By: Lori Schaffer

(1/26/24 Confession:   I have not written anything in a few months.  I was believing the lie that no one even reads what I write, so why should I bother.   God has been prompting me to write, but I have been ignoring him.  Over the Christmas break he told me to write about my reflection.  I thought about it, I even opened my journal, only to discover I had already started to write about it over a year ago.  So I knew God was pushing me to finish….but I just pushed it aside.  This morning he woke me and prompted me again.  This time I listened.  You see, if God wants you to do something, he will keep pressing you until you listen.)

When you wake up each morning and look at yourself in the mirror, what do you see?  What is your reflection telling you?  Is it picking out and highlighting all of your physical flaws?  Is that reflection beating you up and tearing you down?  For me, I see the stretch marks, sagging belly skin from having my children, flabby arms that jiggle, a big sun spot on my face, hair that is getting thinner and thinner, and the 10 pounds that I am always fighting to get rid of.  Can you relate?   While these may be the physical things we see when we look in the mirror, I can assure you that this is not the reflection that God sees. Genesis 1:27 says, “God created man in His own image.”  God views you as beautiful, you are His workmanship, created to do good things. 

I have struggled with my self image for most of my adult life. The reflection that looks back at me from the mirror is a liar. All the negative, physical flaws that are being pointed out, those thoughts are not coming from God, they are coming from the enemy.  You see, Satan will use that reflection to plant  negative thoughts in our minds.  “You are ugly, you are fat, you are not worthy,” and the list of negative self-talk can go on and on.  A  perfect example that I experienced was when my husband and I were all dressed up to go out to a party.  I was in a mood.  I didn’t like the dress I was wearing, or the boots I had on, or any of it. I must have changed my outfit at least five times.  I thought I looked horrible and I didn’t feel good about myself.  My husband took a full length photo of me before we left.  When I looked at it, I was shocked.  I looked fabulous!  So why didn’t I see that when I looked in the mirror?  I’m over 50 for heaven’s sake, and I look good, but my reflection in the mirror always tells me a different story.  It tells me a lie.  The lie the enemy wants me to believe.  You see, the devil will use that reflection to steal, kill and destroy.  It’s what he does.  Have you ever looked back at a picture of yourself, and thought, “wow, I looked great,” but remembered how you were really feeling about yourself at the time?  I encounter this alot.  

Comparison is a joy stealer.  The minute you start comparing yourself to whatever it is that you believe is more beautiful, more appealing, more lovely than you,  you have allowed the enemy to plant the thought of self loathing, of not being enough.  I encourage you, the minute you catch yourself with the negative self-talk, capture it, and replace it with how God views you.  

Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit; you belong to Him.  

1 Corinthians 6:19

I am the righteousness of God.  

I have right standing with Him, in Jesus Christ.  

2 Corinthians 5:21

The spirit of God, who is greater than the enemy of the world, lives in me.  1 John 4:4

I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  

Psalm 139:14

The way we view ourselves, or the reflection that looks back at us, is not the way God sees you.  Women, hear me loud and clear, “WE ARE WAY TOO HARD ON OURSELVES.”   I am always fighting with my weight.  Gaining, losing, maintaining, gaining again.  I’m coming to realize that this is just what it is!  I’m not certain I will ever conquer and be able to stay at my desired number on the scale.  But guess what, it doesn’t mean I get to beat myself up over it.  It just means that when I am ready, I will regain focus, and try again.  But, in the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the life I am living.  

I have had the pleasure of going on a few cruises with my dear friend Michele.  We love to just sit and people watch.  We are always so enamored by the large women who are so confident in their own skin and having the time of their lives.  When I look at them, I see their beauty, not the extra pounds they are carrying.  So why do we feel less than?  I want a little bit of what those women have.  Perhaps, they have the confidence in knowing that they were created in Christ’s image.  Their inner beauty truly shines through.  

I want to share a little about my friend Michele.  We have been friends for over 30 years now. Michele was my first friend outside of church who is a Christian. We have a friendship that will last a lifetime.  Michele is a two time breast cancer survivor.  She was first diagnosed when we were young, at the age of 34.  Michele has been such a great influence on my life, in learning to see the beauty in myself, and the beauty that surrounds me.  She has a saying that really puts life into perspective, and she always reminds me of this,  “aging is a gift.”  Each year we celebrate a birthday, it is a gift.  Those stretch marks are a gift.  The age spots on my face are a gift.  You see, not everyone lives long enough to receive those gifts.  So, the next time the devil tries to use that reflection to discourage you, remember, your life is a gift!  How you choose to use that gift is up to you.   I am going to choose to live my life to the fullest. As long as there is still a reflection looking back at me, I know that God is not done with me yet.  

I want to encourage you today.  Ask God to show you what he sees in you.  As I am typing this right now, God just spoke these words to me… “Do you see what I see?”  He sees your beauty, your strength, your pain, your sorrow, he sees your heart.  He knows you better than anyone.  Seek God today, because the reflection looking back at you is the image of God.  Don’t allow Satan to distort it.