The Lie of Unworthiness

Today, we will be discussing the difficult truth that many of us struggle with, the LIE OF UNWORTHINESS. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity, making it hard to step into our greatness. By recognizing the lie of unworthiness, we can begin to own our power, confidence, and worthiness, allowing us to rise up and reach our fullest potential.

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.” – 2 Corinthians 10:12

Transcript

Unknown: 0:57

So, ladies, your natural instinct is to worry. You worry about your children, your health, your relationship and everything else under the sun. It's a classic case of worrywart syndrome. If you tend to worry needlessly, you are not alone. Welcome to the She Strives with Faith podcast with Berthena Jackson. Berthena is a two time divorcee, a single mother and war veteran who suffered from anxiety but learned to let go and let God. Berthena will share captivating and down to earth conversations on how to strive by faith. Here's your host Berthena Jackson.

BERTHENA JACKSON: 1:56

Hello, beautiful sisters. Welcome back to the She Strives with Faith podcast. I pray that after listening to this episode, you will be pushed into your greatness. So let's get this podcast poppin. But first, let's take a quick break to listen to my new single, She Strives with Faith. Just kidding. Today we're going to be discussing the difficult truth that many of us struggle with, the Lie of Unworthiness. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. It makes it hard to step into our greatness. Let's dive into this topic to see what we can learn and how we can push past these lies to become the extraordinary women we were meant to be. How many times have you said to yourself, I'm not good enough? If you ever have said this, then the enemy is at your table. We've got to be really careful about this lie because scripture calls us to be humble. Sometimes we think that thinking less of ourselves, honors God. But that's not true. God created you and me in His image. It doesn't mean we should walk around with a "it's all about me persona". Nor does it mean we should wallow in the misery of "I don't measure up". Let me tell you something. There are two outcomes the devil wants you to follow. He either wants you have an overinflated ego or an under appreciated sense of how significant and valuable you are. No matter what you've accomplished, or how much truth from God's word you've heard over the years, the enemy wants you to believe you're not enough. Maybe someone told you you'd never amount to anything, Maybe a spouse walked out, or the man you've waited for never walked through the door. Maybe you have always wished you looked like someone else, or had the spiritual gifts that a friend has. Perhaps a dump truck of guilt backed into your story at some point, and unloaded a spirit of shame on you. Hey, I totally understand. We've all been through bad stuff. But listen, having bad experiences doesn't make us unworthy. Here's the thing. Some people have faced far worse challenges in life and still succeeded. Okay, so if they can do it, why can't you? You have just as much potential as anyone else. So listen, it's time to stop your past. Stop letting your past holds you back and move forward. It's time to take a stand against self doubt and rise up to reach your full potential. It's important to remember my sister that if someone else has achieved success despite their struggles, then so can you. No matter your past, you have the same capacity for greatness that anyone else does. You can be just as successful as anyone else. And all it takes is the courage to believe in yourself and take the steps to make your dreams a reality. Here's the thing you need to know. The not enough anthem was composed in the pit of hell. Yes, I said it! The pit of hell. It's crippling, debilitating, paralyzing and suffocating. And guess what? It didn't come from the Good Shepherd. When you hear it and repeat it, there's probably an enemy at the table. This lie doesn't reflect true humility. It's a club that beats you over the head. This lie whispers to you that you are worthless. There is no way you will be able to do it. But I'm telling you, don't believe the lie that you are worthless. Listen, this is like a person stuck in an abusive relationship. The abuser tells the victim that they are not good enough or worthy and it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. But you know what, with help, the victim can break free and believe in themselves again. Instead, they can choose to break the cycle and recognize that they are worthy, valuable, and capable of achieving anything they set their mind to. Have you been called to lead your family with integrity, compassion, kindness and strength as a wife and mother who follows God? The LIE OF UNWORTHINESS wants to trick you into believing that you're unworthy. You'll never amount to anything, so don't even bother trying. This is not true. You have been given the same Holy Spirit that empowered the disciples to go out and spread the gospel. With God's help, you can lead with confidence and authority, knowing that He will give you everything you need to succeed. What's more, God sees you as capable and worthy of any task that he has called you to do. Do you believe that God loves you because He created you and called you his beloved child? The LIE OF UNWORTHINESS tries to make you think you're a spiritual reject. You're a worthless sinner who will always be a worthless sinner. You're not God's child, God hates you. This is not