For the Woman Who Doesn’t Know She is Worthy

It was 5^th grade. I was tall for my age, especially in my small town and equally small school. Not slight nor dainty, but strong and athletic. Instead of skinny, I was fit. I appreciated my athletic abilities, but never felt comfortable in my own skin. I wanted a slimmer, bonier, and shorter version of myself. One more like my mother or my sisters … or my friends.

We were at recess playing kickball. The captains were named and they began picking teams. Because I was, hands down the best kickball player there, I was always picked first or second. The game started and I kicked the ball far over all the bobbing heads in the outfield. As I ran my victory lap and crossed home plate, it happened.

 “I guess she threw all her fat into that one!”

The words came from one of the slimmer, bonier, non-athletic girls. The kind I longed to look like.

The words hurt deeply.

You know when it literally feels as though your heart drops into your stomach? I still remember it today. Words lasting merely two seconds served as a loaded weapon for the enemy’s attack on a young girl’s fragile and already broken identity. In that moment I allowed words to define me because I didn’t know Jesus well enough. I didn’t know about the powerful Truth of His love for me.

When I looked at myself, I saw the reflection of those words used against me. And as the years moved forward, I locked into that mirror view. A view from the wrong reflection. A view reflecting the words and actions of others. Of the acquaintances, friends, and family. Of the culture and of the media. Of expectations and traditions.

I didn’t see myself in the mirror of truth. In the reflection of Christ the…

Healer

Redeemer

Omnipresent

Omnipotent

Comforter

Grace-giver

Father

What about you? How do you see yourself? In which mirror are you looking?

In the mirrors of the trauma, abuse, or neglect that dug ugly claws into your life? Or maybe in the ridicule, teasing, or bullying you experienced as a child? Or possibly, it was in the simple words of condemnation you received when you made a mistake?

The enemy is diligent, but not creative. He uses deception well, manipulating the brokenness of others into a tool inflicting pain upon the innocent. The unknowing. The unaware. But, friends, looking into the wrong mirrors isn’t where we have to stay. You see, our God is bigger than any weapon formed against us. He will fight for us and He always wins.

The truth is, though, we can’t live unaware. We must open our eyes, seek God’s wisdom and speak His truth over the lies. We must begin to look in that mirror and see ourselves in the reflection of Christ. A reflection that says we are worthy.

1. When we see ourselves in the reflection of our Savior, we see beauty in the way He uniquely created us. We see an inside and outside wired and crafted by a God who created the oceans, the moon, the sun, and all things beautiful!

For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! Psalm 95:3-6.

But when we see ourselves in the reflection of man, we see what he has deemed beautiful through the lens of the brokenness he brings to the table. We strive to achieve it and grieve when we cannot.

2. When we see ourselves in the reflection of Jesus, we see our worth in who we are as opposed to what we do. He called us wonderful long before we were born. Wonderful because we are His workmanship, not because of anything we have done or have yet to do.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14.

But when we see ourselves in the reflection of man, we see our worth in our ability to meet the demands of each unique and broken human that stands before us. The criterion sways as does the depth and span of brokenness. Meeting each set of criteria is impossible, yet we strive to do so. Inevitably we come face-to-face with failure far too often.

3. When we see ourselves in the reflection of Christ, we see worth in His unfailing love, unending grace, and unwavering forgiveness. He is willing to go to the ends of the earth to find us and bring us into His loving embrace.

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12-14.

But when we see ourselves in the reflection of man, we see our worth in another’s limited ability to love fully. Human love flows out of a reserve only as deep as our individual brokenness and imperfection. By its own nature, it is a love never capable of meeting another’s full need. So we strive, hoping to be “enough”. Deserving enough. Worthy enough.

So, friends, are you willing to set down the wrong mirror? Are you willing to look away from the reflection of man and the world that he lives in? And are you willing to pick up the right mirror and see yourself in the reflection of the God who holds His arms wide, embraces your every broken place, calls you wonderful, and loves you without end?