When You Wonder How God Sees You

Another dreary winter day swoops in and the sun can’t seem to break free from its shroud of clouds. My mood is a reflection of the weather. Before I even got out of bed, I feel defeat.

I make my way to the laundry room and fluff the clothes that have been in the dryer for the last two days. My six-year-old needs a clean pair of jeans to wear for school, and somehow they never wound up in his dresser.

Little one bursts into kitchen with a vengeance screaming, “Brakfa, brakfa” and after I list three different options for him to choose from, he finally decides on waffles. I find myself wishing for the quadrillionth time that I had his energy.

Insomnia shows under my eyes. The previous week’s round with strep and colds took its toll. The hubby gives me a quick kiss on his way out the door and I wrap my arms around him tight, drinking in his calm, his scent.

I want to stay there in the soft, lingering embrace, but he’s running late.

As I watch my kids wrestle each other to the ground while working feverishly to make my son’s lunch, I wonder if God’s disappointed in my shortcomings as a mom. I wonder why I always feel like I’m playing catch up. I wonder if he is disappointed that I haven’t met that writing deadline, that I can’t seem to balance it all.

I forget that disappointment negates the essence of who God is.

I forget that it is impossible for God to be disappointed because he already knows the beginning and the end of my story.

For a moment, I forget that God sees me through the perfect covering of his son, Jesus, and his love is far deeper and wider than anything I could imagine.

As I sit down to read that evening, these words from Isaiah penetrate deep into my soul:

He has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.  Isaiah 61:10 NIV

When God looks at me he sees beautiful, plain and simple. How I feel about myself or my performance on that particular day is irrelevant.

Using my feelings to dictate how I think God sees me negates the essence of his character.

As I sat there, letting his Word shatter my illusions, I became deeply aware of my need for him. I realized it was only by the power of his Spirit that I could grasp the truth.

And the truth is this: His love is unchanging and constant. It knows no limits or boundaries, height or depth.

My friend, as you’re sitting there on the other side of the screen, can you remember the way your spouse looked at you on your wedding day? Or if you’re single, do you remember a date where that special person looked at you with awe, decked from head to toe in your evening wear?

Those examples don’t compare to the way God looks at you once you’re in Christ. He sees his radiant, beautiful bride shining with the light of his Son inside her.

So no matter what kind of day you’ve had or how many items you got checked off your to-do list, remember that to your Creator, you are a shining star that gleams brightly in the universe. You are his chosen child, pure and blameless because of the perfect blood of Jesus.

Let that truth sink deep into your weary bones today. And remember that no matter how many clouds shroud the sun, God is still there.

He sees you through the fog.

 

Linking up with Suzie Eller’s #LiveFreeThursday. Come join us and be inspired.