When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

Oh, sure the hair may be ruffled or in great disarray. Maybe last night’s sleep is still evident. You may even have food stuck in your teeth…oops.

Look beyond that. Look in your eyes.

What do you see?

If I were there with you, I’ll tell you what I see.

I see a treasure of God. I don’t care how down you feel, how lonely you are, how discouraged you might be. You are God’s treasure.

He loves you.

I know…you don’t feel it. It’s hard to believe that He would care what you’re going through, but He does. And if it were possible He would let you feel Him hugging you.

In the midst of a low time in my life, when I wanted to feel God’s hug, I would bundle up with an afghan on the corner of my couch. Curled up in a ball, tightly hugging my Bible I’d cry like a baby. I’d let it all pour out.

Then I’d rise and look at myself in the mirror. I was a mess. I didn’t look pretty and I didn’t feel it. But I swallowed my thoughts, looked myself in the eye…awkward…and spoke words I had trouble believing. I even repeated the words several times, pointing at my reflection to drive home the message.

What were those words?

• God loves you.   
• He is not going to leave you.  
• You are His treasure.  
• You are a daughter of the Most High King.  
• He has plans for you and He will make it happen.   
• He loves you.

While my appearance didn’t change, I could feel something was getting better within me. So, I repeated those words to my reflection, daily. When I realized God was speaking to me through me, I continued, starting and ending my day the same way. And, before I realized it, there was a joy bubbling deep within me.

You may be wondering how I knew to say those things. Where was my proof that those are true? There is no one place.

Jeremiah 29:11 tells me God has a plan for me. Deuteronomy 31:6-8 is the first place that tells me God will never leave me. As for God’s love, it’s everywhere. Ephesians 3 and 1 John 4:7-21 speak of the vastness and details of God’s love. Luke 15 tells of how treasured we are that He searches for us and rejoices over us. And according to John 1:12 we are children of God.

No matter what’s going on in your life, cling to this. Jesus isn’t afraid to deal with any issue. After all, He touched and spoke with lepers whose hands were falling off, tax collectors who stole from the people, and prostitutes who were both scorned and desired by men.

I can now say the words above with greater ease and with greater conviction. I know they are true and I know they will bring me a peace and joy that I cannot explain in mere words. This is another facet of the hope I receive from God.