5 Scriptures to Help You Overcome Self-Pity
I spent several years wallowing in self-pity after near-fatal complications during my daughter’s birth required an emergency hysterectomy.
I cursed at God, demanding to know why loving parents like me and my husband can’t have a big family while other homes are full of abused and neglected children? What did I do to deserve this? You know these kids are better off with me, God!
I started down the same path after a year or two of migraines, brain damage, and vision loss. But as I was reaching for Jesus during my illness, a sermon gave me the slap of reality I needed when the pastor asked a different question:
What makes you so special that you have a right to everything you want and a life of ease?
I realized there were two reasons I felt sorry for myself.
- I didn’t get what I wanted (I deserve this).
- I got what I didn’t want (I don’t deserve this).
Entitlement and pride.
Yes, the root of self-pity is sin as old as time. Moses and the Israelites, Job, Jonah, David, Elijah – they all tried to tell God they had a better plan. And God showed them all a way out of their sin.
Feeling sorry for yourself? This post has 5 Bible verses to help you overcome self-pity. Click To Tweet5 Bible Verses to Help You Overcome Self-Pity
God knows we go there, but He doesn’t want us to stay there. So here are three verses to overcome self-pity.
1.) John 16:33
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 NIV
Cancer was smack in the middle of a gauntlet of quick, successive trials. One day, I cried to my husband “By the time I catch my breath and get back up again, something else kicks me in the knees! I’m so tired!!”
But Jesus told us to expect trials. He didn’t say “some of you…” or “you might…” have tribulations. Trauma is a part of life – everyone’s life. But when it comes, we can have peace by leaning on Jesus.
I learned that by giving even my exasperation to Jesus, He’d take it and reimburse me with His peace.
Related Post: Why I Don’t Use a Gratitude Journal
2.) Colossians 1:13-14
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV
Sometimes when people comment that I’ve been through more than my share, I solemnly agree, feeling both cheated and deserving of my martyr status.
When you think you don’t deserve the misfortune you’re going through, know that you’re right. As sinners, we all deserve eternity in Hell. In fact, that was our destination until Jesus’ rescued us. My self-sacrificial attitude changes when Jesus gently reminds me, that He saved me from the status I truly deserve.
3. Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Proverbs 3:5 NKJV
And lean not on your own understanding.
“Why, God? Why me? I’m a good person, this suffering is pointless! Haven’t I been through enough already!”
Just me…? (Please tell me I’m not alone…!)
The opposite of gratitude? Self-pity. Valerie shares more in this post… Click To TweetSelf-Pity in the Bible
Job thought so, too. He’d lost all of his children, his possessions, and his health. And he was so good that God bragged him up to Satan. Naturally, Job had a lot of questions for God.
God answered Job’s questions with a hailstorm of His own questions, summarized by “Do you want to argue with God? Then go ahead and explain to me how the world works and then you can tell me how to run things,” (Job 40.2, Valerie Riese translation!)
We don’t understand God’s plan, and we don’t see the bigger picture. But we know He loves us and that He can use anything to bring you closer to Him and more like Jesus. Sometimes your trial isn’t even about you. It’s so God’s glory and faithfulness can be shown to others through you.
In these moments of indignation, I find peace following raw honesty in prayer. God already knows what I’m thinking anyway.
“God, I don’t get it. This makes no sense and to be honest, I’m just mad. But I don’t know the bigger picture – You do. I know you love me and I trust you. I give this ugly anger to you, Jesus. Please help me trust you more.”
4.) Psalm 28:7
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
Psalm 28:7 NKJV
My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.
I held on to Psalm 28:7 when I had cancer because it reminded me to cling to Jesus. As I leaned on His strength and let Him guard my thoughts, I saw that He was always there for me. And I am so glad I learned to trust Him, because the trial was easier to bear as Jesus carried me.
5.) Psalm 7:17
I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,
Psalm 7:17 NKJV
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
My first awareness every morning of daily radiation treatments was dread. I learned by accident that Christian music lifts my spirits because praise lifts up Jesus.
Praise and thanksgiving redirect our inward focus upward. Every good thing in your life came from God, so remember them and thank Him. We can all begin by thanking God for the gift of salvation through Jesus.
You Are Not Alone
My Grandpa Gordon used to say, “I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes until I saw a man with no feet.”
Self-pity is about perspective. We all waste time feeling sorry for ourselves, but Jesus gives us a way out of every temptation. The God who made you knows it’s normal, but His Word tells us to take those thoughts captive. If you’re struggling, all you have to do is ask and He will help you.
Lord, I’m feeling sorry for myself and I’m struggling to take these thoughts captive. Please help me. I know You are faithful and that You love me. I give you my trail to use for Your good, even if I never know what that is. Thank you for the joy and provisions in my life. Thank you especially for sending Your son Jesus to save me so I can spend eternity with You. Amen.
