Look at the picture accompanying this devotional (it’s over to the right).
Go ahead, look at it.
What do you see in the foreground?
The other day, as I was walking into the kitchen, Lindsey met me as she was coming in from the back yard. Beaming, she held out a fistful of grass and flowers. “Aww, thanks,” I said, smiling. And then, because I was holding the little guy I babysit, I said, “Would you please go get the little vase you made me and put them in there?”
“Yes, ma’am,” she responded cheerfully. Then she bounded off to do as I had asked.
Lindsey added water to the vase, stuck the flowers in, and placed them in the center of our dining room table.
What do you see when you look at the picture?
A bunch of helter-skelter weeds in a bumpy vase?
Or a beautiful centerpiece, gathered and assembled with love?
Because I’m a mom too, I know your heart for your children, and I know you would answer, “I see a beautiful centerpiece.” That, of course, is what I see, too.
What do you think God sees when He looks at you?
A bunch of deficiencies, wrapped in sin and imperfection?
Or a beautiful treasure, which He made and assembled with love?
My friend, I know you’re not perfect. I’m certainly not, either. I sin and make mistakes every day. I do some things wrong and fail to do other things right.
But I’m so much more than my actions. And so are you.
I carry too much weight between my waist and my knees, my hair spends most of its time in a ponytail, and I have wrinkles.
But I’m so much more than my physical appearance. So are you.
My family lives on a budget, we have a modest home, and my kids don’t take gymnastics lessons.
Yet I am so much more than finances. So are you.
You and I are more than our pasts. We are more than our lack of talent or athletic ability. We are more than our physical, emotional, or mental handicaps.
So much more.
That’s because, when it gets right down to it, all of those things don’t really matter. Our circumstances or position in life are not what define us.
They are not who we are.
We are not “someone who has few friends.” We are “someone who is deeply loved by God.”
Nor are we “a screw-up” or “a failure.” We are human beings made in the image of our Creator, who is neither or these things.
We are not insignificant—we matter so much to God that He sacrificed Jesus in order to win us. (Do you realize what that means? You are worth Jesus to God.)
We are not ugly; we are fearfully and wonderfully made (see Psalm 139:14).
I could go on and on, and I’d love to, because convincing precious women of their worth and beauty in Jesus is one of my favorite things to do. But instead, I’m simply going to point out that you and I have a choice.
We can either see ourselves as worthless, friendless, ugly failures—or we can acknowledge that that we really are is deeply beloved, made in the image of God, tremendously significant, and beautiful.
We can either see ourselves as a collection of weeds and a lumpy vase, or as a beautiful centerpiece.
In reality, you are a beautiful centerpiece, precious friend. I pray you see yourself that way, because God does, and I do, too.
Isaiah 43:4a—You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you. (ESV)