STUDY ARTICLE 47 — “You Are Very Precious”
“You are very precious” (DAN. 9:23)
THEME: Helping those with low self-esteem to understand that they are very precious to Jehovah
1, 2. What will help us to be convinced that we are very precious to Jehovah?
Jehovah considers all his servants very precious, but some struggle with low self-esteem, perhaps because they have been treated with contempt or made to feel worthless. If that is our case, something that can help us is analyzing biblical accounts that show how Jehovah wants us to treat one another and how Jesus treated people with dignity and respect. Jesus perfectly reflected his Father's viewpoint, demonstrating that Jehovah highly values the humble and those who feel unimportant (John 5:19; Heb. 1:3). This article analyzes two ideas: 1) how Jesus helped people see that they were precious to Jehovah and 2) what we can do to convince ourselves that we are too (Haggai 2:7).
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
Low self-esteem does not always arise “out of nowhere”; it often has a history: hurtful words, rejection, bullying, abuse, or a lack of affection.
Jehovah does not look at us the way the world does. The world labels; Jehovah understands, lifts up, and heals.
Seeing how Jesus treated people is like seeing “through Jehovah's eyes” in action.
**BIBLE SCRIPTURE COMMENTS**
John 5:19: Jesus did not act on his own; he perfectly imitated Jehovah. If we see the way Jesus treated people, we are seeing Jehovah's heart.
Hebrews 1:3: Jesus is the exact representation of Jehovah. His tenderness and respect toward those who suffered reveal how precious they are to God.
Haggai 2:7: Jehovah sees as “precious” what others might not notice; he attracts what has true value.
3. How did Jesus treat the people of Galilee who came to him?
During his third preaching tour of Galilee, many people came to Jesus to learn and be healed. He saw that they were “skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt. 9:36). The religious leaders despised them and considered them ignorant, even calling them “accursed people” (John 7:47-49). But Jesus treated them with dignity: he dedicated time to them, taught them, and healed them (Matt. 9:35). Furthermore, he trained his apostles to preach and gave them authority to heal, thus extending help to more people (Matt. 10:5-8).
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
Jesus was not only “right,” he also had a heart.
The religious leaders humiliated; Jesus restored. That makes a giant difference.
For Jesus, no one was “too simple” or “too broken” to deserve attention.
**BIBLE SCRIPTURE COMMENTS**
Mateo 9:36: Jesus saw the suffering behind the appearance; that moved him to act, not to judge.
Juan 7:47-49: Religious contempt can destroy self-esteem; Jesus countered it with compassion.
Mateo 10:5-8: Jesus multiplied the help by preparing others. When we train and encourage, we imitate his love.
4. What do we learn from the way Jesus treated humble people?
We learn that Jesus showed through his treatment that Jehovah values those whom the world despises. Therefore, if we serve Jehovah but sometimes feel that we are not worth much, remembering how Jesus treated the humble who wanted to learn helps us see how much we matter to Jehovah.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
Christian self-esteem is not based on “ego,” but on understanding how Jehovah sees us.
If Jesus stopped for people considered “insignificant,” how could Jehovah not care about your life?
5. What was the situation of the woman Jesus met in Galilee?
Jesus met a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for 12 years (Mark 5:25). Due to that condition, she was considered ceremonially unclean; this isolated her socially and limited her worship (Lev. 15:19, 25). Besides suffering physically, she surely suffered emotionally from feeling excluded and marked (Mark 5:26).
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
It wasn't just illness: it was loneliness, shame, and rejection accumulated over years.
This type of pain is what makes you feel like “less,” even though you haven't done anything wrong.
6. How was the woman suffering from a flow of blood healed?
She wanted to be healed, but she did not dare to ask directly, perhaps out of shame or fear of being rebuked for approaching while unclean. So she touched Jesus’ outer garment with faith, convinced that doing so would heal her (Mark 5:27, 28). And so it was: her illness disappeared. Then Jesus asked who had touched him, and she confessed everything.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
Her faith was stronger than her fear.
