It’s how we see ourselves that determines the kind of relationships we establish. Many of us harbour a low sense of self-esteem. We think of everyone else as being more important than ourselves and think meeting their needs is more important than meeting our own needs. We compare ourselves and allow others to determine who we are, and become dependent on their approval to prop up our identity. But it’s a slap in the face to God to look at another person and say, ‘I wish I were like them.’

No one can replace you! God made you for His own purpose, that you might reflect a unique aspect of His glory. As believers in Christ, we’ve been given a new identity as children of God. We weren’t created to live dependently on any other person. Rather, God is restoring us to the image of His Son and making us whole (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). In Him we don’t ever need to be afraid to be who we really are. It’s time to develop a true opinion of yourself based on the truth that God made you exactly, precisely, intricately, wondrously, and uniquely you—a one-of-a-kind creation for which there’s no comparison.

The psalmist wrote: ‘You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in Your book! How precious it is, Lord, to realise that You are thinking about me constantly!’ (Psalm 139:16–18 TLB)