I have low self-esteem because I esteem myself too highly.

I've been feeling sorry for myself lately. John Piper hit me where it hurts. (What a punk. He always does that). Check him out as he gets all CS Lewis on us:

"Self-pity is the response of pride to suffering...Self-pity says, 'I deserve admiration because I have sacrificed so much.'...Self-pity is the voice of pride in the heart of the weak...The reason self-pity does not look like pride is that it appears to be needy. But the need arises from a wounded ego and the desire of the self-pitying is not really for other to see them as helpless, but heroes. The need self-pity feels does not come from a sense of unworthiness, but from a sense of unrecognized worthiness. It is the response of unapplauded pride. (quoted in Future Grace on pages 94-95, from his other book, Desiring God...and yes, he did quote himself. You can do that if you are John Piper.)"

Take that, ego.

As a good friend of mine says, "Self-introspection always leads to depression." If we are constantly examining all of our wounds we have no time to wash them in the healing blood of Christ.