Photo Credit: Enrico Carcasci.
Those words are part of an infamous phrase from the Grimm fairytale and later Disney movie entitled “Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs”. The queen would stand in front of the mirror and ask a question many of us are familiar with, “Magic mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all”? The mirror would then respond, “Thou, O queen are the fairest in the land”. We, of course don’t speak those particular words but we have a conversation with our mirrors just the same. When we look into that reflective glass, what does it tell us?
How do we see ourselves? What is the filter through which our vision passes before our image is reflected back at us? Is the image we see distorted because we are looking through the lens of past hurts, betrayal, abuse or neglect? Is the image distorted by harsh words and demeaning criticism from parents or those whose responsibility it was to raise, nurture and protect us? Is the face staring back at us that of the little girl or boy who was called ugly or fat or stupid? Perhaps you still hear ringing in your ears that you are too dark or too light or too short or too tall or just all around not good enough? Or maybe you are distorting your own image because of things you have done in the past that cause you to feel shame and guilt. But regardless of who you think is responsible for the distortion, ultimately it a tactic of the enemy because a distorted self-image can prevent you from experiencing the full measure of a life in Christ that God intends for you to have. Poor self-image is a spiritual roadblock.
Well, we need to be delivered from all that and get to the place where we see ourselves as God sees us. To get beyond just a head knowledge of God’s love and fully embrace and bask in it. And never, ever make the mistake of comparing yourself to someone else. You can send yourself into an emotional spiral by doing that because there will always be someone who is prettier, smarter, thinner, wiser etc. But there will NEVER be another YOU. We have to learn to appreciate the uniqueness and one of a kind beauty with which God created us. He never intended for us to all be the same or look the same. God loves diversity.
I know from experience that it is neither easy place to get to nor a quick fix. But it is achievable. We achieve it by meditating on those scriptures in God’s Word that tell us how He sees us, what He thinks about us and how much He loves us. Here are just a few of them; II Corinthians 5:17, Romans 8:1, Matthew 5:14, I Peter 2:9, Ephesians 2:10, II Corinthians 6:18, Psalm 86:5, Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 103:12, Psalm 139:14, Psalm 118:6, Deuteronomy 7:9. This is by no means an exhaustive list but meditate on these scriptures and others daily, say them like a mantra. Your faith in God and confidence in yourself will increase and you will see the image looking back at you in the mirror begin to transform into the image God sees when he looks at you.
Below is something I saw posted on Facebook. I don’t know who created it and I certainly cannot take credit for it, but I have printed copies in my bathroom and over my vanity. Whenever I am feeling less than or need a reminder of who I really am in Christ, I recite these words and remember that I am truly God’s beloved daughter, His one of a kind masterpiece. I pray that you see yourself as such also.
THROUGH THE STORM 