The truth is you are valuable because Jesus who chose that cross chose you as His own. He says you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. That's John 15, verse 16. You did not choose me, but I chose you. Although your career, it may bring you a feeling of joy. And it certainly can be a gift from God and you may be following God's will Your career. It does not define you. All right. Lie number two. Your past mistakes. What you are a shamed of, you can't get past it. There is no moving forward. You will never change. if I could just get past. whatever comes to mind here then. No the truth is your worth is not tied to your mistakes. Jesus who chose that cross. He chose a cross to forgive your sins. And in his forgiveness, you are made new. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come. Second Corinthians five verse 17. Lie number three. I'm a good person. I do. Whatever comes to mind here, list off some things that make you feel like a good person. I'm a good person. I don't do maybe list some things that comes to mind that you refrain from doing My worth is dependent upon what I do and what I choose not to do. The truth is what you choose to do and not do can reflect your character. And can certainly honor God. but they do not define your worth in Christ. If that were true, your worth and value. My worth and value, it would be completely dependent upon what we do, what we achieve. No your value and your worth does not wax and wane depending on your actions. Your value is secured at that cross and Jesus' resurrection. Jesus who said to him, I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me. That's John 14, verse eight. And lie, number four. You're worth. It depends on what other people think of you. It depends on whether or not they accept you. The truth. No, it doesn't. All right. In the book, it's called The Search For Significance. It's by Robert S. McGee. And it is put this way. Here's the quote."Isn't it amazing. That we turn to others who have a perspective as limited and darkened as our own discover our worth. Rather than relying on God's steady, uplifting reassurance of who we are. We depend on others whom. Base our worth on our ability to meet their standards". I love the way that is put their opinion does not determine your value. It does not define you. God does not say. Yeah, you're a little more valuable to me today because so-and-so thinks highly of you. We can kind of laugh at that. How untrue that is. You are accepted by the God of all creation. And Jesus who chose that cross. He chose you as his own."But now this is what the Lord says. He who created you, Jacob. He who formed you Israel. Do not fear for, I have redeemed you. I have summoned to you by name. You are mine". That's Isaiah 43 verse one. It can be easy to allow the circumstances around us. Our achievements, the things we do, the opinions of others. To shape who we are and the value we have on ourselves, but it was never meant to be that way. Your worth is secure that cross and nothing will change that. I hope this episode, I hope it helped shift your perspective today. And if this topic of identity and self-worth self-esteem is something you feel the Lord nudging you on. I hope you will consider talking with Stephen minister. Stephen Ministry is a confidential and free Ministry. And talking with a compassionate. Trustworthy, Stephen minister may be just what God has planned to help carry you through. If you feel broken right now in how you view yourself. In your self-esteem in your value, your identity. Through the cross of Jesus. God can make you whole. And the heart of Stephen Ministry is rooted in the Biblical principle. That Christ cares for people through people. at St. Lorenz, we have a team of Stephen Ministers waiting to walk alongside you to support you and care for you. More information about our Stephen Ministry program can be found@christgiveshope.org. If you're interested in Stephen Ministry for yourself or a loved, one more information can be found@christgiveshope.org. Please also take a moment to subscribe. So you don't miss any future episodes and it, quick note, this is not medical advice. If you need professional care or care from a physician that is beyond the scope of Stephen Ministry. Thank you so much for listening and God's blessings to you.