Counselor’s Corner: Inferiority Complex

A definition of inferiority complex is to lack self-esteem; feel inadequate; lack self-confidence; and feel second-rate.

God designed all of us differently, with diverse talents, gifts, and personalities. Yet, some struggle with feeling unworthy and comparing themselves to others. Some people believe they just don’t measure up, and no matter what they do it just not quit good enough. They are always second-guessing themselves, and end-up feeling that their opinions don’t really count.

Low self-esteem and a lack of self-confidence is at the root of inferiority. Usually, someone develops low self-worth and lack of confidence in early childhood years. This could stem from being bullied, rejected, verbal/mentally abused, or repeated failures in a person’s life. Not knowing who you are in Christ can impact your feelings of unworthiness. Believing what others have said about you or the lies of the enemy can surely affect your self-esteem.

Reflect and ponder: What do you believe about yourself? Do you believe you are as worthy as others?

Counselor’s Corner: Believe the best about yourself, and more importantly what God says about you. There is no one else like you on earth, so stop comparing yourself to others. God knew what He was doing when He created you; you were no surprise to Him. Allow the Lord to bring you inner healing from your past, and uncover the roots of your inferiority. You are not what others have said and done to you.

Instead of believing what others have said or done to you, try trusting what God says about you. Say the below scriptures out loud every day until you believe them. Write out these and any other scriptures that speak to you on index cards, and place throughout your home and your car. Read the index cards as you pass by them. You are retraining your thoughts to line up with God’s truth about you. This is one of the best ways to increase your confidence and self-esteem, by knowing God’s thoughts towards you.

MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES:

"I am the body of Christ and Satan hath no power over me. For I overcome evil with good" (1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:21).

"I will fear no evil for thou art with me Lord, your Word and your Spirit they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

"No weapon formed against me shall prosper, for my righteousness is of the Lord. But whatever I do will prosper for I'm like a tree that's planted by the rivers of water" (Isaiah 54:17; Psalm 1:3).

"Christ has redeemed (paid the price for our freedom) me from the curse of the law. Therefore, I forbid any sickness or disease to come upon this body" (Galatians 3:13).

"Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law. Christ has redeemed me from poverty, Christ has redeemed me from sickness, Christ has redeemed me from spiritual death" (Galatians 3:13; Deuteronomy 28:15-68).

"Because I am born of God and His heir and more valuable than many sparrows, therefore I have great value. I honor and esteem myself highly, but I honor and esteem others more than myself" (Galatians 4:7; Matthew 10:31; Romans 12:10).

"The blessing of Abraham has come upon me through Jesus Christ and therefore whatever I do will prosper" (Galatians 3:14).

"Because God has shed His love abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit, I love God more than life and I love myself and others with the love of God. I put God first, others second and myself last." (Romans 5:5; Mark 12:30-31).

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens, enables and empowers me. There is nothing I cannot do through Christ for with God all things are possible" (Philippians 4:13; Matthew 19:26).

"I am the head and not the tail, above and not beneath" (Deuteronomy 28:13).

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof" (Proverbs 18:21).

"Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything." (Proverbs 13:3)

Below are some scriptures with positive affirmations that you can always say out loud:

I take every thought captive into the obedience of Jesus Christ, casting down every imagination, and every high and lofty thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. (2 Corinthians 10:5).

As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is. Therefore all of my thoughts are positive. I do not allow the devil to use my spirit as a garbage dump by meditating on negative things that he offers me. (Proverbs 23:7).

I do not speak negative things about myself. (Ephesians 4:29).

I am very prosperous. I prosper in everything I put my hands to. I have prosperity in all areas of my life-spiritual, mental, financial, and social. (Genesis 39:3; Joshua 1:8; 3 John 2).

I am joyful always. (Thessalonians 5:16).

Hope for when you are Discouraged

KJV dictionary definition of discouragement is to extinguish the courage of; depress of spirits; to deject; to deprive of confidence or hope; to attempt to repress or prevent; to dissuade from.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines discouragement as a feeling of having lost hope or confidence; something (such as failure or difficulty) that discourages someone.

Discouragement refers to a sense of being overwhelmed, weary, and losing hope over circumstances. Other times, discouragement can overtake us when we have just had a spiritual victory, or making progress in our spiritual walk. In any case, discouragement will cause you to feel hopeless, lose heart, and lose confidence.

Discouragement Synonyms: Hopelessness, despair, dishearten, loss of hope, depression

Discouragement Antonyms: Encouragement, hope, and hopeful confidence.

Discouragement is a weapon of the weapon to prevent our progress, derail us from moving forward, and prevent our destiny and purposes being fulfilled. Rest assured, if you have been discouraged, the enemy wants to stop something from happening in your life. Usually during this attack, your weaknesses get exposed and the enemy bombards your mind with negative thoughts about yourself. If you listen too long to the enemy’s voice, you will end up feeling hopeless, depressed, and feeling like a failure. You will also lose your confidence to move ahead in what God has planned for you. This is where a lot of Christians are derailed; when discouragement invades them. During discouragement you can experience “old issues” coming up again. You may even think,” Did I not deal with that issue before? Or Was I not delivered (healed) from this?” The enemy is a master illusionist, so he can make you think you are truly dealing with old issues again, and you were not healed or delivered.

Signs to look for when Discouragement comes:

1.       Fatigue: Your defenses are lower when you are fatigued, and you may not feel as spiritually strong.

2.       Sickness/Illness: When you are not feeling well it is easy to become discouraged, especially if you have been healed from a certain illness, and it appears like it is coming back, or you are still waiting on healing.

3.       Women’s monthly cycle: Hormones change, and so does your emotions. Women are more prone to being sensitive during this time, and discouragement can easily seep in.

4.       Failure: You perceive that mistake you made has doomed you, or you can never get passed it. You may feel like you can’t do anything right during this time.

5.       Spiritual victory/progress: You have determined to go forward with the things that God has called you to do; you have made progress in your spiritual walk with God. The enemy does not like progress.

6.       When you take your eyes off Jesus: You look to your circumstances, and you start to magnify them, ponder them, analyze them, and try and figure them out.

Steps to overcoming discouragement:

1.       Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to overcome your discouragement. Command, in the name of Jesus that discouragement flee from you if you discern it is a spiritual attack.

2.       Count your blessings daily and out loud.

3.       Be still and know that God will get you through. Keep a good attitude during this time, and watch what you speak. Don’t allow your words to agree with the enemy’s.

4.       Rest, pull back, and take time away from the “crowds.” Renew your time with God and Let His word refresh and restore you. Limit your schedule during this time, and who you are around. Don’t surround yourself when you are discouraged with negative, faith-less, discouraging people.

5.       Praise and worship God. Listen to some praise music to lift your spirits.

6.       Understand discouragement will pass, don’t give into the lies. Do not repeat, dwell or accept the lies of the enemy. Speak what God says not what the enemy is trying to tell you.

7.       During times of discouragement, don’t follow your feelings; wait until the discouragement has passed before making decisions.

Reflect on these scriptures…                                

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their trouble. The Lord is near the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:17-19

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

But they who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Everyone will face discouragement at some point, but we don’t have to entertain or accept discouragement. Don’t give into self-pity, and don’t talk down to yourself. Recognize discouragement comes to all at some point, but we must not let the “seed” of discouragement take root.