God I feel ugly...
Girls, I want to get a little up close and personal today. I want to speak truth over the lies that the enemy whirls at us in our most vulnerable moments, but I also want us to let God sing over us.
Most of us including myself can struggle with our self-image, and how we look especially when we compare ourselves to others or even how we have looked at different times in our lives.
Just being real, I was sending my best friend a video message, and I realized how tired I looked. It’s been mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting the last few years, and in that moment I realized I look worn.
I kept holding back tears as I was trying to share with her some heart things and check on her. After I ended the video, I prayed and just talked to God not knowing why I was on the verge of tears, and it emerged with the tears that flowed, “God, I feel ugly.”
Sweet girls, as I spoke it, cried, and brought it to the light by sharing this with a friend, God comforted me and reminded me that He saw me as beautiful and that He didn’t look at the outward appearance. 1 Samuel 16:7 says, “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by the outward appearance, but he looks at the heart.
He reminded me that even though I may not like my outward appearance at the moment, He saw my heart and it was beautiful to Him and through this He was refining me by conforming me to the image of His son, Jesus.
These are things I know and tell others, but sometimes in a world driven by the outward appearance, I can still struggle. I know the truth, but I need to come to the One who is Truth and always speaks truth and let Him sing over me.
“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm my fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17)
In His kindness, He also reminded me of this beautiful truth from 1 Peter 3:3-4, “You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”
Girls, there’s nothing wrong with taking care of ourselves, eating healthy, exercising, and wearing cute clothes, makeup, etc. It’s actually good to take care of ourselves, but it’s ultimately about our heart. Not finding our identity in worth in our outward appearance but truly finding our worth and value in who God says we are and letting His Words speak the loudest to us.
As God’s daughter, this is who you are, daughters of the King.
*Will you pause right now and say these truths out loud?
I am a child of God. (John 1:12)
I am tenderly loved by God. (Jeremiah 3:13)
I am completely forgiven. (Col 1:14)
I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
I am Christ’s friend. (John 15:5)
I am God’s workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10)
Girls, we want to speak truth over the lies the enemy hurls at us, but along with speaking scripture, we need to let the King Jesus, our great Physician, and Comforter hold us, hear us, dry our tears, and heal deep wounds in us. We need to let him sing over us!
The next time you don’t like something about your appearance, your personality, or anything about how he made you, I encourage you, Daughters of the King, ask Him to sing over you!