I’m not sure why, but women seem to have a harder time with self-esteem than men. Maybe it’s because we spend more time comparing ourselves to others. It’s unfair to compare!
First and foremost, walking in my greatest potential begins with how I see myself.
I’m different. My experiences are different. My strengths are different. I have different gifts and talents. God made me different. His plan for me is different from yours—I’m too different to compare myself with anyone else. It's unfair to compare.
For clarity, I begin at the beginning with how God sees me. Psalms 139:14 says this, "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well."
Make it personal and take it personal.
Growing up in church, the youth choir sang a song entitled, Wonderful. The lyrics said, "Wonderful, Oh-Oh Wonderful....He is so Wonderful. Marvelous, Oh-Oh Marvelous....He is so Marvelous." Come to think of it, the words might have been taken from the pages of Psalms 139.
While the song speaks of God's attributes, the writer of today's scripture makes those words personal. He begins by giving praise to God proclaiming that he is fearfully and wonderfully made. He acknowledges that God’s works—including the forming of his frame—are marvelous.
Just as the writer, I take it personal. My personality, abilities, and experiences are hand-crafted by God with purpose (and so are yours).
At the heart of walking in my greatest potential is seeing myself as God sees me—not as others see me. Because it's unfair to compare.
God’s plan for me is just for me. Walking in my greatest potential begins with seeing me as God sees me. I am wonderful. I am marvelous. And I am enough.
I won’t compare myself to anyone else. I will thank God for creating me just the way I am—marvelous and wonderful. God said it, I believe it!