If someone had told the skinny mini above that one day she’d write books or hold a microphone in her hand, I don’t know if she would have believed it.
When this picture was taken, life was hard.
Really hard.
I didn’t know a thing about Jesus.
But Jesus knew about me.
Do you know that God sees you differently than others see you?
Did you know that He sees you differently than you likely see yourself?
In Matthew 16:18, Jesus meets a guy named Simon and He says this:
And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep them out.”
It was almost humorous because at this time Simon wasn’t rock solid. Even after he became a follower of Christ, he sometimes seemed less than rock-like.
But Jesus saw something that Simon Peter and others didn’t.
He saw the talents he placed inside of him. He knew exactly what can happen when ordinary people — even those who are unsure of their value or worth — place their lives in his hands.
God created you.
You may be quirky, fun, have your own sense of style, or dance to a different tune than anyone else, but have you ever stopped to think that God made you that way?
He knows your past. He knows what’s going on in your family. He knows the stuff you are working on in your heart and the things that seem huge. He knows the desire you have to run after him. Or the times you feel nothing, but want to feel everything.
Why is this important?
Knowing who we are to God takes the limits off.
That skinny girl in the picture?
Maybe she didn’t know that one day she’d write books or speak to crowds, but she also didn’t know her worth or value to an amazing God. She didn’t know if she could be a good mom. She didn’t know if people could love her for who she was. She had no idea where her love for God might lead her.
But labels fell off and discovery began as she began to trust that God saw something she didn’t.
How do you define yourself?
Is it what you see in the mirror? Is it by the words spoken over your heart? Is it by the way you feel, or don’t feel?
Take a moment. Close your eyes. Let truth whisper past the labels. Sure, you may not see it yet, but that’s okay.
Simon didn’t see it at first. Neither did I. In the beginning we simply surrender to the truth that God just might see something you don’t.
Who does God say you are?
His.
Suzie
You and God
Q: Read Psalm 139:15-16 and describe who you are to God.
Rahab was a prostitute. David took care of sheep. Zacchaeus was a tax collector. None of these were in the running to win Who’s Who in church leadership. Their resumes might not impress others, but God saw something special in each of these people. Rahab is listed in the family tree of Christ. David was a King and seen as a man after God’s own heart. Zacchaeus became a friend of Jesus.
Q: What might have happened if any of these had allowed people or circumstances to define them?
Q: Who does God say you are?
Write a prayer offering God all of you. The broken parts. The spiritually hungry parts. The parts that are still a work in progress. All of you. The past. The future. Today.
Lord, thank You for that beautiful, treasured woman who is reading this right now who has never seen herself as You do. Gently peel away the labels to reveal your work beneath. Thank You that You see inside of us what we might not. Thank you for growth and transformation and relationship with You.
This is really something, I think this requires some quiet time of reflection and introspection. But if I was to give an answer now I would repeat your words here and own them for myself
“But labels fell off and discovery began as she began to trust that God saw something she didn’t.”
I find that the more I know of Him, the more I know of myself.
Thank you
I hope you understand the courage and faith in your statement. You don’t understand where it will take you, or what it even looks like, but you are holding up your heart and life to Him, whatever that process looks like, and wherever He takes you. Faith, faith, faith! What can God do with such beautiful courage?
Suzie, You have touched my heart this morning and brought a little tear to my eye. I am so thankful that the skinny mini you steeped out to the One who reached out to you. You draw me nearer the cross and help to fill my cup to overflowing. May each of us reading and studying with you peel away the labels, see the beauty God created and embrace the person He planned for us to be. Through His spirit all is yes and amen!
Love, Jodie
Thanks, Jodie! I know you are a busy lady who is leading and loving others to Christ. Thanks so much for taking the time to share this. You are a joy.
Suzie, I see myself so much in your books, blogs and the devotions you write. Sometimes I feel every word I read is describing my own life. Your words have helped me heal some pretty deep wounds!
Thank you for allowing God to use you to help those of us with similar life stories, families and backgrounds struggling to see themselves as God sees us.
Blessings!
Dyana, thank you for sharing that. I love nothing more than watching beautiful, treasured women discovering what is beyond the past. <3 Love, love that you took the time to share.
Beautiful little skinny mini has bloomed into a powerful woman of God!
: )
Suzy,
I read this on FB earlier today and knew I had to come back…this speaks so much to me and describes me as well. Five years ago God started my journey to really understand who I am in Christ. He was using me in ministry, through writing and blessing my family…I felt so undeserving and even told Him so. I vividly remember walking down our gravel road talking with God and asking Him, “Who am I?” He responded with a whisper to my heart, “No, Jill who am I?” For the last 5 years I’ve been seeking His answer to my question and like you have been amazed and blessed. We truly must understand who we are in Christ in order to live out the plan He has for us and be who He made us to be. This is a process, but one I’m thankful to be on.
Thank you for this study and the story about Peter!!
Blessings to you!! I’ll be praying for you as She Speaks approaches!
I’m sitting here trying to keep from crying. My faith is strong , but sometimes I just don’t/can’t see myself as someone special to God. Though I am involved in a lot of church & Bible study activities, I still sometimes feel very alone (was widowed at a relatively young age (40’s) & my sons are grown). I want to embrace God’s vision of me & so appreciate your posts & studies. Thank you for answering God’s call on your life. You certainly help me, & based on the comments of others, you speak to a lot of hearts.
I was thinking about how awesome God is, to know us before we even existed. He knows what I think about myself but He knows the truth of the real person he created in me. A little door opened in my mind that I am worthy of the love and care of someone indescribably powerful, and that doesn’t even begin to describe Him. I believe this study is going to get rid of all the things I have believed about myself from the abuse I went through in two marriages. I am NOT all the names I was called that I used to believe I was. I am worthy of the love of our beautiful, good, and loving God. I want to finish this study so that I really get it. I am that loving, good and helpful person that I have always know I was. Thank you so much for this study. I get behind but I will catch up, taking care of my 90 yo aunt in her assisted living apartment takes up the biggest part of my day every day. But I wouldn’t have it any other way, I hope if I am ever alone as she is now that there is someone who will do the same for me. I love her so much I can’t NOT take care of her.