Your problem is NOT unique, for even believers in Christ can have low self-esteem. The main reason for this is illustrated by what you have said, for it is obvious that you are overly occupied with “me, myself and I”; in other words, with SELF. As long as you are “trying do things so that people can appreciate YOU,” you will always be frustrated which in turn will cause low self-esteem and doubts about yourself. Thankfully there is a very simple cure and that cure is being occupied with CHRIST! When the believer has Christ as his/her OBJECT, they will then “try to do things so that people can appreciate CHRIST”; to bring glory to His blessed Name instead of glory to your name. By being focused on Christ you will also see how much Christ loves and appreciates you, which will rid you of low self-esteem and allow you to live a life free of frustration. And instead of having “doubts about yourself,” you will be free of these as well, for you won’t even be thinking of yourself!

One of my favorite scriptures related to this issue is Galatians 2:20 which says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Let’s look at this phrase by phrase to learn how the truth of this wonderful verse can solve your problem.

“I have been crucified with Christ”…These words teach us that you, as a believer in Christ, were identified with Christ in His death on the cross. God saw YOU there too! Romans 6:6 declares, “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” God knew that we were born in sin (see Psalm 51:5) and were members of a fallen race with Adam as our fallen head. At the cross He judged us (when He judged His Son) and condemned the SINFUL nature we were born with (see Romans 8:4). In God’s eyes that was the end of our life as a sinner and when we apply this truth to our life we will “no longer be slaves of sin.”

“it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”…Again, in your question above you referred to “I, me and myself.” You need to set your eyes on Christ, who now “lives in you.” In Colossians 1:27 we read, “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory.” The moment you trusted in Christ as your Lord and Savior He came to live in you and now He wants His life to shine out of you. As we are taken up with our Savior and His love, His life will indeed be manifested to all around us; they will no longer see US; they will see CHRIST! Listen to Paul’s words in 2nd Corinthians 4:10-11, “Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that THE LIFE OF JESUS ALSO MAY BE MANIFESTED IN OUR BODY. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that THE LIFE OF JESUS ALSO MAY BE MANIFESTED IN OUR MORTAL FLESH.”

“and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”…Paul had his eye on the right OBJECT. He was fixated on Christ, and this gave him the desire and the power to live the rest of his life here on earth by simple faith in Christ. He was NOT occupied with “his love for Christ” but rather on “Christ’s love for him,” and this was the key to him living a life of “faithful service to God” (see 2nd Corinthians 5:14-15).  He had no problem with “self-esteem” for he knew “he was loved by Christ” and that gave him all the “self-esteem” he needed. Instead of seeking man’s favor and applause; he was more than content to know that his life of service was pleasing to Christ. He could say from his heart, “For to me, to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). When Christ is our NUMBER ONE OBJECT, we will truly know what it is TO LIVE!  (423.3)  (DO)