Years ago my mother worked as secretary to a publishing company vice-president. One spring she was invited to attend a goal-setting retreat with those in leadership. Her job was to take notes.
During the first session, the facilitator (We’ll call him Jim.) included some clarifying questions about the mission of the company. Mom didn’t expect to participate, so she was caught off guard when Jim invited her to share. She confessed to feeling out of place and unqualified to contribute. After all, she was only a secretary.
But editor-in-chief, Bernice, exclaimed, “Why, Geri! You shouldn’t feel that way!”
Jim suggested that Bernice tell Mom why her input was important, why she was a valuable part of the team.
Perhaps Bernice mentioned a few of the gifts I noticed in Mom: her creative problem-solving ability, astute interpersonal skills, and proficiency at organization.
Whatever Bernice said, the compliments embarrassed Mom but validated her deeply. Bernice had never before shared what she saw in Mom.
Jim explained that citing specific reasons, rather than simply telling someone not to feel a certain way, can more effectively foster a change of mindset.
So in light of that facilitator’s advice, I won’t tell you that God thinks you’re pretty terrific.
Let me show you from his Word what he sees in you.
For example:
God sees you as precious and honored because he loves you.
That love is not just collective for all humankind, but individual and unique—just for you.
God sees and loves you—the one who handles a myriad of details so someone else can be in the spotlight.
He sees and loves you—the one who swipes up messes hither and yon, parades laundry baskets to and fro, and traipses dishes from washer to shelf, day in and day out.
He sees and loves you—making those calls, writing those notes, pausing to listen to sales clerks and restaurant servers.
But on any given day, you may not feel particularly precious or honored—when frustration boils over into unkind words, impatience leads to anger, or unfair treatment curdles into self-pity. How can God see anything precious and honored in that? Perhaps it’s because he’s focused on his vision for you, his work in you.
Remember,
God sees you as his child.
And like any loving parent, he delights in every step of growth, every benchmark of progress. With pleasure and pride he is cheering you on.
Also,
God sees your heart.
Perhaps that statement evokes guilt, as it did in me for many years. I contemplated the ways I disappointed God, even failed him. But there’s a positive side to that statement. Our Heavenly Father sees our good intentions, our desire to obey him, our attempts to practice his presence with praise and gratitude.
And just as we would never reject a misspelled, wobbly-lettered love note from a child, God never rejects our sincere efforts.
Furthermore,
God sees you as his masterpiece, a stunning, one-of-a-kind design (Ephesians 2:10).
He chose the colors of your personality, the form of your life-chapters, the line of movement from child to maturity, and the spaces both negative and positive that contribute to soul growth.
God also chose a particular place for you in his world-size gallery where you could best display his artistry. And like all beautiful handiwork, you evoke joy in the heart of your Maker.
Indeed, it is holy, precious perfection that God sees in you.
(Photo credits: http://www.hanscom.af.mil (Todd Maki); http://www.azquotes.com; Nancy Ruegg; http://www.dailyverses.net; http://www.heartlight.org; http://www.flickr.com.)
From the Inside Out 