just be you

So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:27 NIV)

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13, 14 NIV)

How often do you feel like you just aren't good enough? Do you ever feel like you don't have the skills and abilities like another person? Or think, "I am not as pretty as her," or, " she/he is more qualified for this"? It is so easy to fall into the comparison game. Women, especially, have a hard time with comparing themselves to others. Our very culture sends these messages all the time. It tells us that we have to have the right clothes to be enough, the right haircut to be enough, the right figure, the right complexion, the right car. The list could go on and on. 

But, the Word of the Most High God says, "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV). How awesome is this! In the scripture reference above, it says that God has made us in His own image! He has made us like him. When he knit me together, He thought, "Let me give her this characteristic of mine, and let me make her like me in this." 

How many times have you heard parents get so excited when they are talking about their children? They get so excited when their sweet little Sarah looks like them. Or maybe precious Yvonne has her mother's determination. Mama is so proud that she is like her. Why would we think that our Heavenly Father is any different? He loves to create us like Him. Maybe you have a compassion for hurting people. So does God. Maybe you call it like you see it. So does God. Maybe you are good with administration. So is God.  

However, just because He has made us in His image, that that does not give me the right to go acting any way that I please. I have to come to Him, seek Him, to grow with Him. When I do that, the characteristics of mine that are like His will shine forth. He longs for me to be in relationship with Him. As you begin to seek Him, get in His Word, and ask him to show you the things about you that He made like Him. He doesn't want you worrying about not being like Jasmine or like Michele. He wants you to be you. He wants you to be the person He created you to be. Seek Him and just be you.