Do you like yourself?

Are you comfortable in your skin?

I think the most enjoyable and fun people are the ones who are okay with who they are. They like themselves, not in a prideful way–nobody wants to be around those people who like themselves too much.

I don’t even know anybody like that anymore. I might have known a few in high school, or at least they were perceived that way, but the truth is we all have insecurities, even the most beautiful and talented.

And I think that life just has a way of knocking you down a few bars to keep you humble.

It’s funny, but I’m normally okay with me. I usually like myself–at least, I like the person on the inside. I’ve made peace with my faults, been thankful for them even, and I’ve devoured Jesus because He is the only thing in me worth giving away.

But God is stretching me.

He’s making me come to another level of trust. Another level of putting myself out there for Him.

Another level of need for grace.

As I’m preparing for this next level, I’ve discovered some things that I really don’t like about myself.

But this is how God made. me.

Do I really believe that all of God’s’ works are wonderful and that I am one of His wonderful works?

Do you really believe that you are wonderful the way He made you?

Crooked nose.

Frizzy hair.

Funny voice.

Maybe you’re okay with your outward appearance and mannerisms, but you don’t like your insides or wish you had someone else’s gifts.

This sentence is profound:

“Comparison is compromise that becomes a box that confines.” ~Michele Perry

I wish I wrote it.

Oh, wait! That’s comparison.

I’ve written something like her words in other blog posts:

[tweetability]”We sink in the quicksand of comparison, but camaraderie gives us wings to fly.”[/tweetability]

 

God never let’s me teach something without experiencing it. He’s good like that.

Is God calling you to something that scares you to death? Have you asked yourself why you are scared? I bet you a million bucks that your answer is very similar to mine.

Fear.

Fear of failure. Fear of not doing it well. Fear of judgment.

How do we get beyond this?

I’m no expert, just a real person dealing with real issues just like you, and these are the 3 things I’m going to do:

• Spend a lot of time in prayer and reading the Bible seeking God’s guidance and assurance that I am hearing Him correctly.
• Deposit all my worries, fears, and insecurities in my journal and write God’s response.
• Pray for His grace–His empowerment to do what I’m afraid to do.

May I pray for us?

“Dear Jesus, we worship you. We lift up your name. We keep our eyes on you because when we take them to other people we are paralyzed. The enemy wants us to quit. His favorite weapons are pride and fear. When our eyes are on you the pride fades and so does the fear. Purify our motives. Cleanse our hearts. May we bring you glory, no matter what the world thinks. All your works are beautiful. We know that, and we are yours. Thank you. Amen.”

 

With Joy,

ps. Thank you to my daughter and her friend, Lillian Higgins for permission to use the photo at the beginning of the blog. I couldn’t resist. Beautiful. Photo credit of the butterfly: wikimediacommons.