Wonderfully Made
Have you ever looked at someone else and thought, "I wish I had their shape, or hair, or shoes?" Or maybe compared your wardrobe to their wardrobe and thought, hmm, "maybe I should dress younger, or older?" With all the social media and everyone posting every tiny detail of their lives, it is easy sometimes to compare our lives with someone else's life. In a world driven by commercialism, and materialism, it is easy to be dissatisfied with what gifts that have been given us by God.
This started for me when I was in about fourth or fifth grade. I thought I had to have Nike tennis shoes and Guess jeans (a particular pair of Guess overalls I wanted so badly!) I thought in sixth grade I wasn't going to be accepted socially unless my mom allowed me to start wearing some blush, mascara and maybe even a little blue eye shadow... after all, everyone who was anyone was wearing makeup! (Or so I thought!) I don't know if you are aware or maybe you have some of the same scars I carry from junior high and high school, but young teenage girls and boys can be brutal. I was already the fat girl so I so badly wanted to fit in and not stick out like a sore thumb. Some of these mindsets of needing approval carry on over in to adulthood.
Women, myself included, are particularly hard on ourselves and judge ourselves according to others, most harshly. Judging not only on clothes, hair, and makeup but also social status, homemaking skills, mothering and list goes on and on. We put so much pressure on ourselves to be, or become what we think will gain us approval. This mentality can wreak havoc on ones self-esteem, pocketbook, and overall happiness.
Well, honey be encouraged... You have been pre-approved!!! In Psalm 139:13 -15 NIV it says, "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth." Did you see that?? God knit us together and fearfully and wonderfully made us!! It is not often I look in the mirror and say, "Girl, you were wonderfully made!" According to God's word that is exactly what we are, is wonderfully made!
So, let's cut ourselves and our sisters a little slack. Let's look more at our hearts, and the hearts of our sisters and accept our own imperfections as special features from God. I encourage you today to stop any negative talk and comparison. God does not want that for us, God's word says in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." So stand in that mirror and say, "Not today Satan! I am wonderfully made by God!"
Jesus, thank you for fearfully, and wonderfully making us, each one of us special and unique. Help us to not compare ourselves to others, help us to speak positive good things to ourselves and to others. Help us to love unconditionally. We love you Jesus.