You are Treasured.

A few months back, I was listening to a radio program where a mother described how she helped one of her sons overcome low self-esteem. It made me remember a time in my life when I too struggled with the same thing. My mother caught wind of my insecurities with my appearance, and each day she made 11-year-old me stand in front of a mirror and tell myself that I was beautiful.

Eventually I began to believe the affirmation that my reflection declared, and went on to find contentment in my appearance. But as the years went by and my body changed from childbearing, old insecurities resurfaced with a vengeance. So old habits returned: cover, cover, cover!

Cover your butt, it’s too big! Cover your gut, it protrudes out too far! Cover your face, you have bags under your eyes!

Comparison partnered with lies from the enemy and the suffocating grief of the loss of loved ones began to break me from the inside out. I began to feel like I wasn’t good enough. Negative self talk became the primary voice in my thought-life eventually making me miserable.

In a moment of vulnerability with the Holy Spirit, I asked him, “Why do I put so much pressure on myself? Why do I feel the need to strive?”

He brought me to a moment in childhood where I discovered that I could receive attention through accomplishments, which distracted people from commenting on my appearance (both positively and negatively). I disappeared and allowed my accolades to shine and also define me. Then he dropped a huge revelation…

Underneath all the covering and ambition was an identity issue: I hated myself.

God then shared with me that if I hated me, I hated his creation. All that he has created is good, including little ol’ me. With that, I repented and asked him to help me see myself as he sees me.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” -Psalm 139: 14 NIV

Nothing about my appearance is a mistake. Through that Psalm above, I’m reminded of this truth. I began to declare this truth anytime the negative thoughts would surface – sometimes directly to my reflection as my mother taught me long ago.

The mother I mentioned previously created a Treasure Map for her son to help him overcome his insecurities. Each time he had a positive thought about himself, she had him write it down on the map, which helped him discover what made him unique. I can’t remember exactly what the final treasure was (perhaps a celebration?), but I do remember that he began to see his true self and not the lies that he once believed. He saw that he had value.

Here’s the thing. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are treasures. I love how both my mom and the mother on the radio program took action quickly to remind their children of their true worth. If you’re like me and you’ve struggled with insecurities, maybe we need to go the extra step and create treasure maps for ourselves? Who knows how God will help us uncover and rediscover our true selves: beautiful creations made in His image…

Will you join me on this journey?