“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8 (NIV)
I looked out of the window as our plane began its descent. The sky was a glorious collage of pink and gold as the sun began to set. I knew a 2‑hour drive awaited me, so it would be dark by the time I got to my hotel.
As I made my way to baggage claim I checked the information sheet I’d been given for the following morning’s event, to remind myself of the names of the couple who were kind enough to pick me up. I’ll call them Jean and Stan. They were waiting by carrousel 4 with big smiles and a sign with my name on it.
“It’s so kind of you to do this,” I said.
“Our pleasure,” Stan replied. “We love to drive and we love to make new friends!”
The baggage carousel began to move and I watched for my bag. One by one the other passengers picked up their suitcases until all that was left was a lone sneaker going round and round, forlorn and unclaimed.
I took my baggage tag to the agent and asked her if she could see where my bag had gone.
“I’m afraid it’s still in Dallas,” she said. “We don’t have another flight due in tonight but we can get it to you in the morning.”
I had a problem.
The following morning, I was attending a church conference and all I had were the jeans I had travelled in. I knew the other ladies would have brought their prettiest outfits to wear and I didn’t want to look like I’d just climbed off my horse!
I asked Jean if we would pass a mall on the way to the hotel.
She said no, but we’d pass a large well-known chain store if I wanted to give that a try. I said, “Let’s go for it, Jean!”
Well, apparently there had been several school proms, two weddings and a big sale at the store the previous week, so there was nothing left in my size. The only dress I could find was two sizes too big (better than too small) and made for a much taller woman, but I bought it anyway.
The following morning I got up, and before I stepped out of bed I reminded my heart, as I do every morning in life, of my favorite verse to begin the day, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life” (Psalm 143:8).
I treasure this verse. The psalmist speaks of God’s unfailing love, not ours — for we will fall and we will fail, but God never will.
I showered, put my dress on and surveyed myself in the full-length mirror.
“Well, Lord!” I said out loud. “What do you think?”
What I heard in my spirit was the gentle voice of my Father saying, “Beautiful!”
In that moment every chaotic emotion fell into place as I remembered whose I am and the undeserved privilege of being a child of the King, a partaker in His grace and mercy.
I didn’t hit a fashion home run that day, but I had a deeper sense of the value our Father places on us … on the days we like what we see in the mirror and the days we don’t. It was a gift to have some of the things I normally rely on stripped away to lean on Christ and Him alone.
I don’t know what you see when you look in the mirror.
I don’t know what you depend on to feel okay about yourself.
But I do know this … if every time you catch your reflection you would remind yourself that you are a beloved daughter of the King above all Kings, peace would flood over you like a river … even if your circumstances, or the enemy or anything else tries to tell you differently.
And you don’t have to take this step alone. Join me and thousands of other women who are taking these steps together in my online Bible Study community.
Heavenly Father, thank You for thinking I’m beautiful no matter what reflection the mirror tosses back. Help me remember that You don’t see as the world sees, but You see with eyes of love. I want to see myself, and others, with those same eyes. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
REMEMBER: You are a beloved daughter of the King of Kings.
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It’s never too late to start again, and there’s no better way than side by side with Jesus.
Love,
Sheila