How Positive Affirmations Helped Me Overcome Low Self-Esteem (And How They Can Help You, Too!)
An Invitation Into My Heart
Thank you for taking the time to read this. This is the most personal and vulnerable thing I’ve ever shared publicly. I know that there are a lot of Christian women like me who have struggled or are struggling with very low self-esteem or self-worth. I’m opening up my heart not because I have it all together but because I’ve experienced the powerful Word of God in a profound, life-changing way. And if you’re struggling with low self-esteem right now, I want to tell you this: There’s hope, lovingly. You’re not alone in this journey.
What I’m about to share isn’t just about positive affirmations—it’s about the TRUTH OF WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST. These aren’t words I pulled from a feel-good quote or a Pinterest board. These affirmations are rooted in the Word of God, a powerful weapon that has helped me silence lies and embrace my true identity. And yes, they can help you, too. The Word of God has the power to transform our lives and fill us with hope and confidence.
My Struggle With Low Self-Esteem
But before I give you those affirmations, let me share my personal story. I didn’t always recognize myself as having “low self-esteem.” I just thought I was too shy. I was convinced that some people are just born confident, and some are not – like me. I recall that this started when I was three years old. I couldn’t even go to school without crying, not because I was throwing a fit but because I felt so afraid and insecure about myself. I remember that, in kindergarten, we had school programs where we all joined a group for a special presentation. I was part of a singing group. In my anxiety, I rubbed my index fingernail on both hands to my thumbs until the skin started to peel. At that age, I didn’t know that the root of that shyness is the feeling of being not good enough, not smart enough, not pretty enough, not spiritual enough, not worthy enough. You may ask, where did I get that? I honestly don’t know. But I do know that the devil is a criminal. He came to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He came to steal my destiny and God’s plans for my life.
Thankfully, my parents were very loving and encouraging, especially my mom. Since she saw my interest in singing, she let me join dance groups, theater, and glee clubs to develop my self-confidence even through high school. But even then, the fear and shyness didn’t go away. Even after becoming a Christian in grade six, I still wrestled with feelings of inadequacy. I believed Jesus loved me, but deep down, I didn’t feel lovable. I knew He had forgiven me, but I couldn’t see my self-worth. Nothing in church taught me who I am in Christ and how God sees me. It was exhausting because I felt envious of others and couldn’t fully celebrate my friends’ successes and achievements. Instead, it magnified my insecurities. I constantly compared myself to others. I always saw myself as lower than my friends. I was in the A section but not among the top ten in the class. Academics were just not my interest. Because the education system considered music and theater extracurricular activities, it made me feel less than the others. This went on for years throughout my adult life.
I went to Bible School at our church around 2008 or 2009. I learned a lot about who I am in Christ, but for some reason, it didn’t register with me. It was not a reality, and I struggled to translate it into my everyday life. Fast-forward to today, and I finally found out why.
The Turning Point: Discovering God’s Truth About Me
Let me share some backstory before I tell you why I wasn’t successful in overcoming low self-esteem despite going to Bible school. In 2017, my family and I moved to America. We lived in the Midwest wilderness for two and a half years. We had a Filipino community there, but we felt so isolated. We couldn’t find a church like the one we attended in the Philippines. On top of it, the change in culture and climate added to the stress. But we are grateful that our pastor back home kept in touch with us and encouraged us to move to Texas, where he has a friend who pastors a great church there. We decided to move there in 2019. The move to Texas was a turning point for us, and it was there that I truly began to understand and embrace my identity in Christ.
We started attending our new church in Texas, where we heard teachings from our new pastor about who we are in Christ, what we can do in Christ, and what we have in Christ. These teachings aren’t new to me. They are the same lessons taught in our church back home. But this time, everything became so clear to me. Our pastor kept repeating that I must speak those truths aloud. In the same way, I was saved by faith, and I confessed or proclaimed that Jesus is my Lord and Saviour; I will live my Christianity by faith, hearing, and speaking the Word. Speaking the truths of God’s Word is not just a suggestion; it’s a powerful tool that empowers us to grow spiritually.
Romans 10:9-10
“that if you CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH the Lord Jesus and believed in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the MOUTH CONFESSION is made unto salvation.”
Romans 10:17
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
It dawned on me why I wasn’t successful in overcoming low self-esteem and fears. My previous church wasn’t the problem. It was me. I was only listening casually then and not speaking those powerful Scriptures daily. This time, I was taking it to heart. I would listen to these teachings over and over again at home. I would look at the chapter and verse in my Bible and start speaking them over me. I brought home our church’s printed Scripture confessions and declared them over me every day from 2019 until now, to the point that they are so ingrained in my heart.
