We Seemed to Ourselves
Scripture Reading: Numbers 12-14; Psalm 55
How we see ourselves shapes how we face challenges. If we define ourselves by our weaknesses rather than by God’s strength, we will shrink back in fear rather than move forward in faith.
After the spies returned from their journey into Canaan, they brought back a “bad report.” Their conclusion? They were too weak to conquer the land. Numbers 13:33 records their reasoning: “We seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”
The problem wasn’t just the size of their enemies—it was how they saw themselves. They left God out of the equation. This was the same God who had delivered them from Egypt, dismantling the greatest empire of their time. He had led them through the Red Sea and sustained them in the wilderness. And yet, when they stood on the edge of the Promised Land, they saw only their own inadequacies.
Joshua and Caleb, however, saw things differently. They faced the same obstacles but believed God’s promises. Instead of fear, they responded with faith, urging the people to trust in the Lord’s power rather than their own limitations (Numbers 14:6-9).
We must not define ourselves by our weaknesses, circumstances, or past failures. Instead, we should take our identity from what God says about us in Christ. Scripture tells us:
"In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Our attitudes, words, and actions constantly communicate what we believe—not just about ourselves, but about God. When we view ourselves through the lens of His promises, we walk in faith rather than fear.
How do you see yourself in the challenges you face? Do you define yourself by your weaknesses, or by the strength God provides?
Consider this:
“I seemed to myself as ____________, and so we seemed to them.”
