How Do You See Yourself?

How do you see yourself?  When I look in the mirror every morning I think “My goodness, can that really be me?”  Then, today as I viewed pictures from Christen and Malachi’s wedding shower posted on Facebook, I looked at pictures of myself and thought, “Why do I look this old?  Why didn’t someone tell me to straighten my sweater; uncock my head and quit leaning? Why didn’t I have lipstick on because I look so washed out?” I have to admit, I spent a lot of years behind a camera as a photographer.  I have always been more comfortable there than in front of the camera.  Most of the people I know feel the same way; very uncomfortable with any picture that is made.

It’s not the end of the world when unflattering pictures are posted for all to see.  We have to face the fact that we are not perfect.  We are not always made up and ready to be in front of a camera. And, we have to realize; at least a lot of us do, that we are old; we are wrinkled and we are not photogenic.

What really should matter is how God sees us.  God doesn’t see just our physical bodies but He sees what’s in our heart.

 “Men judge by outward appearance, but I look at a man’s thoughts and intentions.”1 Samuel 16:7B TLB

God loves us no matter the color of our skin or our hair; no matter now short or tall we are; no matter where we live; whether we are rich or poor.  God loves us because He made us in His image.

 “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 NIV

If we are created in the image of God, then how can we be ashamed of the way we look?  God made us all unique. No two people are exactly alike yet, we are created in the image of our Heavenly Father.

“Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes, without a single fault—we who stand before him covered with his love.” Ephesians 1:4 TLB

Would God choose us to be His very own; to make us holy in His eyes without a single fault if He didn’t love us the way we are?

“In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God’s anger against our sins.” 1 John 4:10 TLB

So, I hope when I look in the mirror or at my image in a photograph, I will remind myself that no matter how I look, in God’s eyes I am perfect. I am His child and He has plans for me that I cannot know but I trust.

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 TLB