Sometimes people don't ask for help “out loud,” but Jehovah sees their heart just the same.
7. How did Jesus treat that woman? (Mark 5:34).
Jesus noticed that she was “fearing and trembling,” so he spoke to her with tenderness, consideration, and respect. He called her “daughter,” an expression of special closeness (Mark 5:34). With that, Jesus not only healed her physically; he also helped her regain peace, dignity, and the feeling that Jehovah loved her.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
Jesus did not expose her to humiliate her; he made her speak to heal her from within.
Sometimes one needs more than a miracle: one needs to have the guilt removed from their chest.
**BIBLE SCRIPTURE COMMENT**
Mark 5:34: “Daughter” conveys belonging and value. It is like saying: “You are not a nuisance; you are important.”
8. What difficulties did a sister from Brazil face?
Renata, a regular pioneer in Brazil, was born with a genetic defect: without legs and without her left hand. She suffered constant bullying at school, cruel nicknames, and even prejudice within her own family.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
Bullying leaves invisible marks that last for years.
When the family also has prejudices, it hurts twice as much; it is the place where one expects refuge.
9. What helped Renata to feel very precious?
Upon becoming one of Jehovah's Witnesses, she received encouragement and affection from the congregation, which helped her see herself as Jehovah sees her. She deeply appreciated that “spiritual family,” and thus understood that she is very precious to Jehovah.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
The congregation can be emotional medicine: not because it is perfect, but because it applies real love.
Sometimes Jehovah heals self-esteem using “people” as instruments.
10. In what terrible situation was Mary Magdalene?
Mary Magdalene was possessed by seven demons (Luke 8:2). It is likely that people avoided her out of fear or prejudice, and she felt marginalized, helpless, and scared. Jesus set her free, and she began to follow him with faith, understanding that she had great value to God.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
People see the past; Jehovah sees the possibility of change.
Jesus did not define her by what she was, but by what she could become.
**ILLUSTRATION COMMENT**
The image shows the contrast: a dark and tearful life before, and a life accompanying Jesus after. This highlights that Jehovah does not “cancel” anyone; he restores.
11. How did Jesus make it clear to Mary Magdalene how much Jehovah appreciated her?
Jesus invited her to accompany him on his tours, giving her the privilege of hearing his teaching up close. Furthermore, he appeared to her after being resurrected: she was one of the first ones he spoke with. He even commissioned her to communicate to the apostles that he had been raised (John 20:11-18). With those acts, he made it clear that Jehovah deeply appreciated her.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
Jesus not only set her free: he gave her dignity and trust with responsibilities.
That Jehovah uses someone doesn't mean they are perfect; it means he loves them and trusts them.
12. Why did Lidia feel rejected?
Lidia, a sister from Spain, learned that her mother thought about having an abortion. Although she didn't, her mother did not take care of her and said cruel things to her, making her feel unworthy of love and acceptance.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
When the figure who should give love gives rejection, one grows up with the idea “I don't deserve it.”
Jehovah can repair what childhood broke.
13. What helped Lidia to understand her great value in Jehovah’s eyes?
Prayer, Bible reading, and the affection of the congregation helped her understand her value. Her husband and friends frequently reminded her of her good qualities. That reinforced her self-esteem from Jehovah's perspective. It also invites us to think about how we can help others feel valuable.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
Sometimes someone needs to hear the good things about themselves many times... until their mind believes it.
Encouraging is not “flattering”; it is helping to see what Jehovah already sees.
14. What does 1 Samuel 16:7 teach us about Jehovah’s point of view?
Jehovah does not value as the world does: he looks at the heart, not the appearance, position, or education (1 Sam. 16:7). Therefore, to see our value, we must focus on what Jehovah values. We can read accounts of servants who had low self-esteem (like Elijah, Naomi, and Hannah) and see how Jehovah showed that he valued them. It also helps to write down experiences where we saw Jehovah's love and consult publications that talk about self-esteem.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
The world measures you by “achievements”; Jehovah by loyalty, humility, and love.
