“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.”
Psalm 139:14 NKJV
When I don’t feel good about how I look in the mirror, or when it comes to how I see myself, I say these words: “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” I used to believe that I was not beautiful. I was guilty of listening to the lies of the enemy, telling me that I wasn’t good enough, or that I would never be or look like her—the perfect girl I see in magazines.
I tried to drown out those voices, but all I could hear was, you will never be like them. And part of that voice was right—I will never be like her, and I’m fine with that. I don’t need to be like her. I need to be the version of me that Jesus wants me to be. But sometimes it can be hard when you look at someone who seems more talented, more beautiful, has that so-called perfect body, or just appears to have it all together—except you.
You look in the mirror and see crow’s feet, dark circles under your eyes, and the grey hair that keeps popping up. Then there’s that stubborn baby weight that doesn’t want to come off, while you see other women at church who just had their babies months ago and are already back into their size six dresses.
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
(Proverbs 31:30 NIV)
Sisters, I have news for you: we are not supposed to compare ourselves with others—especially our sisters in the Lord. We are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Master, and He makes no mistakes.
There have been times when I wished I was like a certain sister in the church—beautiful, thin, and successful. But we don’t see how they got there. We don’t see the struggles they face, or how they may stand in front of the same mirror saying, I wish I were like her.
“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”
(Proverbs 31:26 NIV)
We don’t see how she may be comparing herself to others. We just assume she has it all together, when she could be struggling with anxiety, depression, or even an eating disorder. We don’t see each other’s struggles because we’re so focused on the greener grass that our neighbor seems to have, instead of focusing on the blessings God has given us.
At some point, we must make peace with our bodies and their flaws and say, “God, I am going to be content with how You made me.” Because His Word says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made—and God does not make mistakes in His creation.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
(Proverbs 27:17)
We were handcrafted by the Master—the ultimate Artist—who makes no mistakes. He took His time creating us and the earth. He looked at what He made, at the first man, Adam, and saw that it was good. Then He created Eve—strong yet delicate, beautiful, and the perfect companion for Adam.
“But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, He took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man.”
(Genesis 2:21–22)
Sometimes, we can be our own worst critics. We become the judge, jury, and executioner just by looking into one object—the mirror. But we need to look into that mirror and say, “God, despite the wrinkles, the extra weight, and the dark circles under my eyes, I am Your creation.”
I may not be perfect, but I know the Master makes no mistakes. We need to start rebuking the enemy when he tells us we are not good enough. We’re not meant to be “good enough”—we’re meant to be more like Jesus. When we focus on Him, those extra wrinkles or pounds won’t matter as much.
If you want to take care of your health, do it in a way that glorifies God—not for a quick fix or to meet the world’s standards. Want to lose weight? Join a gym, eat healthier, and be a good example for your family. As for wrinkles—they often tell the story of a life filled with joy. And for those with young children and dark circles under your eyes, those will fade—but the memories of rocking your babies in the middle of the night, singing about the power of God, will last forever.
We need to tell the enemy that he is a liar—the accuser of the brethren, as the Bible says. Look him in the face and say, “Devil, I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God, and my God makes no mistakes!”
So, the next time you’re feeling down about your appearance, when your self-esteem is low, or you feel less attractive, look in the mirror and say, “God, I am Your masterpiece. I may have shortcomings, but You make no mistakes in Your creation.” Then walk away with your head held high, knowing that you are a daughter of the King.
Live in the calling God has given you. Be an example to your daughters of healthy self-esteem. Don’t put yourself down in front of your spouse or complain about your appearance. And most importantly, do not be jealous of another sister in the church who seems to have it all together—because the truth is, she may be struggling just as much as you are.
Instead, pray for her. Love her. Remember that we are all fighting battles, all doing our best to live for God and be examples to our sons and daughters.
It’s time for us to look in the mirror, declare that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, straighten that crown, and walk with confidence—knowing that we are children of God, and the Master makes no mistakes.
Devotion by Rebbecca Horner
