Do you know what it’s like never to feel that what you do for somebody else is enough? Or good enough? Are you insecure about the affection you have from your family? Do you find yourself trying to earn people’s approval but never get it? Do you suspect that people are only pretending to be nice to you, but really they despise you for all your shortcomings?

Worse—are you ashamed of things in your past, and your efforts to make amends just never seem to make the guilt go away? Are you too embarrassed to pray and ask for things, knowing that you don’t “deserve” them?

If you said yes to two or more of those questions, here’s your problem: you’re too obsessed with yourself. Of course you have shortcomings. That’s why you and I need a Savior. The way out of your guilt hole is in making Jesus Christ the center of your life and the Prime Mover of your agenda and rationale: “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:14,15). 

Jesus Christ has forgiven you unconditionally and completely. Guess what? You can forgive yourself. Since he loves you, it doesn’t matter how other people treat you. Since he likes you, you can choose to like yourself.