Self Pity is one of the most destructive and yet most prevalent emotions that I encounter in life as a Pastor talking to people.
In the bible Elijah had a bout of Self Pity and ultimately it was this that took him out of leadership
1 Kings 19:14-16
14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
15 Then the LORD said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
Self Pity is worship of yourself – it is a totally self indulgent emotion, that fast becomes an addiction – Hi My name is John Smith and I am a pity addict. People who have self pity find that their thoughts and feelings are paralysed as they get caught in the “woe is me mentality”
The following is a list of things that self pity will do to you:-
Get you to compare yourself to others – and there will always be someone better looking, richer, smarter and with more friends
You feel great sorrow for yourself and your situation
Self Pity Traffics in Shame, guilt and regret and so you will struggle with these feelings
Self Pity will get you to think that the world is here to serve you
It will get you to think that the world is unfair
It will get you to withdraw from your friends – tell you that your friends are better off without
Self Pity and happiness cannot co-exist together. You can have self pity or healthy relationships, Self Pity or Success, Self Pity or Happiness, but you can’t have both.
Self Pity will put you on the pathway to disaster
Self Pity causes a paralysis of your actions. Self Pity and forward momentum in life do not co-exist.
Self Pity is used by the devil to stop effectiveness in the Kingdom of God
Self Pity is an enemy of choice – and when you do choose, those choices lack any kind of strength
Self Pity makes you unattractive
Self Pity turns you into a complainer
Self Pity is like quicksand – the more you wallow in it the more you sink
Self Pity is a means of punishing one’s self out of shame or guilt (example: I’m so stupid, ugly, etc.; I’ll never be…)
Self Pity is a misguided attempt to seek emotional intimacy with others by evoking their feelings of compassion
Self pity will cause you to keep unforgiveness
Self Pity will rob you of your hope
Self Pity will diminish your understanding of how God sees you – even to the point where you will openly scoff at the idea that you are loved and valued by God
Self Pity will cause you to become incredibly self centred
Self Pity is an all consuming monster that will destroy everything in your life except itself.
Self Pity feeds on the destruction that it causes and get stronger each time around until only itself is left.
The ultimate expression of self pity is suicide
In order to get release from self-pity, there are several steps we must take:
1) Confess/admit the sin of self-pity. Confess how you may have misjudged God’s character by doubting His sovereignty (control over circumstances), goodness and kindness (feelings of being punished). Confess your hopelessness, disappointment, fear, anger, etc.
2) Forgive others who have wounded you. Ask God to forgive you for misjudging His character, for doubting Him. You may need to forgive yourself for the sin for which you are punishing yourself. Remember that not forgiving yourself is a form of putting yourself above God.
3) Relinquish the right to not forgive someone for wounding you. Relinquish the right to self-pity, or holding on to your pain – (Rom 12:1-2)
4) Ask for the grace/ability to hope and praise God. It is also important to praise God for the attribute of His character that you misjudged. For example: His sovereignty, goodness, His desire for relationship with us (intimacy), His love for us. Find Scriptures that demonstrate that attribute in His dealings with other people
Psalm 42:5 (New King James Version)
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.[
The brother of the Prodigal son in the parable that Jesus told was given to Self Pity. Its an ugly, destructive, all consuming emotion. If you struggle with Self Pity, seek some help. Talk to a trusted friend, go and see a leader or pastor at your church. Don't allow it to fester and cause damage in your life.
