Written by Christina Rogers. Artwork by Christine Hwang.
When I was 15 to 16 years old, I struggled with deep depression and suicidal thoughts. I felt unworthy, unloved, ugly, dirty, and just useless at times. It seemed as if I cried a river of tears every day from all the pain I felt. So one night, I decided to end it all. I was at my wit’s end. I planned to overdose on some pills, and I already had everything ready. I went to church that night praying for a miracle, and—it happened. While I was at church, someone came up to me and hugged me and started speaking truths over me about who I am in Christ and how God feels about me. In the end, I didn’t overdose. Soon after, I was delivered from the depression and suicidal thoughts because people continued to speak and pray truths over me. The truths of who God says I am and how much He loves me penetrated my soul and changed my life. HE CHANGED MY LIFE.
Every time a person speaks negatively against you, they are speaking against God’s beloved one. You, my dear, have been created in the image of God Himself. And has He not made you well? Psalm 139:13-16 says, “For You formed my inward parts; / You covered me in my mother’s womb. / I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; / marvelous are Your works, / and that my soul knows very well. / My frame was not hidden from You, / when I was made in secret, / and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. / Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. / And in Your book they all were written, / the days fashioned for me, / when as yet there were none of them.”
God intercedes for you. He stands in the gap for you, because He loves you, because He knows your worth. But do you? What are you worth? Speak these truths over yourself, speak what God says about you. (Isaiah 62:4-5, Song of Solomon 1:15, Song of Solomon 2:2). You are loved. You are more than enough, and you don’t have to measure up to what this world thinks is great. God calls you, and He calls you great. God calls you beautiful. He calls you worth it. What is your response? Who are you? Has He not made you well?
Reflection Questions
1. What do you think God thinks of you?
2. Why do you think it is easier to see our own blemishes judged by the world and forget who we truly are in God’s eyes?