Related Resource For Christian Women
In this 30-day study, Candid Gal Sarah J. Callen challenges women to identify areas where you’re thankful for in you’re every-day life. Through real-life stories, introspective questions, and space for reflection, you’ll be encouraged to go past superficial gratitude and unearth a lifestyle of thanksgiving. Pick up your copy of Thankful here.
Such good wisdom here, Valerie! Thank you for sharing from your vulnerability. You are definitely not alone. Grateful that God’s word is filled with the encouragement we need.
Thank you, Carlie! I actually woke up in a mood this morning and your encouragement helped me snap out of it–combined with God using my own words against me…! Thank you for being there for me to remind me that in fact, I’m not alone. Prayers for you today too, my friend.
Reading these verses for myself. I had a pity party for myself earlier this week. Thankfully God gave me a good friend and some ways to break free of it but it was quite miserable for awhile. Thanks for sharing these!
Thank God for those friends, right? Funny this was, my own words came back to me in perfect timing, as I woke up pouting the morning this was published. So I also read them for myself. It’s encouraging to know at least we’re not alone. Thank you, Lisa.
So good, I love hearing testimony of God’s faithfulness and what we really learn of Him comes through our struggles – thank you for sharing.
I never get tired of sharing His faithfulness through struggles. I’m glad you enjoyed the post and I appreciate your comments.
I too was suffering from a pity party today (6/29). Feeling extremely frustrated in not hearing back from any of the numerous positions I have applied to over this past month. Losing my job has shook me to the core. Feeling inadequate and ageism is real. I pray to God for encouragement each day, and strength for back at it each day. Today, I was feeling very low and becoming vulnerable. I welcome 🙏. //Mary
Mary, I’m sorry to hear you’ve lost your job. I can’t imagine how hard it is to find a job right now, especially if you’re a bit older. I pray for your strength and for peace in uncertainty, trusting in Gods timing. And I cast out that liar of spirit of inadequacy in Jesus’ name. You are His beloved daughter, made perfectly for the purpose for which you were created ❤️
This is exactly what I needed for today! Thank you so much for sharing these words.
You’re welcome, Leigh Ellen! I’m really glad this encouraged you. I really appreciate you taking the time to comment. It means a lot.
Thank you for these words of encouragement! I have struggled with self-pity a lot of my life but God is freeing me by His power and His grace. It’s so easy to accept Satan’s lie that God is holding back from us, but He is always good and so so benevolent. I will be keeping these verses as a handy reference for those days when self-pity comes knocking at my door. Thank you again!
Sabrina, I’m so glad this encouraged you and that you’ll keep the verses handy. That’s how we hide His Work in our heart to take those lies captive. God is good, and He will never abandon you when you turn to Him in His Word. Your comments just warm my heart today. Thank you so much!
This is Great! Thank you so much.
You’re welcome, Brie! I’m glad it was encouraging to you. Thanks for taking the time to comment. It means a lot to me. –Valerie
Such a good read..It’s easy to fall into self pity.. but we don’t need to stay there.. God loves and cares for all his children and his plan for our lives is perfect..God is good and I praise him today for his faithfulness and for you Valerie for this reminder! Thanks to you I am encouraged
Becky, I’m really glad this encouraged you today. God is so good, and it’s wonderful that He used my words to remind you of all the reasons to praise Him. Thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment. It means a lot!
This is a good read. As of the moment i do
not know how to survive every single day ; literally everyday is a struggle for me. I just pray everytime im on the verge of giving up , since i have a son and wife and my family who are counting on me. I always pray to the God that all my worries, my fears, all negative thoughts inside me will die down. Help me God I cannot do this alone, help me to depend on you .
Ken, I’m so sorry to hear about your struggle. I’ve been there, on the verge of giving up every day. You’re absolutely right-you can’t do it alone, nor were you meant to. I honestly have no clue how anyone gets through a single day without Jesus. Ken no matter how lonely you may feel, please know you are never alone. I’ll be praying for you and your family.
Thank you Valerie for all these comforting words, yes only Jesus can take all my fears and my worries inside my head. I really appreciate your effort to reply on my comment. Thank you very much!
Ken,
I have found it helpful to be apart of a small group study, or in your case a men’s group, who can provide support and pray for you, and visa versa. Yes, we are not to do this alone, thats why we have the Holy Spirit but too the body of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2. Praying you fine a supportive group or a few friends, to share with.
“Cancer was smack in the middle of a gauntlet of quick, successive trials. One day, I cried to my husband “By the time I catch my breath and get back up again, something else kicks me in the knees! I’m so tired!!”..
I SO identified with this, after finishing my own breast cancer treatment, its been one thing after another. I associate as waves, one after another, and after 10 months, just exhausted, physically, emotionally. I live in 2 locations, I help care for my 91 yr old Mom. She just fell and broke her hip which will require more help. Stumbled on this site from a google search. Very aprapoe. Thank you!
Katherine, I’m sorry you and your mom are going through so much right now. It’s no mistake that you stumbled on Candidly Christian today. We’re glad to have you join us, and I’m glad God used this post to encourage you. I’ll be praying for you.