Are you insecure?
As a child, I remember gazing at myself in the mirror for way too long and loving what I saw. Sadly, music videos, magazines and middle school bullies taught me to shy away from my own reflection as I got older. So, I began to question God's choices when creating me. Why would He give me this nose? These eyes? This skin? This hair? This personality?
I’ve done many things to combat the insecurities and self-hate that I’d developed in adolescence. From going to therapy, courageously rocking my natural hair, jamming out to empowering music and only allowing encouraging voices in my social circle. I’m grateful for the steps I’ve taken to get back to loving what I see in the mirror. Yet, one of the most transformative tools on my self-love journey has been learning, loving, and believing the Word of God.
Finding your security in Christ
If we need other people’s approval to feel validated, if we need society, trends, or fads to recognise our worth, or value, or if we struggle with accepting ourselves, then we may be looking for love in all the wrong places. Either we’re seeking it externally, from an ever-changing society, or internally, from an ever-changing emotional place.
John 4:16 tells us that “God is love,” and who is better to learn love from than the One who created us? So here are a few verses that remind me of God’s amazing love.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
No matter who we are, where we’re at, what we look like, or what we’ve done: NOTHING can get in the way of God’s love for us. Even if we don’t think we’re worthy of love, God says otherwise.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
Even when I feel like a hot mess, I have to remember that I’m the Messiah’s masterpiece. God is the best artist in the universe. We can’t insult His work!
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” Psalm 103:8 (NIV)
When my love, grace, and compassion for myself fall short, God’s love abounds! Just saying this verse out loud daily reminds me that I can always find unconditional love from YHWH.
