The Dividing Line: Where Soul Esteem Begins


By Jackie Overstreet November 16, 2025

When pity’s on the menu, find a new table.

My use of Soul Esteem began from one of the most piercing truths in Scripture:


“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing soul and spirit.” Hebrews 4:12


That verse shifted how I see everything, especially myself.


Because what it really means is this: your soul and your spirit aren’t the same thing. Your soul is emotional, reactive, and impulsive. Your spirit is eternal, calm, and led by God.


And learning to separate the two? That’s where healing starts.


Soul esteem isn’t about self-love. It’s about soul order.


It’s the process of letting your spirit take the driver’s seat and telling your emotions:


"You can ride, but you can’t drive.”


I learned that lesson in the thick of raising my daughters. You don’t know what’s in you until you’re in the middle of it. My resilience wasn’t loud or proud. It was steady. Unseen. Like a quiet hum that just refused to quit.


That’s where the idea for Soul Esteem was born, not from theory, but from the trenches.


I realized that environments feed you, whether you notice it or not.

If pity is on the menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, don’t be surprised when your confidence starts starving.


Pity feels like care, but it keeps you small. It feeds the wound instead of healing it.

Moreover, pity sounds like comfort, but it’s actually disguised disbelief in your strength. And if you stay around it long enough, you’ll start to agree with it.


That’s why Soul Esteem is different from self-esteem.


Self-esteem says, “I’m enough.”

Soul esteem says, “He is enough in me.”


Self-esteem starts with looking in the mirror.

Soul-esteem starts with looking up.


See the difference?


When I began the journey of raising my daughters alone, I also made the conscious choice to raise my standards. My body became a temple, not a tool. My choices became a model. I wanted my girls to see a woman who didn’t live one life at church and another at home.


It wasn’t about perfection; it was about alignment.


Celibacy wasn’t a punishment. It was peace.

And if you’ve ever met someone who’s chosen it, maybe ask what led them there instead of assuming it’s about you. That’s where real conversation begins, where substance replaces surface.


The Word says, "Train up a child in the way they should go, and when they are old, they will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6


That verse became my heartbeat.


Now my daughters are grown. They love God, they stand firm, and they understand that the path of least resistance rarely leads to greatness.


And here’s what I’ve learned now that they’re grown:

Struggle breeds greatness, but not all struggle is holy.


If it humbles you but draws you closer to Him, it’s from God.

If it drains you and distracts you from Him, it’s not.


Let that marinate, "You're welcome.


Soul esteem is about discernment, learning what deserves your energy and what just wants to drain it. It’s about recognizing that emotional exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor; it’s a warning light.


God doesn’t need you burned out to prove your belief.

He just needs you surrendered.


So if you’re reading this and you’re in that tug-of-war between how you feel and what you know, remember this:


The sword of His Word divides soul from spirit, not to harm you, but to heal you.


Let Him do the cutting.

You’ll come out whole.


~Sincerely, Jackie


For every woman tired of dining on pity and ready to feast on purpose.

🎁 Free Daily Devotional: Excavation letters for breakthrough & healing

Subscribe Free →

get the EXCAVATION LETTERS to you inbox

Every post delivers practical wisdom and soul tools to help you uncover, heal, and rise. Be part of a growing community committed to real transformation.

Contact Us


Latest Posts

truth, The Grace of Discernent
By Jackie Overstreet November 15, 2025
In the final installment of The Truth Detox Series, Jackie Overstreet reveals how discernment protects your freedom and peace. Learn how to hear God’s quiet guidance, recognize spiritual misalignment, and walk boldly in Soul Esteem.
clarity the cost of it
By Jackie Overstreet November 14, 2025
Jackie Overstreet’s third letter in The Truth Detox Series unpacks how clarity becomes your greatest wealth. Learn how truth clears confusion, protects peace, and brings your soul back into alignment with God’s purpose.
The Weight of Transparency glass of water, transparency
By Jackie Overstreet November 13, 2025
In this second installment of The Truth Detox Series, Jackie Overstreet explores the deeper side of honesty—transparency. Discover how showing up as your true self builds soul strength, breaks survival cycles, and reclaims your peace through Christ.
Honesty and Integrity
By Jackie Overstreet November 12, 2025
Exploring why honesty feels expensive in a world built on survival, and how faith invites us to live in transparency and peace.
choose which door
By Jackie Overstreet November 11, 2025
The Word of God gives us a question and a mandate: “Choose you this day whom you will serve.” — Joshua 24:15
the pain of waiting
By Jackie Overstreet November 10, 2025
Part of the “Good → Pain → Patience” trilogy, this reflection explores how God uses waiting to prepare and strengthen you for lasting faith.
Vending machine manipulation controlling, conversations
By Jackie Overstreet November 9, 2025
Drawing from her father’s timeless words, Jackie Overstreet shares how guarding your heart and peace aligns with God’s Word and defends your destiny.
When Good Hurts, God’s pruning and growth
By Jackie Overstreet November 8, 2025
Explore how God uses discomfort to grow us into spiritual maturity—the hidden blessing of painful obedience.
compass Redefining Good, Biblical meaning of good relationships
By Jackie Overstreet November 7, 2025
Explore how God defines “good” in love, friendship, and purpose — a reflection on biblical standards for true goodness.
gaslighting
By Jackie Overstreet November 6, 2025
Gaslighting isn’t confusion—it’s control in disguise. Learn how to spot it, break it, and guard your peace through Christ.
Show More