By Nancy Virden (c)2025

Generally speaking, a person who knows they are important (valuable) does not feel the need to prove it. They do not repeatedly seek affirmation for the sake of feeling okay about themselves. They are not obnoxious, pushing themselves into scenarios uninvited.

Those who feel insecure or unimportant may do all the above and more to make their way in the world. Others grow quiet and withdraw. No two people are the same. Similarly, not all seemingly arrogant people are insecure. Personalities are complex and that is why judging is a foolish endeavor.

Nonetheless, one form of obnoxious behavior may be self-righteousness. That is, believing (or trying to believe) that one is superior morally or spiritually to compensate for feeling so invaluable. I used to be one of these, self-righteous and selfishly proud. Of course, self-righteousness leads to judging, and this I did often. I could be a jerk.

It took a few deep dives into depression and suicide attempts before I would admit I had not been doing life well. When I finally accepted that I needed to learn how to be, I was in my fifties. God (ever patient!) led me to the right therapists who could speak life to my dead spirit.

We are all made in God’s image, chosen to be his representatives. If you know you matter to God, be grateful. However, if you are always looking for support for the idea that you count, listen to these encouraging words.

1. God is for you. He created you to walk with him and to spend eternity with him. He has made a way for that to happen and you need only to accept his process.
2. God’s opinion is the one that matters. He loves his own and cherishes those who follow his Son.
3. God keeps us humble. Our sin (wrongdoing) may lead to our humiliation. God never humiliates us; he reminds us of our need for forgiveness and embraces us when we repent.
4. Admitting (and confessing) our sins frees us to love and accept others as they are.
5. The opinions of other people no longer weigh us down. We answer to the ONE and his Spirit teaches us what we need to know to become more like Jesus.
6. Instead of judging, we pray. The first part of such a prayer is, do I do the same things?
7. We search the Holy Bible for God’s words concerning himself. We get to know him and our faith grows.
8. The sin of other people (as well as our own) will bother us. Instead of lashing out, we will speak the truth in love, ever hoping to honor God in our speech, thoughts, and choices.
9. We will bask in God’s love as we get to know him because it will prove faithful and unending.
10. We accept with gratitude all he has done and will do as we lean into him.

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

Romans 8:31-39

 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?  Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.  Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.” No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you are feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room. In the EU call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here ). Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional, and speaks only from personal experience and observations. This website is not intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

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