Writing down blessings isn't cheesy: it's mental training to see the good.
**BOX COMMENT**
Jehovah created us with the capacity to know him and be his friends (Gen. 1:27). And if we choose to draw close, obey, and dedicate our lives to him, we become even more precious to him (Isa. 49:15). That strengthens a balanced self-esteem.
15. Why did Jehovah tell Daniel: “You are very precious”? (Daniel 9:23).
Jehovah valued Daniel for his faithfulness and qualities. Although Daniel was exhausted and discouraged in his old age, Jehovah sent Gabriel to tell him that his prayers were heard and that he was “very precious” (Dan. 9:23). This account was recorded to comfort us: Jehovah hears our prayers and values those who love what is right and serve him faithfully (Heb. 6:10).
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
Jehovah did not wait for Daniel to “recover” to encourage him. He encouraged him while he was weak.
Jehovah not only listens; he also confirms: “I value you.”
16. What can help you to see Jehovah as a father who loves you?
Meditating on the fact that Jehovah does not look for flaws to punish us, but desires to help us (Matt. 7:11). Remembering that he is tender and protective. Eliana imagines Jehovah carrying her in his arms with affection (Ps. 28:9). Lauren reasons that if Jehovah drew her with love, kept her firm, and has used her to teach others, then he considers her useful and precious (Hos. 11:4).
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
Imagining Jehovah as a protector can be a powerful emotional tool, especially if the person had a difficult father.
Being “useful” to Jehovah doesn't mean being perfect; it means being willing.
17. What can convince you that you have Jehovah’s approval? (Psalm 5:12).
Convincing ourselves that Jehovah approves of us. His approval is like a protective shield (Ps. 5:12). We can know that Jehovah is happy with us because his Word confirms his love and because he uses elders and brothers to encourage us and remind us of our value.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
The “shield” doesn't prevent ugly thoughts from arriving, but it does prevent them from destroying us.
Jehovah uses words from others to care for us, as if they were “messages” from him.
**ILLUSTRATION COMMENT**
The two sisters going out preaching together reflect support and affection. That type of companionship can be an emotional “shield” against low self-esteem.
18. Why should you accept the words of encouragement that others give you?
Because Jehovah may be using those who love you to confirm his approval to you. We should not reject encouragement thinking it is not real. Eliana gradually learned to believe those words, and with loving help from the elders, today she serves more: she is a pioneer and collaborates as a remote volunteer for Bethel.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
Rejecting encouragement is sometimes like saying to Jehovah: “I don't believe you.” And Jehovah wants us to accept it.
Accepting encouragement is humility, not pride.
19. Why can you be sure that you are of great value to Jehovah?
Because Jesus showed with tenderness how much we matter to Jehovah (Luke 12:24). So we can be sure that Jehovah values us deeply. Furthermore, we should strive to help others see themselves as Jehovah sees them.
**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS**
Jehovah doesn't see us as “a statistic”; he sees us as people with names and hearts.
Helping others feel valuable also strengthens our own self-esteem.
HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER?
**How did Jesus help people to see that they were precious in God’s eyes?**
He treated them with dignity and respect, especially those who were despised by religious leaders. He taught them with patience, healed them, and helped them see that Jehovah values the humble who desire to learn.
**How did Jesus help the woman who suffered from a flow of blood?**
He healed her because of her faith and, moreover, treated her with tenderness by calling her “daughter,” removing her fear and guilt. He not only gave her back her health; he gave her back peace, dignity, and the assurance that Jehovah loved her.
**What can we do to see ourselves as Jehovah sees us?**
Remember that Jehovah looks at the heart, not the appearance; meditate on biblical accounts of servants with low self-esteem and how Jehovah valued them; write down experiences where we saw his love; and accept the encouragement that Jehovah gives us through the congregation.