When you look into the mirror what do you see?
Take time and think about it. When you stand in front of your bathroom mirror and stare into your own eyes what do you see? I can tell you what I see when I look into the mirror. First, I see all the physical flaws. I see the blemishes, the dark bags under my eyes, my not so perfect smile and I focus on those things for a bit. Then I see the deeper flaws. I see a person who lets people walk over her because she doesn’t like conflict. I see a girl who has disappointed herself, her parents, and friends and can’t seem to get over it. I see a girl who struggles EVERY DAY with thoughts that bounce in her head, “you’re not pretty enough, you’re not smart enough, you’re not skinny enough, you’re a failure.” The list goes on and on and on.
It’s easy to stand in front of the mirror and tear yourself down. Heck I don’t even need to stand in front of the mirror to do that. What’s harder is to stand in front of the mirror and point out the things you do like about yourself. I had a friend challenge me to do that. She asked me what I liked about myself and all I could say was that I kinda liked my hair. That was it… that was all I could come up with. She then encouraged me to find some scriptures to stick on my mirror and take time every day to look at them and find something new that I liked about myself.
I would like to say that I went home right away and did exactly that but it took me about a week or two to actually do it. I didn’t want to stand in front of the stupid thing and say versus and the things that I liked about myself. One day I had enough. I was feeling super down and overwhelmed, so I tried it. I found three versus: Psalms 139:14 “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Hebrews 10:35 “Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward.” Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” I read them then I look at myself and said that I liked my hair. I felt stupid for doing it but after I did it a couple of times I could feel a little change in myself.
It’s a slow process but I’m believing and trusting that one day I will be able to look into the mirror and see a confident woman that is loved and chosen by God. Who has pretty hair, pretty eyes, and a pretty smile. That loves and cares for people. I’m not going to lie. I don’t do it every day but I am trying to get into a habit of it and I still feel stupid doing it. I have times where I look into the mirror and just cry and I ask Him to help me because I have a really hard time believing what I am saying. Learning to love yourself is not easy but it is achievable.
(I know I am not the only person who struggles with loving themselves. So I encourage you to find some versus that remind you of God’s love and plan for you. You don’t have to put them on your mirror but maybe in your wallet, bible, car, etc. but have them accessible that way when the enemy starts filling your head with junk you can remind yourself what God sees in you.)
