One of the marvelous treasures in a hard is the consistency and beauty of how God sees us. His view of us stands untainted, not swayed by how we feel, by others perceptions, or by our performance.
How we feel about ourselves in a hard situation or season makes dramatic shifts. The reflected image we see in the mirror morphs with how much sleep we get, the weather, what someone says to us, how we are treated, and a myriad of other factors. Our perception of self sways with the pendulum from weak, ugly, and worthless to confident, able and in control, and then back again, striking every possible emotion on our way from one extreme to the other. We start the day with joyous victory and by 10:00am feel bitter defeat. Our feelings and emotions are fickle. If we base who we are on our feeling of the day, we are in for a self-defeating ride.
But, if we keep our mind’s eye focused on our Father’s vision of us, in the most difficult of times, our center will remain calm and at peace; our core will stand confident, and our heart will beat steady from the love of God pouring freely over us.
God’s view of us is based on one thing, and one thing only: who we are in Christ.
Tho we feel shame-filled and defeated, God sees us clothed in His robe of righteousness and garment of salvation that cover our every imperfection. (Isaiah 61:10)
When we perceive ourselves alone and unloved, God sees His precious, beloved child whom He will never leave. (1 John 3:1, Romans 8:16, Deuteronomy 31:6)
Tho we see sickness and failing health, God sees the vibrant glow of His Spirit inside us, a deposit of what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:22) He see us not just in this moment, but in the fullness of the life that will some day be ours with Him in heaven.
When we see continued mistakes and repeated sin, God sees our continuous transformation into His image with ever-increasing glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18) He sees we are clothed in the purity of Jesus. (Galatians 3:27)
Tho we feel heavy under the weight of the pull of the flesh, God sees us free from slavery to sin and death, and gazes at us with zero condemnation. Zilch. None. (Romans 8:1-2) Let that sink in.
When we are taunted by the enemy for our past, God sees the old has gone and we are a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Tho we wrestle with our thoughts, our minds a battleground, God sees His peace transcending all understanding, guarding our heart and mind. (Philippians 4:7)
When we perceive needs piling up one upon another, creating a precarious tower of destruction over us, God sees the riches of His glory standing at the ready to meet all of our needs. (Philippians 4:19)
Pull apart those few verses (there are many more) and see the truth of who you are in Christ: saved, new, righteous, perfect, beloved, eternal, transformed, pure, glorious, free, pardoned. Read those descriptors again. Out loud, if possible. Slowly.
If Christ abides in you, these describe who you are. Right now. Today. Every day. Soak in that truth, then walk through your hard with a renewed, true perspective of yourself. Scrap the whispered, destructive self-evaluation and instead, see the beautiful, transformed, beloved child of God that is you.
Photo by Taylor Smith on Unsplash
