One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 139:14 because it reminds me of how God made me and what He thinks of me. It says, “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” (NKJV) Take a moment to let that sink in.
Did you catch that? God made us MARVELOUS! He made us fearfully (awesome) and wonderfully (distinguished)! WOW!
But why is it that we too often battle with comparison and insecurity and we become unsettled and discontent with who we are? Why do we sometimes allow the opinions of others and the expectations we place on ourselves to dictate our value? Why do we base our feelings on our achievements, our failures, our status in life, or our material possessions? Why do we sometimes believe the lie that we are not good enough?
I’m sure we’ve all been there at some point in our lives. And if we’re completely honest, we may tussle with those thoughts and feelings much more often than we’d care to admit. I know that I sure do. I’ve battled thoughts that I should be at a certain position in my career or making a certain salary because others around my age and with my same education level are there. When I’m around certain people, I feel as if I have to prove myself because they know the mistakes I’ve made in the past. I’ve battled thoughts of feeling less than because I don’t drive a fancy car or live in a fancy house. I’ve even battled thoughts of comparison because other women have qualities I wish I had. So, I get it. It can be discouraging, but I want to offer encouragement to help US see ourselves through God’s eyes.
We are NOT our past!
We are NOT our mistakes and failures!
We are NOT who people have labeled us!
We are NOT the positions we fill or the titles we wear!
We are NOT the education we did or did not earn!
We are NOT the job we do or do not have!
We are NOT the business we do or do not own!
We are NOT the relationship status we have or do not have!
WE are NOT the clothes we wear, the car we drive, or the place we live!
We are NOT intended to be like anyone else!
WE ARE, however, FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE just because of the One who made us!!! He loved us before we were even born. How do I know? Because He sent His Son to die for us thousands of years ago (Romans 5:6)! That’s REAL LOVE! He loved us before we had a chance to do anything, buy anything, go anywhere, or become anything. He LOVES us because He made us.
Settle your heart on that. Know that your Creator thinks you’re MARVELOUS!!! So, the next time you start to feel disappointed in who you are, pause and give thanks to God for the way He so thoughtfully made you and for His loving thoughts about you!
Let’s Get Practical: Reflect & Grow
- What are some scriptures that talk about who we are in God and how He sees us? Write them in your journal. Consider making a list of what you find to refer back to when you’re feeling discouraged.
- What are some practical ways we can avoid the comparison trap and promote a healthy confidence in who God made us to be (e.g. learn what God’s Word says about us, limit our time on social media, take a break from social media, etc.)?
