While all others may turn against you, God will not

My selfhood is precious, and often fragile.

Yours may be fragile, too.

David experienced the ravages against his selfhood from mean-spirited and cruel people who railed against him.

Feel the emotional pain he suffered from their derisive slander: "They slandered me without ceasing. Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me. O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages, my precious life from these lions," Psalm 35:15-17, New International Version.

The King James Version poignantly translates "my precious life" as "my darling." David isn't talking about his sweetheart. He is referring to the essential personhood of who he is.

Where does much of the damage to personhood come from?

It comes from the critical, negative view others have toward us. Malicious words, actions and attitudes are like a grenade going off, wounding our "darling" self.

God-esteem means that our worth and value come from God and not people. The Scriptures affirm that the Lord delights in you: "He calms you with his love, He rejoices over you with singing" in Zephaniah 3:17. God rejoices and sings over you. Now that is God-esteem.

Do you see the nail prints in the palm of Jesus' hand? They are like an eternal tattoo injected into his skin.

A tattoo is made by using a machine with a sharp needle and ink. God used the machine of a hammer, three sharp nails and the blood-ink of Christ to tattoo your name in his scarred hand. Then, he surrounded your name with a heart, signifying his great love and esteem for you. The cross expresses what words cannot about God's love and how much he values you.

Some may curse you, but God favors you. Others may reject you, but God accepts you through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and rescues our "darling self" from the ravages of the lions.

The Rev. Dan White is the pastor of North Columbia Church in Appling.