Although I’d been leading worship for a long time in the Philippines, I still struggled with fear and low self-worth. While in Illinois, I wasn’t involved in the worship team or any singing capacity. I was a stay-at-home mom and a homeschooler. I thought this would be my new ministry, or helping in the kid’s church. I lost my interest in singing. I stopped singing for almost three years. So, when we started singing with the worship team at our new church in Texas, you can imagine my voice was very rusty at this point. Suddenly, a rush of insecurities and feelings of inadequacy overwhelmed me. In addition, I thought these Americans wouldn’t listen to me, telling me I was not articulate enough. This was the litmus test of what I have been learning lately about who I am in Christ. Before going for a soundcheck, my heart would pound with overwhelming thoughts that I couldn’t do this anymore. I battled that for over four years since we joined the team. I would tell myself, “Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world. God has not given me the Spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. I learned from T.L. Osborn to say this: “When I arrive, Jesus arrives!” It was a fight in my mind for almost 5 years. But I knew that was where I should reinforce my victory in my thought life.
After practicing that for several years, I can’t say that I haven’t been tempted to be in fear or to look at myself so low. However, I have developed resilience and consistency in speaking positive affirmations based on what the Word of God says about me so that I can see how God sees me. This is the key. This transformed my thoughts by replacing them with God’s thoughts and my words with His words.
What Are Positive Affirmations (And Why Bible-Based Ones Matter)
Affirmations are simply statements you speak over yourself to reinforce a belief. But here’s the thing: not all affirmations are created equal. While secular affirmations might help for a while, they often rely on our strength. On the other hand, Bible-based affirmations are powerful because they’re true—they are rooted in God’s eternal Word.
When you declare Scripture over your life, you’re not just boosting your mood—you’re wielding a spiritual weapon. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active… sharper than any double-edged sword.”
Why Are Positive Affirmations Powerful
God created humans with our most powerful asset—our words. The Bible says in Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.” If we want to change our mindset about ourselves, the only work that we will do is to meditate and speak those Scriptures that declare our real identity in Christ because that is our reality. When the enemy tries to throw negative words at us, speak the Word. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He said, “It is written…” We cannot fight those evil thoughts with thoughts. The devil can’t read our minds. We have to use our words!
My Favorite Bible-Based Affirmations That Helped Me
Here are some of the affirmations that helped me the most. Each one is tied to a verse that I now hold close to my heart:
- I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14
When I struggled with my appearance and constantly compared myself to others, this verse reminded me that God made no mistakes with me.
- Greater is He that is in me than He that is in the world.
1 John 4:4
When the devil tries to intimidate me with words like “You do not speak well. You’re not a good singer. You won’t be able to hit those notes. That song is too hard.”
- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
This was my battle cry whenever I felt overwhelmed or incapable.
- God has great thoughts and plans for me.
Jeremiah 29:11
When God sees me, He thinks highly of me. He sees me as valuable regardless of what the world says about me, which is a lie.
- I am complete in Him.
Colossians 2:10
We find contentment in Him alone, not in the validation of others. Of course, we want to be appreciated. But above all, we live, move, and have our being in Him.
How to Start Using Bible-Based Affirmations
Here are a few simple steps to begin incorporating affirmations into your life:
- Start your day in the Word. Find a quiet moment to read and reflect on Scripture.
- Write down your affirmations. Place them where you’ll see them—your mirror, journal, phone, or fridge.
- Speak them out loud. There’s power in hearing God’s truth with your voice.
- Pray them. Turn your affirmations into conversations with God.
- Repeat daily. This habit builds over time, so be consistent and gentle with yourself.
A Word to My Sisters in Christ (and Those Still Searching)
To my fellow Christian friends, your worth is not your looks, job, accomplishments, or good deeds. Your worth is in Jesus. He died for you because you are worth loving, redeeming, and restoring.
And I see you who’s reading this who’s unsure about faith. I was you. I tried to fix myself for years, but it wasn’t until I surrendered to Jesus that real healing began. I have good news for you: God is not complicated. He already did everything for us once and for all. There’s just one thing He requires of us. Jesus said in John 3:3 that we must be born again. It is not joining a religion or an organization. It is simply believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, that He died and rose again for you so that we may be assured of eternal life or the God-kind of life and heaven to call your home.
Just pray this simple prayer and speak it loud enough for you to hear it with your own ears:
Dear God,
I come to You in the Name of Jesus. I admit I am not right with You and want to be right with You. I ask You to forgive me of all my sins. The Bible says if I confess with my mouth that “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in my heart that God raised Him from the dead, I will be saved (Rom. 10:9). I believe with my heart, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is the Lord and Savior of my life. Thank You for saving me!
In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.
Final Thoughts & Encouragement
If you’ve been battling low self-esteem, please know you are not alone. And you don’t have to stay stuck. There is a Savior who knows you, sees you and loves you beyond measure. He calls you His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). Start with one verse. Speak it, believe it, and let it soak in. God’s truth will transform you from the inside out.
If you need help getting started, I’ve created a free printable with my favorite Scriptures and Bible-based affirmations. You can download it below, print it, post it, or pray it.
You are loved. You are enough. And you are the apple of His eye.