What does your mirror tell you?
Are you listening to it?
Should you be listening to it?
Mirror, mirror, mirror on the wall
Tellin' those lies, pointing out your flaws
That isn't who you are
That isn't who you are
It might be hard to hear
But let me tell you, dear
If you could see what I can see,
I know you would believe
That isn't who you are
There's more to who you are.*
The world wants to tell us who or what we should be.
How we should look
What we should wear
What kind of home we should live in
The job we should pursue
The goals we should work toward.
Our very purpose for being.
But here's the Truth... we were each created uniquely for specific purposes.
I can't do or be the person you were designed to be.
I can't be the wife, mother, teacher, sister, daughter,
that YOU are supposed to be.
Just as children are born without the ability to speak, walk, or do
anything on their own, we must learn how to walk in what we are called
to do. Some things are natural abilities: gardening, creativity, etc.;
but we need to learn to be committed to people and the tasks we are
assigned. We need to learn to be patient, to serve, to use our time
wisely. We need to learn how to communicate with one another,to listen
and to speak; and we need to practice stepping out in courage and
boldness.
Here's a few truths about me:
- I am not, nor will I ever be a "crafty" person. I do not do artwork, home decor, tablescapes. I do spreadsheets.
- I am not, nor will I ever be a gardener. I am the only person I know of who actually killed an Air Fern.
- I am not a skinny person; I gained 5 pounds last month eating lettuce, carrots, broccoli and baked chicken. For goodness sake, couldn't I have at least enjoyed a milk shake for those 5 pounds??!!
- I am not, nor will I ever be a financially rich person; I have counted pennies most of my life just to make ends meet.
Sometimes we don't find out who we are or what our purpose is until
later. I spent years living my life, thinking less of myself than I
ought (because, I mean...read the above). When all the while giftings
and talents were being birthed and developed in me.
I'm
reminded of Queen Esther. You remember her, right? Just a young,
Jewish teenager living her own life when she, along with many other
young girls are plucked out of their ordinary life and sent to live in
the palace.
The King is looking for a new Queen.
But
not just any Queen. She must be beautiful. She must be well dressed.
She must be healthy. And, if you remember the story of the previous
Queen, Vashti, she must be obedient and manageable. Vashti lost her
position as Queen because the King sent for her and she refused to come
and be flaunted in front of his buddies.
So
Esther and all these other young girls are groomed and taught how to be
a Queen, and one by one, they are sent in to the King to see which one
he will choose. Esther catches his eye and she becomes his Queen.
When Haman sets out to destroy the entire Jewish population, someone has to step up.
Be bold.
Be courageous.
Be....disobedient?
You
see, no one could approach the King without being summoned by him. But
Esther had a message for him. He had signed a decree that would destroy
all the Jews....and she, his new Queen, was a Jew. If she didn't speak
up, not only would an entire race be wiped out, but she would lose her
life as well.
So, she disobeyed the laws and went to the King.
Now, you might be thinking,
"Yes, but she was beautiful and desirable.
Her mirror told her so."
That's
true, but her what her mirror didn't tell her was that this was her
time and place to step into her calling. This is who she was; all that
time spent being pampered and trained...it was for "such a time as this"
(Esther 4:14) that she had been named Queen - to save her people from
annihilation.
Your mirror may tell you:
"You aren't pretty enough"
"You aren't thin enough"
"You aren't rich enough"
You aren't talented enough"
Or my personal favorite...
"Someone else can do the job better than I."
I know, I've heard them all myself.
But,
your mirror will not tell you that you are gifted with compassion,
abilities, talents, giftings, leadership. Your mirror will not show the
courage or boldness you have to face the situations or fight the battles
that come your way. It doesn't matter if you are 15 years old, 45 years
old or 105 years old. It may seem as if your whole life to this point
was "pointless"; but I challenge you to ask the One who created you what
His plans are for you.
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart."
Jeremiah 1:5
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
Here's a few more truths about me that I have learned:
- I never thought anyone would love me...my husband and I just celebrated thirty four years of marriage last Sunday.
- I am a woman who has been blessed with five amazing kids and three beautiful grandchildren.
- I found out at the age of 50 that I could write. Who knew? I hated writing in school, but in the last seven years I have written two books.
- I am the shyest, most introverted person you will ever meet...but God has called me to lead women and I find myself leading women's retreats, home groups, and facilitating and speaking at luncheons.
Mirror, Mirror, Mirror on the wall
Tellin' those lies....
That isn't who you are!
The Truth is...
You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14
You are engraved on the palms of His hands.
Isaiah 49:16
We will not discover our purpose from television,
magazines or the latest health/diet craze,
or our Mirrors.
Our purpose is found in Jesus.
When you look in His mirror
you will see what He sees...
you will see how He sees you.
'Lena Ehlert
© 2017
*Mirror, Mirror by King and Country
Additional Scripture References
Who We are in Christ by Joyce MeyerPhotos courtesy of One Night With the King
