When You Do Not Like the Woman in the Mirror
Scripture
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalms 139: 14
Devotional
There are days when the mirror feels like an enemy.
You catch your reflection and see every line, every curve you wish was different, every reminder that time has not stood still. You notice the weight that crept on during stress years, the tired eyes, the way your clothes fit a little differently. Then there are the invisible things. The choices you regret. The seasons you feel ashamed of. The parts of you that never seem to change no matter how hard you work.
You think things like:
I should look better by now.
I should be more disciplined by now.
I should be a different woman by now.
We treat the mirror like a report card. Pass or fail. Worthy or not.
Scripture tells a different story.
Psalm 139 speaks to women who feel worn out, unfinished, and hard on themselves. It says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made and that God’s works are wonderful. That includes the version of you that exists today, not only the version you hope to be someday.
The mirror is not the full story
The mirror tells you what you look like in this lighting and in this moment. It does not show
the nights God held you together when you thought you would break
the battles you fought privately and won
the way you keep getting back up even when you feel done
The enemy loves to use the mirror as a weapon. If he can keep you obsessed with what is on the outside, he can distract you from what God is doing on the inside.
Becoming does not start with a new outfit, a fresh cut, or a number on a scale. Those are fine, but they are not the foundation. Becoming starts with agreeing with what God says about you before anything shifts in the mirror.
God is not surprised by your reflection
Here is the part nobody says out loud. Sometimes we are embarrassed to bring our bodies, our aging, and our insecurity to God. We talk to him about spiritual things, then pretend he has nothing to say about the body we live in every day.
God formed you in your mother’s womb. He watched your body change through every decade of your life. He has seen every scar, every stretch mark, every new wrinkle. He has walked with you through sickness, stress, comfort eating, overwork, under rest, all of it.
He is not shocked by what you see.
He is not disgusted by what you see.
He is not standing over you with a grade sheet.
He is inviting you to see your whole self through his eyes. Loved. Chosen. In progress. Worth more than what any mirror can capture.
Becoming is how you treat yourself, not just how you look
We chase external fixes because they give quick feedback.
New product. New plan. New outfit.
For a moment, it feels like a new life.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to care for your body or feel pretty. The problem is when you believe you must punish yourself into becoming. God does not shape you through shame. He shapes you through truth and love.
Becoming in this area might look like
eating to nourish your body instead of punishing it
moving your body because it is a gift, not a problem to solve
choosing clothes that fit the body you have today instead of the body you are still mourning
speaking to yourself with the respect you give everyone else
Those are spiritual choices, not just lifestyle hacks. They say to God and to your own soul
“I agree that your work in me is good, even as it continues.”
You are allowed to care about beauty and still be holy
Some women swing between two extremes.
On one side, everything is about looks. On the other side, they decide that caring about appearance is shallow or vain, so they shut that part of themselves down. Neither side feels honest.
God is the one who created color, texture, pattern, and beauty. It is not sin to want to feel pretty. The problem is when beauty becomes your god instead of coming from your God.
You are allowed to
love a good lipstick and a good Bible
care about your hair and your heart
enjoy style and seek holiness at the same time
Becoming is about alignment. Your outside begins to reflect what God is doing inside. Not perfection. Alignment.
One brave step in front of the mirror
If the mirror has felt harsh lately, here is a simple practice.
Stand in front of it for one honest minute.
Take a breath.
Out loud, say one of these truths
God, thank you for this body that has carried me through every season.
I am fearfully and wonderfully made, even on days I do not feel it.
I am allowed to change, but I am also allowed to be kind to the woman I am today.
Then ask God:
What is one small way I can honor you and honor my body today? It might be drinking water, stretching, choosing real food, washing your face, or going to bed on time. It might be throwing away an outfit that makes you feel small and choosing one that fits who you are now.
One step at a time. You do not need to attack yourself to become who God is shaping you to be.
A prayer for the woman who avoids the mirror
God, you see every part of me, inside and out. You know the places where I feel insecure, ashamed, or disappointed in myself. I confess that I have believed lies about my worth and that I have let the mirror speak louder than your word. Help me see my body and my face the way you see me. Teach me how to care for myself with kindness instead of punishment. Show me one way to honor you and honor the body you gave me today. I place my becoming in this area in your hands. In Jesus name, amen.
Journal prompts
What thoughts come up most often when I look in the mirror?
Which of those thoughts line up with God’s word, and which ones do not?
How has my body carried me through hard seasons that I rarely stop to appreciate?
What is one gentle change I can make this month that feels like care, not punishment?