Have you ever looked at something in nature and found yourself completely amazed by God’s creation?
Maybe it’s a sunset painting the sky with shades of orange and pink. Maybe it’s the mountains stretching across the horizon, the sound of water gently moving along the shore, or sunlight filtering through the trees.
For me, it’s moments like these that remind me just how incredible our Creator is.
Recently, I’ve been going on morning walks with a friend around our local lake. During those walks, we’ve seen some pretty incredible things. We’ve spotted a bobcat, watched an eagle fishing, and walked through a beautiful wooded area we’ve affectionately named the “magical forest.”
The photograph featured at the beginning of this post was taken by my friend Heather during one of our morning walks and is shared with her permission.
There’s something about walking beneath those trees, watching the sunlight shine through the branches, and taking in the beauty around me that makes me stop and appreciate God’s handiwork.
And honestly, I love it.
I love seeing the beauty in the world God created. But recently, something made me stop and think.
Why is it so easy for me to recognize God’s beauty in everything around me, yet so difficult to recognize His handiwork in myself?
Seeing God’s Beauty in Creation
Psalm 19:1 tells us: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
When we look at creation, we see evidence of God’s power, wisdom, and creativity.
Think about it.
The colors of a sunset. The intricate details of a flower. The mountains, the oceans, the stars scattered across the night sky.
None of these things are exactly alike, yet each displays something wonderful about the God who created them.
I find myself taking pictures of these things all the time. Sometimes I just want to capture a moment because I find it so beautiful. And I know I’m not alone in that.
We admire God’s creation. We photograph it. We share it with others. We stand in awe of it.
But how often do we extend that same appreciation to ourselves?
The Beauty We See in Others
Not too long ago, I came across a video of a beautiful sunset reflecting over a lake.
Across the video were the words:
“You’re prettier than this, btw.”
I immediately thought of my close girlfriends and sent it to them.
Because I genuinely believe they’re beautiful.
One of my friends responded by saying, “No way, that’s too pretty.” Another responded by telling me that I was prettier than the sunset, too.
And these little exchanges got me thinking.
It’s so easy for us to recognize beauty in the people we love. We can compliment our friends without hesitation. We can appreciate their smiles, their personalities, and the unique ways God created each of them.
But when it comes to ourselves?
That’s a different story.
When the Mirror Tells a Different Story
I’ll be honest.
I struggle with my appearance.
When I look in the mirror, I don’t always see someone wonderfully made by God.
Instead, I notice the scar between my eyebrows. I notice my acne. I think about my weight and the things I wish I could change.
And sometimes, those insecurities become louder than the truth of Scripture.
What’s interesting is that I would never look at one of my friends and reduce her beauty or worth to those things.
I wouldn’t tell her that her acne makes her less valuable, or that a scar somehow takes away from who she is.
So why am I so quick to think that way about myself?
Why do I extend kindness and appreciation to others but struggle to offer myself that same grace?
I’m still learning the answer to that.
But Scripture reminds me of something important.
Created in His Image
Genesis 1:27 says: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Of everything God created, human beings were uniquely made in His image.
The mountains weren’t created in His image.
The sunsets weren’t created in His image.
Even the beautiful animals I get so excited about seeing on my morning walks weren’t created in His image.
But we were.
And I think sometimes we forget just how significant that is.
Being made in God’s image doesn’t mean we’re physically perfect. It doesn’t mean we’ll never have scars, blemishes, wrinkles, or things about our appearance that we struggle to accept.
It means our worth is rooted in something far greater than what we see in the mirror.
Our value doesn’t come from having clear skin, reaching a certain weight, or meeting the world’s standards of beauty.
It comes from the God who created us.
Psalm 139:14 says: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
I love that verse.
But I’ll admit that it’s sometimes easier for me to believe it about someone else than about myself.
I can look at my friends and see God’s wonderful workmanship. I can look at the world around me and praise Him for what He’s created.
Yet when I look at myself, I sometimes forget that I, too, am one of His works.
And perhaps that’s something I need to work on.
Not learning to believe that I’m physically flawless, but learning to remember that my imperfections don’t diminish the dignity God has given me.
Learning to See Myself Differently
I don’t expect to wake up tomorrow, look in the mirror, and suddenly love everything about my appearance.
And I don’t think that’s necessarily the point.
I can work toward being healthier. I can take care of my skin. I can acknowledge things about my appearance that I don’t particularly like.
But none of those things should determine how much value I place on myself.
Because my worth was never supposed to be measured by my reflection.
It was established by my Creator.
And maybe that’s where I need to begin.
The next time I find myself admiring a sunset, watching the wildlife around the lake, or walking through that beautiful forest with my friend, I want to remember the God behind it all.
And the next time I look in the mirror and immediately notice everything I wish were different, I want to remind myself of that same truth.
The sunset reflects God’s creativity. You reflect His image.
Not because you’re perfect.
Not because you meet a certain standard of beauty.
But because you were created by a God who gave you a dignity that no scar, blemish, number on a scale, or passing insecurity can take away.
And perhaps learning to appreciate God’s creation also means learning to appreciate the person looking back at me in the mirror.
I’m still working on that.
But I’m grateful that His Word reminds me of the truth, even on the days when my reflection makes it difficult to believe.
Maybe today, instead of focusing on everything you wish you could change about yourself, take a moment to remember whose image you bear.
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Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the beauty of Your creation. From the colors of a sunset to the mountains, the trees, and the smallest details of nature, Your handiwork is all around us. Help us never lose our sense of wonder at the things You have made.
But Lord, forgive us for the times we admire Your creation while criticizing ourselves.
You created us in Your image, yet so often we allow our insecurities to speak louder than Your Word. We focus on our scars, our imperfections, and the things we wish we could change, forgetting that our worth was never found in our appearance.
Father, help us see ourselves through the truth of Your Word rather than the expectations of this world. Teach us to extend the same kindness and grace to ourselves that we so willingly offer to others.
Remind us that our value doesn’t change with our reflection, our weight, or the passing of time. Our dignity comes from being created in Your image.
And when we struggle to appreciate the person looking back at us in the mirror, remind us that we are still Your workmanship.
May we continue to stand in awe of Your creation, while remembering that we, too, are part of it.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