true. God's love for us is unconditional and unchanging. We are all created in God's image. He wants to be in a relationship with us, and He desires to do good things for us. He loves us, regardless of our past choices, and he's always willing to forgive us and offer us a fresh start. Let me share this with you. This is my story. This is the truth. I'm being honest, and very open and very transparent. Imagine being divorced twice. Yep. You heard me. I am a two time divorcee. Do you realize the devastation that this can cause? It was a heartbreaking experience for me. I suffered from depression for a period of time. I began to think I was damaged goods. In my mind, I started thinking I was unworthy of being a wife. But you know, God saw something in me worth redeeming. He saw my past mistakes and saw a woman of worth. While we may feel like damaged goods, God sees us as valuable and worthy of restoration. So I ask you, have you been called to lead Bible study in your church? The LIE OF UNWORTHINESS insists that it can't be done. But it can be done because God said so. God provides us with the strength and courage to face our fears and break free from the lies that have been holding us back. The power of prayer and spiritual guidance can help us understand and process our experiences. And it can help us to believe in ourselves and our capabilities, despite the lies we've been told. With God's help, we can start to see the truth and recognize our worth and the power we have to make a difference in the world. Of course, it takes courage to break the cycle of believing lies and taking back control of your life. Understanding your own value requires self reflection and hard work. Nobody said it was going to be easy. It takes pushing yourself beyond what you think you can do, and challenging the idea that you can't do something. Remember Queen Esther? Mmmhmm? Yeah, Esther was a young Jewish woman who, despite being an orphan, became the Queen of Persia, and saved her people from genocide. In her despair, Queen Esther almost believed there was nothing she could do to save her people. But my sister, my sister, with God's guidance and strength, she found the courage to do what she thought was impossible, and it changed the course of history. You and I, we can find that same courage and strength to overcome our own doubts and fears and transform the world we live in. Take a moment to look across the table at the one, Jesus Christ and lock your eyes with him. Look at the hands that hold your water glass and the pitcher that's being lifted to fill it up with a refreshing drink. Do you see scorn and feel shame? Or do you see the scar in his hands? Sure. Jesus is Holiness personified. But the Holy One invited you here. Booked the table prepared the meal and sat down to join you. This reservation cost him everything. The story of Jesus laying down his life for the sheep in John chapter 10, paints a beautiful picture of a Good Shepherd. Jesus had put it all on the line to sit at the table with you. So don't you dare give the enemy a seat at your table. You can confidently refuse the enemy's invitation to the table, because Jesus has already taken the seat reserved for you. Jesus, a selfless act of dying on the cross for our sins is the ultimate demonstration of love and sacrifice. He did this so that we don't have to accept the invitation to the enemy's table, and instead can be sure of the seat at God's table. So if you tend to sit in the camp of unworthiness. Leave that camp right now. You don't belong there. It's time to recognize those lies and acknowledge their destructive power in your life. And when you do this, when you do this, when you fight back, you eliminate the lies and you take the power from Satan. Beloved, the time has come for the salvation prayer. Romans 10 verse nine says that if you confess with your mouth, the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart, that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. This is your opportunity to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. My sister if you're ready, I want you to say this prayer with me. Dear Lord, I am a sinner. I repent of my sins and need your forgiveness. I believe you died in my place and rose from the grave to make me new. I believe you prepared me to live in your presence forever. Jesus, I want you to come into my life and take complete control. I ask you to forgive me of my sins and save me. I place my trust in you alone for my salvation and accept your free gift of eternal life. Thank you Lord. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. Beloved sister, even though you recited this prayer, prayer alone cannot save you. Embrace his death as a sufficient sacrifice for your sins completely. Rely on Him alone as your Savior. And don't believe the lies of the enemy that you are not born again. So that concludes this episode. My sincere thanks to all of you who have listened to the She Strives with Faith podcast. I hope you tune in again for another episode. If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your friends and family. I'm wishing you an abundance of love and blessings. Until next time, keep striving with faith. We will chat soon. Bye for now.

Unknown: 14:04

Thank you for listening to the She Strives with Faith podcast. To hear more about how you can tap into the power of striving with faith, join her next week. If you found value in the episode, give her a rating or tell a friend about the show. Follow Berthena on Facebook and Instagram for a more personal chat. Until next time, strive to keep faith alive.