My Dear Younger Sister,

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? It is probably not what I see when I look at you. No matter how many times others compliment us and highlight areas in our character that are good we still seem to fixate on what we believe are our weaknesses. It would be worse if we were like the person James spoke about who saw his flaws and then walked away and forgot about them so nothing ever changed (James 1:22-25). Proud people are that way and I know you are not proud. Your humility is one of your precious assets that can enable you to grow into the woman God wants you to be. Please do not let Satan use your humility to convince you that you are not worth all that God knows you are.

From the beginning God made things that are good. We are made in His image and that, by itself, gives you worth. You have the ability to do great things, but it is not the things you do that make you great. Even if you never reach your highest potential, Jesus thought you are worth dying for. Even if you really mess up Jesus still wants to bring you back to Him and have you as part of His family in Heaven if you will repent and start over. There is something about the human soul that is precious to God, and if He values it we should, too. We should value it enough to try to protect it from sin and the consequences that would bring. We should think highly enough of ourselves to be holy and pure. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says we can look at the image of the Lord Jesus and allow His glory to become our glory. That means following His example to do the will of the Father and serve each other. Jesus did not serve others because He thought He was not worth very much. He died for us because He knew His blood was valuable enough to save us. The amount of effort God put into saving mankind shows us we are worth more than we realize.

No one will be able to measure up to the standards Jesus has given us. We will all spend our lifetimes working to perfect what we know we should be. When we find that we fall short of God’s standards we work to make it right. Our growing maturity is a reflection of our inner selves and not the superficial value the world places on how we look. Our looks are not what reflect our true value. We say that, but it is difficult not to let our looks and how people see us effect our self-esteem. Sometimes, though, we assume others are thinking things they are not. Just because we think we have a “flaw” of some sort that seems big does not mean others even know it is there. Try not to allow others to affect what you do and how you think about yourself unless you are sure they are people who value what God says are the important parts.

For my part, I can say that you possess a heart that is precious to both me and God. I also know how tender that heart is. You would not look down on others based on their looks. You would give people who have made mistakes a chance to start over and you would forgive them once they repented. If you do not make superficial judgments about others, then you really should allow them to be just as kind and loving toward you. To say that love believes all things (as 1 Cor 13:7 does) is to give others the benefit of the doubt.  You know you should love others as you love yourself (Matt 22:39), but if you don’t love yourself God would not want that. You need to love and value yourself just as you love others. Even better, love yourself as God does and according to the worth He has given you.

your friend with prayers,

Laurie Moyer

“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid … Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Luke 12:4-7